Brussels, 08/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is looking to give a further nudge in the right direction to EU businesses - and small businesses in particular - keen to forge a place for themselves on the markets for goods, techniques, services or innovative processes that aim to prevent or reduce environmental impacts, or which contribute to the optimal use of resources. On Tuesday 8 May, it launched a €34.8 million call for eco-innovation projects as part of the competitiveness and innovation programme (CIP).
The CIP Eco-Innovation 2012 call for projects has five main priority areas: materials recycling, water, sustainable building products, green business and the food and drink sector. The call for applications is open until 6 September 2012, and around 50 projects will be selected to receive co-funding covering up to 50 % of the project cost.
“For the past four years, CIP Eco-Innovation has helped more than one hundred innovative green products reach the marketplace. The programme shows how businesses can help our economies to grow in an environmentally sustainable way, once they have the right support. I would particularly encourage SMEs to apply for funding - they have a vital role to play in driving forward the EU economy, and last year they made up more than 65 % of applications”, said Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik.
Some 50 projects are now set to launch from last year's call, and over 140 projects are already underway. Examples of current schemes include converting old discarded TVs into tiles, new waste sorting mechanisms, innovative eco-packaging for milk, and a new technique for recycling textiles.
Eco-innovation, which is funded via the competitiveness and innovation programme, has a budget of approximately €200 million for the period from 2008 to 2013 and contributes to the Eco-Innovation Action Plan (EcoAP). The programme is managed by the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI). The 2012 call for proposals was presented on Tuesday 8 May at the Eco-Innovation Info Day in Brussels. (AN/transl.rt)