Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP)

Paying particular attention to the needs of SMEs, the CIP, which covers the period 2007 – 2013, aims to contribute to the competitiveness and innovative capacity of the Community as an advanced knowledge society, with sustainable development based on robust economic growth and a highly competitive social market.

Its overarching objectives are: fostering the competitiveness of enterprises, in particular, that of SMEs; promoting all forms of innovation including eco-innovation; accelerating the development of a sustainable, competitive, innovative and inclusive information society; and promoting energy efficiency and new and renewable energy sources in all sectors, including transport.

The CIP is composed of three specific pillars, each having their own specific objectives: the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP), the Information Communication Technologies Policy Support Programme (ICT-PSP) and the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme (IEE).

The Intelligent Energy Programme, which forms part of the CIP, encourages the wider uptake of new and renewable energies, improves energy efficiency and fosters compliance with the EU energy regulatory framework. It aims at accelerating action in relation to the agreed EU strategy and targets in the field of sustainable energy, increasing the share of renewable energy and further reducing our final energy consumption. It includes actions to:

(i) increase the uptake and demand for energy efficiency;

(ii) promote renewable energy sources and energy diversification, and

(iii) stimulate the diversification of fuels and energy efficiency in transport.

The 2008 call for proposals is the next opportunity to apply for Intelligent Energy proposals. Approximately €45 million are available, supporting up to 75% of eligible project costs. The main purpose of the IEE is to support non-technological actions aimed at reaching the EU’s sustainable energy goals in society and market barriers. IEE also aims to tackle market barriers and raise awareness of European energy policy and legislation among energy providers, promoters, advisors, trainees, agencies, policy makers and users. The benefit of IEE is to recognize the information that is available, but which is not being implemented because of the financial risk, planning and problems with reaching across the EU.

The IEE programme does not fund technical Research and Technological Development. It acts rather as a catalyst for socio-economic, market, regulatory, policy and institutional changes (e.g., international transfer of experience, promotion of best practices, education and training, institutional capacity building, information dissemination, creation of new standards and norms etc.). Each project requires a different set of partners with specific knowledge, capacities, roles and geographical location in order to be able to deliver its objectives. In most cases, successful proposals involve more than the required minimum number of 3 partners. Further information regarding successful projects can be obtained from http://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/library/videos_en.htm.

The Eco-Innovation programme seeks to enhance the competitiveness of the industries while promoting eco-innovative market oriented activities. The Eco-innovation programme supports the first application and further market uptake of some of the best eco-innovative products and services in Europe, and helps to overcome those critical barriers that still hamper their commercial success. Eco-innovation is a relatively new business and technology area which may be described as the production, assimilation or exploitation of a novelty in products, production processes, services or in management and business methods, which aims, throughout its life cycle, to prevent or substantially reduce environmental risk, pollution and other negative impacts of resources use (including energy use).

This call is currently open and about €28 million are available for funding, covering up to 60% of the total eligible costs. The Call is open to all legal persons that are based in eligible countries but the priority will be given to SMEs. Clusters of applicants and projects which demonstrate a European added value and have a high potential for market replication are strongly encouraged.

There is a clear distinction of what can be funded under FP7 and what can be funded under CIP. The eligible costs that can be claimed via FP7 focus on research, development and demonstration, whilst in the case of CIP the eligible costs focus on the techniques, products or practices whose technical performances and economic feasibility have already been validated, but which have not yet been commercialized largely because of remaining risks or the need to adopt these technology. Call for proposals under the Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) 2008 is now open. Further information can be obtained from MIMCOL on telephone 21497970 or email

Source: Funding 4 You—Forum  Malta Fl-Ewropa