Lifelong Learning Programme
What is LLP?
Intensified global competition, a lack of highly skilled workers in the workforce and an ageing population are some of the challenges facing Europe. Structured action in the field of training and education can help bridge the gap between the need for skilled workers in the machine tool industry and the workforce currently on offer. The Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Community makes public funding available to machine tool companies and sectoral associations which want to invest in this field.
Information about the Programme and Calls for Proposals
Documents available for the (currently open) LLP call for proposals 2011 provide information about types of projects which can be funded, and what activities can be supported.
To reach all documents regarding the "General Call for Proposals 2011" click: http://ec.europa.eu/education/llp/doc848_en.htm
The "action fiches", directly accessible from here describe the characteristics of all types of actions that can be funded under the LLP programmes: http://ec.europa.eu/education/llp/doc1943_en.htm
Actions that which can be interesting for companies operating in the machine tool sector may be in particular in the Leonardo Da Vinci Programme: the Networks, Accompanying measures and Key Activity 4 Multilateral Projects.
The LLP programme is subdivided into four programmes:
Comenius for schools
Erasmus for higher education
Leonardo da Vinci for vocational education and training
Grundtvig for adult education
Leonardo Da Vinci Programme
LDV Part of the European Commission's Lifelong Learning Programme funds a wide range of actions, notably cross-border mobility initiatives; co-operation projects to develop and spread innovation; and thematic networks. The potential beneficiaries are similarly wide – from trainees in initial vocational training, to people already in the labour market, as well as VET professionals and private or public organisations active in this field.
For more information: http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/doc82_en.htm
How to apply?
All documents related to centralised actions of the call 2010 (which for Leonardo da Vinci include "Multilateral projects for development of innovation", "Networks" and "Accompanying measures"), including the application form and instructions on how to apply, are available on the following webpage: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/llp/funding/2010/call_lifelong_learning_2010.htm
Centralised and Decentralised Actions under LLP
It should be noted that other actions ("mobility", Leonardo da Vinci "Multilateral projects for transfer of innovation", … ) are managed in a decentralised way by the LLP National Agencies, which will be able to give further information on these actions. Whether a programme action is managed according to the decentralised or centralised role is specified in the "action fiches".
For more information as regards centralised actions of the LLP call 2011, please see videos and presentations: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/llp/funding/2011/index_en.php
For all different actions, examples of funded projects can be found in the compendia, available on the following webpage: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/llp/results_projects/project_compendia_en.php
Furthermore, for Leonardo da Vinci projects the ADAM database is available online: http://www.adam-europe.eu/adam/homepageView.htm
Finding Partners
For finding partners for submitting a proposal under the present call, these are the available options:
1. Use the Partner search database:
http://llp.teamwork.fr/partner_search/partner_search_form.php - here you can register your organisation
http://llp.teamwork.fr/partner_search/partner_search.php - here you can find some organisations interested in the same topic as you are interested in
2. Contact also the LLP National Agencies (some of them put the partner search announcement on their web pages). Here are the contacts to the National agencies:
http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/doc1208_en.htm
3. For the Leonardo da Vinci programme, you can use the ADAM database to find approved projects and contact them in order to offer them partnership:
http://www.adam-europe.eu/adam/homepageView.htm
References:
European Commission DG Education and Culture: http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/doc78_en.htm
