European Commission Launches E35million call for projects

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



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 Ecoinnovation 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 initiative 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 small businesses 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; 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).


Further information:
All relevant call documentation can be found at:



http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoinnovation/ application_en.htm


Several national info days will take place around Europe. Key dates and locations are available on:


http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eco-innovation/events_en.htm
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Brussels, 24 February 2010
CIP Eco-innovation: 45 new projects paving the way for Europe's green growth.
45 best green projects will receive € 32 million funding under the 2009 CIP Eco-innovation initiative. The 45 projects were selected from among over 200 proposals submitted by the call deadline. Ranging from innovative materials for easy sorting and recycling to advanced production methods that save water and other resources, the selected projects are set to strengthen Europe’s competitive edge while improving its environmental standing.
Following a thorough evaluation of the 202 proposals submitted by the call closing date, 45 new projects are due to receive a share of the € 32 million funds available under the 2009 CIP Eco-innovation call for proposals. Within their lifespan, the 45 projects are expected to mobilise directly as much additional funding again from the private and public undertakings in the project consortia, leading to a total investment of around € 64 million. Thanks to their replication factor, these projects will leverage even higher investments in the medium term.


A detailed breakdown of the selected projects shows the following distribution:
 Recycling: 33%
 Green business: 29%
 Food and drink: 29%
 Buildings: 7%
 Others: 2%


Commenting on the results of the evaluation, Patrick Lambert, Director of the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI) responsible for managing the funding scheme, said "I am pleased to see such an enthusiastic response to our call with so many high quality applications. Now that the selection is complete, I look forward to the next stage when these new projects will contribute to Europe's green growth agenda."


The 45 selected projects will now enter the contract negotiation phase; the first projects are expected to kick off in the spring.


When business meets the environment Eco-innovation covers a wide range of green products, services and processes that can turn environmental challenges into business opportunities. The underlying idea is that competitive growth and environmental protection can go hand in hand.
Examples of CIP Eco-innovation projects which will receive funding under the 2009 call include:


 a filtering system to turn olive oil waste into valuable components for health, nutritional and industrial uses;
 a new type of milk bottle made of a mix of recycled paper and plastic that you can easily separate and sort;
 a revolutionary laser technology for fruit labelling that replaces conventional paper labels;
 a new manufacturing process to produce motorcycle parts with less waste and lower emissions;
 a novel recovery scheme for old carpets that reduces the need for raw material and energy consumption;
 better recycling methods for old shoes and footwear taking lessons from the tyre recycling industry;
 a new sorting method for black plastics using an innovative imaging sensor technique;
 an innovative wooden floor adhesive that does away with heavy metals and volatile organic material;
 improved technologies to recycle used nappies without incineration or harmful emissions.


A record number of submissions


With 202 proposals submitted by the closing date, the 2009 call saw a significant 50% increase in applications over the previous year. The proposals came from a wide spectrum of organisations, but for the most part (70%) SMEs. Altogether the funding requests arising from the 202 project proposals amounted to € 150 million. The two most popular areas of submission were recycling – accounting for one third of all proposals submitted – and green business. Together, buildings and the food and drink sector represented another third of all proposals.
The 2009 call attracted applications from 614 organisations in 32 countries, with once again Spain, Italy and Germany in the lead but also some new entries from proposers in Iceland, Albania and Serbia.


With 44 projects currently running under the scheme, CIP Eco-innovation is a green strand of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme and a dynamic contributor to the Environmental Technologies Action Plan.


The next opportunity to apply under CIP Eco-innovation will be with the new call for proposals which will open on 13 April 2010 with € 35 million available for funding new projects.
Links:
For a detailed analysis of the 2009 call see: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eco-innovation/projects_en.htm
To learn more about CIP Eco-innovation visit: http://ec.europa.eu/ecoinnovation
Media Contact:
Mr Andrea Pascal, EACI
Tel: +32 (0)2 29 90452
E-mail: andrea.pascal@ec.europa.eu
About CIP Eco-innovation
With a total budget of € 200 million over the period 2008-2013, CIP Eco-innovation supports the first application and market uptake of sustainable solutions that make better use of natural resources and reduce Europe's ecological footprint. CIP Ecoinnovation projects bring about new products, services and processes in areas as diverse as materials recycling, buildings and construction, the food and drink industry, and green management.


