CIP Call to assist energy projects opens

The European Commission has launched the last annual Call for Proposals for projects to be supported through the Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) programme, which seeks to give a boost to clean and sustainable solutions as part of the efforts to help deliver on the ambitious climate change and energy targets that the EU has set for itself.

With funds amounting to about €730 million being made available between 2007 and 2013, the IEE is one of the initiatives within the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) framework, of which the local National Contact Point is hosted by Malta Enterprise.

The IEE supports the use of clean and sustainable energy solutions, as well as the dissemination and the Europe-wide exchange of related knowledge and know-how.

Targeted funding is provided for creative projects putting this idea into practice with three main objectives, namely promoting energy efficiency and encouraging the rational use of energy sources; increasing the use of new and renewable energy sources as well as encouraging energy diversification; and stimulating energy efficiency and renewables in the field of transport.

More than 500 European projects involving 3,500 European organisations – including public bodies, private companies, education establishments, NGOs, associations and SMEs – have received funding through the IEE and a lot has been achieved already.

Amongst others, examples of successful projects include training on new construction techniques that can lead to 50 per cent or more in energy savings when compared with traditional buildings, as well as the improvement of support schemes for electricity generation from renewable energy sources across Europe.

A number of European cities have also tapped into the IEE funding to develop more energy-efficient and cleaner transport, leading to a better quality of life for their citizens.

Malta Enterprise will be organising an information session in January to provide further details on the IEE programme and the Call for Proposals, for which the European Commission will receive applications until May 8th, 2013.

In the coming months, the European Commission – which manages the CIP – will issue two other Calls for Proposals for projects to be assisted through the CIP's Information and Communication Technologies Policy Support Programme (ICT-PSP) and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP).

These calls will be the last ones before the CIP gives way to Horizon 2020 and the Programme for the Competitiveness of enterprises and SMEs (COSME) in the following year.

For more information, visit www.cipmalta.com  or contact the Malta National Contact Point at Malta Enterprise on or on 2542 0000.