Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation becomes EASME

The Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) has been set up by the European Commission to manage several EU programmes on its behalf.

The new agency replaces the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI), which has managed the Enterprise Europe Network, Intelligent Energy-Europe, Eco-innovation, and Marco Polo programmes.

The EASME’s mission covers the management of COSME, including the Enterprise Europe Network, Your Europe Business and the European IPR Helpdesk. The new agency will also be in charge of Horizon 2020’s SME instrument, as well as several parts of the energy and climate societal challenges pillar and the industrial leadership pillar of Horizon 2020.

The EASME will also oversee the programme for Environment and Climate action and, later in 2014, some elements of the European Maritime Fisheries Fund and follow-on initiatives to Intelligent Energy Europe and Eco-innovation programmes. More information can be found on the EASME page of the European Commission’s website.