http://ec.europa.eu/ecoinnovation


About ETAP
The Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP) is Europe's roadmap to making eco-innovation an everyday reality throughout Europe. Adopted by the Commission in 2004, the Plan covers a broad range of activities promoting ecoinnovation and the widespread use of environmental technologies, with a view to positioning the EU as a recognised world
leader in this area.


http://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap


About EACI
The Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI) was established by the European Commission to ensure the effective management of three EU-funding schemes and a European business network. The EACI's team is made up of specialists on energy, the environment, business support, multi-modal transport, communication and finance. http://ec.europa.eu/eaci
First overview on projects to be funded from CIP Eco-innovation 2009 Call 1 of 4 Green business: Clean Production
255727
TILEATHER
Substitution of Chrome in Leather Tannery
The project concerns the application of an environmentally friendly technology in the tannery-leather industrial processes consisting in the substitution of the chrome with titanium. The project proposes the innovative adaptation of the patented Sanotan technique to be applied in the tannery sector at European level.
255887
ECOTPU
Biobased thermoplastic material for shoes

The proposal aims to introduce into the market an innovative bio-based thermoplastic (TPU) material for shoe production, the so-called "ecoTPU". The project describes tangible environmental benefits in terms of reducing the toxicity of TPU made of renewable resources and on CO2 emission in comparison to the production of standard TPU.
255993
CFT
Ceramic tiles' cutting
The project aims the industrialization of an innovative line for the ceramics tiles’ cutting by the adoption of a new dry cycle that allows also the elimination or reduction of mud produced in the cutting and grinding working phases.
256055
GLASSPLUS
Ceramic tiles from Cathodic Ray Tube
The GLASS Plus project concerns an innovative industrial process aimed at using recycled cathodic ray tubes (CRT) glass in the ceramic industry to partly replace feldspar in the production of ceramic tiles.
256080
ECOBULLNOSE
Process for bull-nose ceramic tiles
The Eco bull-nose project concerns the industrialization of an innovative line for the bull-nose ceramic tiles that allows a drastic reduction of polishing and grinding sludge production during the finishing operations.
256087
HI-REACH
Resource efficient motorcycle parts

The project aims to produce new parts for motorcycle fabrication, with reduction in environmental impacts on raw materials use, waste generation and pollution effects.
256112
BISCOL
Biodyes for textiles
The project aims to produce and introduce into the market a new type of biodyes for the textile industry with a focus on the reduction of the environmental impact of the textile chain roduction by replacing high polluting chemicals with biological compounds, and by reducing energy consumption of the dyeing process.
256162
BIOLIGNIN
Lignin plant for ecobinders
BIOLIGNIN will facilitate the use of lignin for eco-binders (from straw) needed for instance by wood-based panel manufacturers. To achieve this, an industrial plan to produce lignin (together with bleached paper pulp and C5 sugar syrup) will be set up.



