In October, the European Commission (DG Regional Policy and DG Research) launched the “Seal of Excellence” initiative, aiming to foster the practical implementation of synergies between the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the European Structural and Investment Funds managed by Member States and regions.

Regione Lombardia implemented this initiative as early as 2014, introducing a measure within the “2014 Research and Innovation Call” to support Lombardy-based SMEs that had passed phase 1 of the SME Instrument but were not funded due to budget constraints, which has since become a European “case study”.

The new edition of the measure will be financed by regional structural funds.

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