Developing local partnerships across Europe and enhancing the cooperation with partners has been a priority for the Advisory Hub since its launch in 2015.
Currently, the Hub’s partner network includes more than 40 national, regional and local institutions across the EU. Almost 30 formal agreements have been signed with national promotional banks and institutions (NPBIs) and other partners who engage in knowledge sharing, act as an entry point to the services of the Hub or provide investment advice to project promoters locally.
We often organise events and webinars in collaboration with local partners to exchange experience, share best practices and debate issues of common interest. Have a look at the selection of past and upcoming events, here.
The Hub experts work closely with partner NPBIs on concrete investment programmes and projects, covering various aspects related to their technical preparation or financial structuring. Such support often includes advice on developing investment platforms.
Watch these video testimonials about NPBIs’ experience with this collaboration.
Dedicated funding for NPBIs to develop and deliver advisory services
The Advisory Hub supports the development of its partners’ advisory capacities and the local delivery of advisory services to project promoters through a dedicated Call for Proposals for national promotional banks and institutions (NPBIs). The Call offered funding support in the form of grants that cover up to 75% of the total eligible cost of programmes.
The Call was open between December 2017 and June 2020. Until its closure, we received over 20 applications and have already signed several funding agreements with participating NPBIs. The applicants received support throughout the application process as well as guidance during the implementation phase. Further details on the supported activities and the Call documentation are available below.
Watch these video testimonials to find out more on the programmes supported through the Call.
CDP’s investment project support programme for Italian municipalities
Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), the Italian national promotional bank, has long-standing experience in supporting the development of different sectors of the Italian economy. In recent years, infrastructure investments in Italy have declined, primarily due to the public authorities’ limited capacity to prepare these projects and the low attractiveness of such projects for the private sector. CDP has received support of up to EUR 500,000 to establish and run an advisory unit to facilitate the preparation and delivery of sustainable infrastructure projects.
- Duration: 18 months
- Total budget: up to EUR 1,088,500
- Maximum grant: up to EUR 500,000
“The support from the Hub can significantly boost our capacity to provide assistance to Italian public administrations.”
Bpifrance helps French small businesses grow
Mid-cap companies are considered a key driver of economic development. An analysis of the mid-cap segment undertaken in 2017 showed that France had considerably fewer mid-caps than other EU countries. This triggered Bpifrance’s objective to accelerate the transformation of French small businesses into mid-caps and to quadruple the number of accelerated companies. Bpifrance applied to the Call to reinforce its SME Accelerator programme, supporting the first 18 months of their 2019 programme intake. Bpifrance first assesses the strategic needs and the conditions for growth of the participating SMEs and then organises training sessions, coaching and networking events for the participating companies.
- Duration: 18 months
- Total budget: up to EUR 765,585
- Maximum grant: up to EUR 497,788
“The cooperation with the Hub was very successful. We received support throughout all phases of the application.”
Slovenia’s national promotional bank creates a project advisory unit
Slovenska izvozna in razvojna banka (SID) in Slovenia identified several obstacles in the preparation and implementation of viable investment projects. One of the major difficulties was the lack of technical and financial knowledge and experience at the different stages of project development. SID Banka is establishing an advisory unit to help project promoters identify and prepare sustainable projects. The Hub is helping SID Banka structure this new advisory unit, identify investment projects and provide advisory services. The ultimate goal is to enhance the quality and quantity of sustainable investment projects in Slovenia and support further the economic development of the country.
- Duration: 18 months
- Total budget: up to EUR 748,536
- Maximum grant: up to EUR 440,000
“I would definitely recommend other NPBs to use the support of this Call for Proposals to enhance their advisory services.”
Other grant recipients
MFB Magyar Fejlesztési Bank Zártkoríien Müködö Részvénytársaság (MFB), Hungary
MFB, the Hungarian national promotional bank, has received support for establishing a dedicated advisory unit within its structure to help project promoters in Hungary prepare and implement investment projects in the areas of transport infrastructure and support for the SMEs and mid-caps.
- Duration: 18 months
- Total budget: up to EUR 623,045
- Grant: up to EUR 467,283
Uždaroji Akcinè Bendrovè Viešqjq Investicijp Plètros Agentura (VIPA), Lithuania
With the Hub support, VIPA is upgrading its organisational capacity for the implementation of financial instruments by developing a new credit scoring and pricing methodology. The final products will serve to support projects in the energy efficiency field.