Green Business: New services and advanced EMAS
256171
GREENPAL
Pallet trading support
Webbased ICT solution for trading old and new pallets, reducing transport and increasing re-use of EU pallets. This new service offers the possibility for wide, fast and independent matchmaking between supply and demand of used pallets.
256189
INTOUR
supply chain management in mass tourism
Ecolabel and advanced Cluster EMAS of hotels for tour operators and travel agencies involving national and European associations. Replication and expansion of existing Dutch initiative based on a previous LIFE project.
256100
PROSPEC
EMAS for printing sector
Advanced EMAS for print clusters in UK and GR, aiming for 23+12 companies. In consortium: trainers, consultants, verifiers. It will create the first two EMAS clusters in printing industry (UK + GR) and integrate existing methods to a printing specific platform, which will serve SMEs, consultants and verifiers. It will share Cluster lessons with other sectors.
255948
ECOSTEVEDORING
EMAS for ports
Advanced EMAS for cargo (un-) loading in ports through developed software tool. 15 ports companies will be targeted with a cluster and triple perspective of freight loading (containers, bulk and roll-on/roll-off). Builds on successful national demonstration and focus on carbon footprint of the transportation sector.
First overview on projects to be funded from CIP Eco-innovation 2009 Call
2 of 4
Recycling: New products from recycled material
256005
WAP-WIR
Substituting dangerous materials with recyclables in ceramics
WAP-WIR aims at replacing polyester resins, volatile solvents and hazardous pigments with recycled natural stone and glass powders in decorative bassrelief ceramics.
256025
NATURALISTA
Footwear waste into
new consumer
products
The project addresses the recycling of post-used shoes and footwear industry
waste to be used in the manufacturing of new products. This will be done by
means of a mechanical treatment very similar to the one used in tyre
recycling, which is basically a shredding and grinding process.
256120
PROWASTE
Recycled plastic
lumber
The project aims at promoting an innovative industrial process for the
production of more environmentally friendly high performance recycled
plastic lumber.
256151
ACE
Rubber based
products
This proposal aims to introduce an innovative hybrid material, a recycled
polymer called “Eco-rubber”, made from recycled rubber and plastic to
European markets by adapting and fine tuning the material towards end users'
needs.
Recycling: New recycling services
256142
EUROC2C
CARPETCHAINS
Carpet recovery
The project aims at developing a collection and recycling scheme of used
carpets in 6 European countries.
256184
WACOIL
Recycling of Waste
Vegetable Oils
This proposal aims at improving different stages in the recycling of waste
vegetable oil by using street containers with a sensor level device from one
hand and undertaking experimental tests of the residues from pre-treatment
and the by -products from refining.
Recycling: New recycling Processes/Technologies
256180
WS-REC
Design and construction
of a ELV-windscreen
recycling line
The project aims at implementing a recycling plant for car windscreens,
enabling commercial re-use of glass and polyvinyl butyral (PVB) and
avoidance of land-filling or incineration. The project includes the
optimisation of current practices for the recycling of glass and an
innovative method for PVB recycling.
256141
THE DIAPERS
PROJECT
Recycling of diapers
This project will demonstrate the economical feasibility of an industrial
sized sorting and recycling processing plant for used nappies using
proven technology (with improvements) and thus avoiding the need for
their incineration or placing in landfills.
256130
FIBERROTOR
Reusable fibres from
waste glass fibre
The project will implement a machine for the recycling of clean
unhardened waste fabric-type glass fibre into single fibres which can be
re-used as a raw material. A prototype of the machine already exists.
256010 Big Tyre Recycling
Recycling big tyres
The proposal aims at building up a commercial plant for recycling big
end-of-life tyres (diameter greater than 1.4 m) by separating rubber and
steel using Ultra High Pressure (UHP) water jet cutting technology.
256152
RECYTUBE
Reuse scraps containing
carbon nanotubes
The project will reuse scraps containing carbon nanotubes, which are
generated during the generation of plastics nanocomposites.
256154
BP Sorting
Black Polymer Sorting
with HELIOS SWIR
The objective of the project is to develop bring on the market a new
sorting system for black plastics based on a hyperspectral imaging
sensor.
256174
PARILAS
Sorting of shredded
aluminum scrap
This project aims to develop a process based on laser technology for
identification and sorting of shredded aluminium scrap to different alloy
types.
First overview on projects to be funded from CIP Eco-innovation 2009 Call
3 of 4
Food and Drink
255890
PLACOTOP
Bottle stopper from cork
and plastic
PLACOTOP aims at optimizing and introducing into the market a new
type of bottle stopper made of a composite material - plastic and cork.
The project contributes to reducing the environmental impact of materials
