Commission launches €35 million call for projects that turn environmental challenges into business opportunities

Published: 13 April 2010 y., Tuesday

Eurai
The European Commission today launched a €35 million call for eco-innovation projects to be funded under the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme. Under the 2010 CIP Eco-innovation call for proposals, funds are available for new projects in the area of materials recycling, sustainable building products, the food and drink sector and green business practices. Applications are particularly welcome from small businesses with green products or services that need backing to penetrate markets. The call opens today and runs until 9 September 2010. Some 50 projects could end up being chosen for funding.

Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for the Environment said: "This call for innovative projects is a tremendous opportunity for Europe's entrepreneurial talent to showcase new ideas to reduce our ecological footprint. The CIP Eco-Innovation programme shows that helping the environment makes good business sense, with numerous products and services now demonstrating how competitive growth and environmental protection can go hand in hand."

The call covers four main areas:

Material recycling

Sustainable building products

Food and drink sector

Green business

Up to 50% of project costs covered

The call is addressed particularly to SMEs that have developed a green product, process or service that is technically proven but is still struggling to find its place in the market. The call offers direct co-financing with grants that cover up to 50% of the total project cost. The €35 million funds available for the 2010 call are expected to bring to life between 45 and 50 new projects.

The projects are selected on the basis of their innovative approach, their market replication potential and their contribution to European environmental policies, especially in terms of resource efficiency.

Some 44 projects are currently running under the scheme, and another 45 are set to launch in the course of this year. Some examples include: converting used tyres into valuable insulation materials; using bamboo plantations to purify 'grey' water (water that has been used for household washing and bathing); and replacing conventional paper labels with innovative laser technologies.

The 2010 call for proposals will be presented today during the CIP Eco-innovation Info Day taking place in the Charlemagne building in Brussels. The deadline for submissions is 9 September.

Background: CIP Eco-innovation

With a total budget of around €200 million over the period 2008-2013, CIP Eco-innovation supports the first application and further market uptake of sustainable solutions that make better use of Europe's natural resources. CIP Eco-innovation is a green strand of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) and a dynamic contributor to the Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP).

 

Šaltinis: europa.eu
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.

Facebook Comments

New comment


Captcha

Associated articles

The most popular articles

Commission recommends to open excessive deficit procedures for Cyprus, Denmark and Finland

The European Commission today concluded on the existence of excessive deficits in Cyprus, Denmark and Finland and recommended deadlines for their correction to the Council. more »

Globalisation fund: Parliament backs aid to Ireland and Spain

Over 2000 former construction workers in Spain and nearly 600 ex-employees of Irish glass company Waterford Crystal and its suppliers will receive a total of €11 million in aid from the EU Globalisation Adjustment Fund to help with training, business start-ups and job guidance under plans agreed by MEPs and the Council of Ministers. more »

Budget 2011 negotiations coming closer - MEPs decide on tactics

MEPs on Tuesday decided six top priorities and a number of additional key issues for the upcoming negotiations on the 2011 budget. more »

EU-China research cooperation in the spotlight at World Expo Shanghai

The EU-China Science and Technology Week starts today at the heart of World Expo Shanghai. more »

European Investment Bank and European Commission to explore EU climate finance initiative

European Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard and European Investment Bank President Philippe Maystadt agreed on Monday to explore a joint climate finance initiative for developing countries as part of the European Union commitment made at the UN climate conference in Copenhagen last December. more »

Interconnected energy grid - a first step towards an EU energy community

Sustainability, competitiveness and security of energy supply: the three pillars to the foundation of a new EU energy community. more »

European Commission set to help Palestinian economy with full opening of EU market

EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and Palestinian Minister of National Economy Hasan Abu-Libdeh today discussed measures to enhance EU-Palestinian bilateral trade relations and to facilitate trade of Palestinian products to EU markets. more »

Affordable hybrid cars, bus systems that get people out of cars, “intelligent” cargo and much more: Brussels showcase for smarter and greener transport innovation

Some of the most innovative and exciting transport research projects funded by the EU are being showcased at the Transport Research Arena (TRA) in Brussels this week. more »

Galileo: European alternative to GPS needs more funding

Nowadays we rely heavily on satellite positioning and navigation, but the only available technology is American. more »

Conference to present the future of transport networks in Europe

The European Commission will reveal how it aims to revamp its transport networks policy in response to the challenges of the 21st century at a conference dedicated to the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) in Zaragoza on 8 and 9 June. more »