SPICI supporting Campania companies at Expo 2020 Dubai

With a nominal GDP of over 400 billion dollars and a per capita income exceeding 37,000 dollars, the United Arab Emirates represent one of the most dynamic markets for Italian companies. This is evidenced, among other things, by the exponentially increasing trade exchanges (8.4 billion euros in 2020) and the prominent position of our country. Italy is indeed the eighth largest trading partner of the UAE and the first among the European Union member states.

From 1st October 2021 to 31st March 2022, Expo 2020 Dubai will take place, the first Universal Exhibition held in the ME.NA.SA. area (Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia). For six months, Dubai will transform into a global showcase with 25 million expected visitors and 192 participating countries showcasing their projects, solutions, and innovative enterprises.

In order to stimulate the international openness of the Campania innovative system, the Campania Region has initiated a financial instrument aimed at supporting events and initiatives of international promotion of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MPMI) from Campania on the occasion of Expo 2020 Dubai.

In this context, SPICI is pleased to announce the activation of a dedicated information desk for the provision of support, promotion, and internationalisation services towards the United Arab Emirates.

Below is an excerpt from the Public Notice, which we invite you to consult.

Contact us now to discuss your needs and the organisation of dedicated promotional activities and for any other information regarding Expo 2020 Dubai and the UAE market.

Email: startup@spici.eu

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 9:00 to 18:00.

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Summary sheet of the Public Notice:

A financial instrument has been activated aimed at supporting events and international promotion initiatives of the Micro and SMEs from Campania on the occasion of Expo 2020 Dubai**.** The financial allocation amounts to 4 million euros.

Beneficiaries

The Notice is aimed at MPMI either individually or associated in Consortia, Consortium Companies, or Business Networks with legal personality (Network-subject). The MPMI are prioritised if in coherence with the RIS3 of the Campania Region that operate in the following sectors:

• Aerospace

• Cultural heritage, Tourism, Sustainable construction

• Biotechnology, Human health, Agrifood

• Energy and Environment

• Advanced materials and Nanotechnology

• Surface transport, Logistics

• Textiles, Clothing, Footwear.

Eligible expenses

The eligible expenses for the implementation of interventions depends on the participation mode.

> In case of physical events and initiatives:

• venue rental, exclusively in the UAE;

• rental of equipment and instruments essential for carrying out the initiative, for the time strictly necessary for the initiative itself;

• transport services for products and materials necessary for the initiative (including any insurance costs);

> In case of both physical and virtual events and initiatives:

• production of company videos exclusively in English;

• production of multimedia brochures and/or multimedia or interactive catalogues, exclusively in English;

• consultancy for finding specialised operators related to the UAE market, and possibly to other ME.NA.SA countries, to invite to the event, not exceeding 10% of the total eligible expenses.

Grants

The grant is provided in accordance with the de minimis Regulation and consists of a subsidy based on eligible expenses as indicated below:

• projects submitted by MPMI individually: Grant equal to 70% of eligible expenses and up to a maximum of Euro 50,000;

• projects submitted by Stable Aggregations: Grant equal to 70% of eligible expenses and up to a maximum of Euro 80,000.

Submission of the application for access to the grant

Must be exclusively online, using the dedicated platform - available at http://simricerca.regione.campania.it/ - in accordance with the following procedures:

• from 28th June 2021, the proposing MPMI can proceed with registration in the dedicated section of the web platform;

• from 12th July 2021, registered proposers can fill in the application form online, available on the same web platform, digitally sign it, and upload attachments;

• from 11:00 on 15th July 2021 until 15:00 on 29th July 2021, the proposing MPMI proceed with online submission of the form, using the aforementioned web platform.