The Western University of Timișoara is starting registrations in the target group of the project "Your future in entrepreneurship - solution for a successful career", ID 142048, project co-financed from the Human Capital Operational Program 2014-2020, Component 1 Innotech Student, Priority Axis 6 : Education and skills, Investment Priority 10.iv, Call POCU/829/6/13.

The project aims to implement an integrated information and entrepreneurial training program that will lead to an increase in the degree of employment and the entrepreneurial culture of university and non-university tertiary education graduates in the counties of the West region, through the creation and development of businesses in economic sectors with competitive potential and in areas of intelligent specialization.

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• they have the status of students (minimum 2nd year of study), master's or doctoral students;
• have their domicile or residence in Romania;
• they were not part of the target group of other projects financed by the Romania Startup Plus, Support for the establishment of social enterprises, SES Rural or Innotech Student programs;
• did not participate in Entrepreneurial Skills training courses financed by the European Social Fund.

To register, please visit the project website: https://vta.innotech.projects.uvt.ro/

Application files can be submitted online starting from 31.01.2022, according to the Target Group Selection Methodology that can be consulted on the project website.

Enrollment in the target group will be completed only after the verification of the application files submitted according to the methodology and their validation by a Project Expert. The decision to enroll in the target group will be communicated to the person concerned by e-mail.

After confirming the registration, the application files will be sent in physical format, signed, to the headquarters of the Western University in Timișoara, Vasile Pârvan Blvd., No. 4, Et. 6, Room 607, until the date of participation in the entrepreneurial training course.

341 candidates will be accepted into the target group, the selection being made in the order of registration, on the principle of "first come, first served", in compliance with the provisions of the methodology published on the website and the information in this announcement.

Registration period: 31.01.2022 – 28.02.2022

Between February and April 2022, members of the target group will participate for free in a training program in the field of entrepreneurship:

• Module 1 – Entrepreneurship. The business plan in support of the entrepreneur;
• Module 2 – Negotiation techniques in entrepreneurship and business;
• Module 3 – Business management and marketing;
• Module 4 – Financial forecasts;
• Module 5 – Sustainable development.

In total, the program will include 45 training hours staggered over a period of 2-4 weeks. Each module includes both theoretical courses and practical activities.

Participants in the entrepreneurial training program will benefit from subsidies worth 225 lei, provided they obtain the graduation certificate recognized by the National Qualifications Authority.

In the current pandemic context, all training activities will be organized online, through Google's digital platform and services.

Next, the graduates will have the opportunity to participate in a business plan competition, after which they can obtain non-refundable funding of up to 100.000 euros for starting a business. The competition for obtaining non-reimbursable funding will take place between April and May 2022, being open to all graduates of the training program. Graduates who will not be decided on starting a business do not have the obligation to participate in the competition, their involvement in the project ending with obtaining the training certificates.

A minimum of 23 enterprises in competitive sectors will be financed, identified within the SNC 2014-2020 and correlated with the SNCD 2014-2020, enterprises that will generate at least 65 new jobs that will boost the occupational offer in the region.

The winners of the competition will benefit from advice, consultancy, mentoring, innovative learning methods in order to develop the entrepreneurial spirit through simulated enterprises and practical training internships in existing, functional enterprises, whose economic activity is part of the same CAEN group as that related to the business plan selected.

Participants in the activities of the simulated company and the internship will receive a subsidy in the amount of 750 lei, provided that they are present for at least 90% of the time of the activities.

In addition to the know-how necessary to start a business, the minimum 23 future entrepreneurs who will establish businesses in the Western Region will benefit from non-refundable financing in the total amount of 6,296,550.00 lei.

The value of the non-refundable financial aid granted will be correlated with the number of newly created jobs through the started business:

• Non-refundable financial aid less than or equal to 40.000 euros - minimum 2 jobs created;
• Non-refundable financial aid with a value greater than 40.000 euros, but less than or equal to 60.000 euros - minimum 3 jobs created;
• Non-refundable financial aid with a value greater than 60.000 euros, but less than or equal to 80.000 euros - minimum 4 jobs created;
• Non-refundable financial aid with a value greater than 80.000 euros but less than or equal to 100.000 euros - minimum 5 jobs created.

After the establishment of the company, the beneficiaries have 12 months to implement the business plans and 6 months of sustainability period. During the entire period of implementation and sustainability, the beneficiaries will be monitored and guided by the administrator of the entrepreneurship scheme.

The non-refundable financial aid will be granted in two installments:

• initial installment of 75% of the total approved value, which is granted at the beginning of the implementation period;
• final installment of 25% of the total amount approved, granted after the creation of assumed jobs.

For additional information, please consult the project website https://vta.innotech.projects.uvt.ro.