- Duration: 18 months
- Total budget: up to EUR 602,340
- Grant: up to EUR 414,255
Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC), France
CDC has received support for developing a web-based toolbox for the preparation of biogas projects, including ones related to the recycling of agricultural food waste. The toolbox will assist French farmers and SMEs in preparing more technically and financially viable projects aiming at the production of biogas and the recycling of industrial waste.
- Duration: 12 months
- Total budget: up to EUR 436,480
- Grant: up to EUR 245,000
FMFIB, Fund Manager of Financial Instruments in Bulgaria, Bulgaria (Фонд мениджър на финансови инструменти в България)
With the Hub support, FMFIB is creating a pool of specialized expertise in the sectors of urban development and research and innovation in order to provide Bulgarian project promoters with on-demand specialized support for the preparation of investment projects.
- Duration: 18 months
- Total budget: up to EUR 203,410
- Grant: up to EUR 152,550
Slovak Investment Holding (SIH), Slovakia
The Hub grant is supporting the development of SIH’s internal advisory capacity in the field of energy efficiency in order to assist project promoters in Slovakia in delivering Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) projects.
- Duration: 18 months
- Total budget: up to EUR 256,800
- Maximum grant: up to EUR 192,600
Českomoravská záruční a rozvojová banka (ČMZRB), Czech Republic
ČMZRB is receiving support for establishing an internal advisory unit, which will provide assistance to project promoters for the preparation and implementation of sustainable investment projects in various sectors.
- Duration: 18 months
- Total budget: up to EUR 663,600
- Maximum grant: up to EUR 497,600
Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC), France
The grant will support a programme called “S’GREEN+” to provide some 25 mid-sized cities in France with advisory support for their climate change adaptation projects. The support will result in a specific action plan for each municipality, listing the projects identified as priorities and outlining the steps to be taken to implement them.
- Duration: 13 months
- Total budget: EUR 715,500
- Grant: up to EUR 500,000
Thüringer Aufbaubank (TAB), Germany
The advisory programme is aimed to support Thuringian municipalities developing investment projects in priority sectors such as energy and resource efficiency, circular economy and green urban development. Thüringer Aufbaubank will also develop an online tool enabling municipalities to perform economic efficiency analyses and identify sound investment projects.
- Duration: 18 months
- Total budget: EUR 629,274
- Grant: up to EUR 471,934
Hrvatska Banka za Obnovu i Razvitak (HBOR)
With the grant funding, HBOR will support investment projects in priority climate and social infrastructure sectors, promoted by municipal and regional administrations. The programme will particularly focus on underdeveloped regions and will help boost the quality and volumes of public sector investments in Croatia.
- Duration: 17 months
- Total budget: EUR 670,125
- Grant: up to EUR 500,000
Call application documents
Call application details
Legal basis
EFSI regulation
Objective
Development of local advisory capacities and provision of investment advisory services in Member States with support through the Advisory Hub
Available funding
Up to EUR 7 million
Individual grant amount
Up to 75% of total eligible costs or max EUR 500,000
Eligible applicants
National promotional banks or institutions established in the EU
Eligible activities
- Delivery of investment advisory services at local level
- Establishment or developing organisational capacity
- Knowledge transfer for developing a local advisory capacity
Target sectors
Transport infrastructure, mobility and connectivity; Renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy infrastructure; Environment and resource efficiency; Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and mid-cap companies; Social infrastructures, social and solidarity economy; Research, development and innovation; Information and communication technologies
Eligible costs
Costs of personnel and subcontracted consultancy services
Disbursement
Upon completion, based on actual direct costs incurred
Time to implement
Up to 18 months
Deadline for submission
The Call is now closed and no applications are currently accepted
COVID-19 – temporary procedures for the submission of applications
Considering the state of emergency declared in a number of EU Member States in early 2020 with regard to COVID-19 and the measures introduced by national authorities to curb the spread of the disease, the European Investment Advisory Hub adopted a temporary procedure for the submission and evaluation of applications. The procedure was applicable within the overall validity of the Call and did not extend it beyond the deadline of 30 June 2020. The full details of the procedure are available here
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