MobiliseSME brings EU funding to agribusiness
In the framework of the MobiliseSME programme, Paolo Sospiro (EUAbout) and Mauro Picardo (Melograno Vita) decided to join forces to participate in EU calls for projects and tenders.
Who are our protagonists and what are their objectives?
Paolo Sospiro is the director of EUAbout, a Belgian organisation that supports SMEs in the search for projects and tenders at European level. In March 2021, Paolo registered his association in MobiliseSME, since he was looking forward to sharing his experience and expertise in European tenders and projects with other SMEs, as well as to expanding his network of contacts in the agribusiness sector at European level.
Mauro Picardo is the representative of Melograno Vita, a pomegranate cooperative in the Marche region that uses innovative technologies to harvest, process and produce pomegranate in the most environmentally friendly way. At the beginning of his experience in MobiliseSME, he was interested in developing a methodology for collecting data from the cooperative’s members and finding out how to enter EU projects.
Activity highlights
Thanks to their collaboration, both SMEs have successfully submitted two calls for proposals at European level and one at national level, as well as partnering with the Polytechnic University of Marche to work on bio-packaging.
As a result, Melograno Vita, the Polytechnic University of Marche and SIPREM decided to become the shareholders of the new spin-off of the cooperative Melograno biotech, a start-up dedicated to R&D activities for the production and transformation of pomegranate.
In addition, they have met with regional authorities and companies in the value chain to prepare for new regional agricultural calls for proposals.
On the other hand, to meet the EUAbout objective of expanding its professional network in agribusiness, Melograno Vita has shared its Italian contacts in the sector while supporting Paolo to improve his knowledge on the specific systems of organic circular economic production of pomegranate.
Paolo Sospiro and Mauro Picardo are great examples of a success collaboration focused on innovation, networking and the development of new products and services.
If you would also like to be part of another success story within the framework of our MobiliseSME programme, then get in contact with our Local Contact Points. We will be happy to help you!
This secondment has been managed by the partners Cámara Oficial de Comercio de España en Bélgica y Luxemburgo and the Forum of the Adriatic and Ionian Chambers of Commerce.
