Eco-Innovation 2010 call open

Through the Eco-innovation funding scheme, the EU intends to support innovative products, services and technologies that can make a better use of our natural resources and reduce Europe's ecological footprint. With its objective being that of bridging the gap between research and the market, CIP Eco-innovation contributes to the implementation of the Environmental Technologies Action Plan.

The 2010 Eco-innovation call supports the first applications and market uptake of innovative products, processes and services. It aims at bridging the gap between Research and Development and commercialisation, removing the obstacles to the wide application of eco-innovation and creating new, as well as enlarging existing, markets with a strong emphasis on SMEs.

Applications from SMEs are particularly encouraged. Around €35 million will be available to fund new projects this year. The European Commission will fund up to 50% of the project's eligible costs. The Call for proposals 2010 is now open and its deadline for submission of applications is September 9, 2010 at 17:00 hrs.

To be eligible, projects require to:

have an innovative character and substantial positive impacts on the environment;

provide significant replication, wider application and broader marketability;

be relevant for and show clear and substantial benefits in support of Europe's environmental policy objectives;

be relevant for and show clear and substantial benefits in support of Europe's environmental policy objectives;

demonstrate a European added value and an international project dimension;

be well thought-through from a technical and project management perspective;

be cost-effective delivering higher quality through appropriate effort levels.

This call supports Eco-innovative projects in different sectors which aim at the prevention or reduction of environmental impacts or which contribute to the optimal use of resources. This initiative is addressed mainly to organisations that have developed an environmental product, service, management practice or process which has a proven track record, yet is not fully marketed due to residual risks. The Eco-innovation initiative is intended to overcome those barriers to further market penetration and turn these products and processes into Europe's future eco-innovation successes.

To download the 2010 Call documentation and application forms, the presentations held at the Ecoinnovation Days in Brussels, and for additional information kindly visit www.cipmalta.com or contact the Malta CIP National Contact Point on .

Mr Pedro Fernandez Alvarez is part of the CIP Malta National Contact Point, which was set-up under the auspices of Malta Investment Management Co. Ltd (MIMCOL).