Photo by Info.
European financing
The latest round of the Cheque Europa program, promoted by the Government of the Region of Murcia, has supported 14 business projects, mobilizing an investment of over €153.000. This initiative is establishing itself as a key tool for SMEs to access complex European Union innovation and competitiveness programs.
The program Europe Check from the Región de Murcia has resolved its latest call for proposals, supporting 14 SMEs in their access to European funding. The initiative, managed by the Instituto de Fomento (Info), seeks to strengthen the international competitiveness of regional companies in R&D&I programs, mobilizing an investment of 153.453 euros in this edition.
The news was announced during the visit of Luis Alberto Marín, Minister of Business, Employment and Social Economy, to the facilities of Voltiva, an energy engineering firm that benefited from the program in 2024. Thanks to this support, Voltiva He is currently leading a European project within the framework of the program LIFE.
A strategic tool for innovative internationalization
The main objective of the Europe Check The aim is to facilitate access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to specialized consulting services for the preparation, development, and submission of proposals to European funding opportunities. This technical assistance is essential for improving the quality of projects and increasing their chances of success in a highly competitive environment.
According to declarations of Luis Alberto MarínThe program "acts as a springboard for Murcia's SMEs to access international programs that often seem distant, complex, or reserved for large organizations." The regional minister added that "the regional government's objective is to open these doors, support companies in the technical preparation of their proposals, and transform their innovative capacity into projects with real options for European funding, because every company that competes better abroad also strengthens the Region's technological and productive capacity."
Since its launch in 2015, the Europe Check It has proven to be an effective tool. Its good practice was recognized by the Enterprise Europe NetworkThe European business network highlighted it in its guide to good practices, alongside initiatives from countries such as Alemania, Reino Unido y Francia, being one of only three Spanish proposals selected.
| Concept | Figure |
|---|---|
| Call for proposals budget | 120.000 Euros |
| Requests received | 25 |
| approved projects | 14 |
| Total investment mobilized | 153.453 Euros |
| Maximum aid for SMEs | Up to 12.000 euros |
Case of success: Voltiva and the project LIFE 'I'M LOOKING FOR'
Energy engineering Voltiva exemplifies the impact of Europe CheckThe company is leading the project 'I'M LOOKING FOR', an initiative of the program LIFE which investigates how inter-company cooperation can accelerate the implementation of renewable energies in a sustainable and economically viable manner.
The project, with a total budget exceeding 1,8 million euros, will channel more than 640.000 euros towards the Región de MurciaTwo other regional partners are also involved. Eurovértice y AlimerIts methodology will be validated in other European territories with similar energy challenges, such as Génova y Roma en Italia, and Atenas y Marousi en GreciaThe focus of 'I'M LOOKING FOR' It focuses on two key levers for the energy transition: the storage and flexibility, exploring models such as aggregation and corporate communities of renewable energy.
Key points and frequently asked questions about the Europe Voucher
How does the Europe Voucher affect the competitiveness of a Spanish SME?
The program directly impacts competitiveness by reducing barriers to entry for European funding. It allows SMEs to hire expert consultants to formulate robust R&D&I proposals with a higher probability of approval, which in turn gives them access to financial resources and international collaboration networks that boost their growth and technological capacity.
What type of projects does this aid program fund, and what are the key European programs?
El Europe Check supports the preparation of projects for a wide range of programs of the Unión Europea. Among the most notable are: Horizon Europe (the EU's main research and innovation program), LIFE (focused on environment and climate action), PRIMA (research in the Mediterranean), Digital Europe, European Defense Fund, as well as the Innovation Fund of the Unión EuropeaIt also covers projects managed by organizations such as the CDTI.
Is this a support model that can be replicated in other autonomous communities?
Yes, the model is highly replicable. In fact, its recognition for the Enterprise Europe Network This best practice positions it as a benchmark. The approach of subsidizing the cost of proposal preparation (a high-risk phase for SMEs) is an effective strategy for mobilizing the talent and innovation capacity of the local business community towards large-scale funding opportunities, strengthening the regional ecosystem.
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