linked to food packaging and at protecting cork oak forests by facilitating
their preservation and better management.
256031
OMIWAT
Treatment of waste water
from olive oil production
OMIWAT addresses the important environmental issue related to olive
oil production and its polluting effluents. A three-stage filter system to
treat olive mill waste water will be set up. The system will produce
highly valuable by-products such as a fertilizer, polyphenols for the food
and drink sector, timber and recycle water for irrigation.
256032
ECOBIONET
Bio-degradable nets for
agriculture and packaging
ECOBIONET's objective is to industrialize the manufacture of different
types of bio-degradable and compostable nets for agriculture and
shellfish packaging products.
256045
ECO3CIP
Cleaning of waste water
from dairy production
The aim of this project is to develop an ozone-based clean-in-place
solution which lowers the volumes of water required, lowers the volumes
and strength of wastewater discharged and reduces the need for the use of
aggressive chemicals. The main application is within the dairy industry
but there is scope for extension to include other disinfection processes
within the food industry.
256048
ECOPACK
Green labels for
packaging and mulching
plastics
Proposal aims to integrate eco/human toxicology tests to the
requirements of the EN13432 standard. The environmental benefits arise
from a more environmentally safe product, enhancing the composting of
labelled plastics, and the eventual benefit of biodegraded agricultural
plastics as soil fertiliser
256052
RECOWATER
Wastewater treatment for
food industry
RECOWATER aims to provide an innovative solution to the recycling of
cooling waters within the food industry as well as reducing the impact on
the generation, collection and treatment of wastewater.
256062
GREENBOTTLE
Recyclable milk bottles
GREENBOTTLE focuses on a novel technology to replace plastic milk
bottles with bottles made a molded recycled paper outer shell and a thin,
loose plastic inner liner. At the end of the product life, the consumer can
easily separate the two components which fit into existing recycling
streams.
256067
miniAD
Portable treatment of
animal by-products
MiniAD aims at replicating a system based on existing anaerobic
digestion technology to treat animal by-products. Innovative in the small
scale and portability of the plant, and in the processing of outputs (such
as digestate and biogas).
256083
ECOBLOOD
On-site treatment of
animal by-products to
water and biogas
The ECOBLOOD project aims to provide an eco-friendly technology for
on-site blood processing, comprising a blood coagulator and a membrane
filtration unit. The technology will produce clarified water and blood
meal to produce biogas.
256095
Sterilis
Optimised sterilization
equipment for food and
drink industry
The project concerns new continuous vertical sterilization equipment for
the food & drink industry. It offers additional environmental benefits
such as the lower consumption of water for sterilisation and cooling,
lower energy and an overall reduced footprint.
256123
ENBED
Limiting losses of food
industry
ENBED addresses new ICT technologies aimed at the monitoring of food
conditions during transport with the purpose of limiting losses in terms of
food products and improving efficiency of energy consumption during
transports.
256136
APRE
Animal by-products for
fertiliser and energy
The aim of the APRE project is to produce a high quality fertilizer and
energy through the co-digestion of energy crops with animal by-products
in a centralized biogas plant.
First overview on projects to be funded from CIP Eco-innovation 2009 Call
4 of 4
(Food and Drink – continued)
256149
PHOBIOR
Clean production of free
omega-3 fatty acids
The scope of this proposal is to build a commercial scale reactor for
producing a healthy product, guaranteed mercury –free omega-3 fatty
acids, altogether under clean production conditions.
256169
LASERMARK
New way of fruit labelling
The LASERMARK proposal aims to replace conventional fruit labelling
processes (i.e. paper and coated labels) with a more environmentally
friendly and innovative solution, which consists in an edible contrast
substance that changes colour when activated with the laser.
Buildings/Construction
255934
BACOM
Bio-waste to construction
material
Innovative process to recycle bio-solid waste from water treatment plants
into composite construction materials.
256009
SANGUSS
Installation walls using
foam glass
SANGUSS offers a new process to fill installation walls using foam glass
produced from waste that is not recycled today with advantages on higher
resource efficiency.
256179
ECBP
Eco-labelled wood floor
adhesive
An innovative an eco-labelled wood floor adhesive with no heavy metals
or volatile organic compounds.
256186
SUSCON-EPV
Sustainability index for
concrete
SUSCON-EPV aims to develop a sustainability index and a green label
for concrete. The proposed solution wants to be a credible alternative to
present national less sustainable prescription based practices.
Timo Mäkelä
Director of Sustainable Development and Integration
European Commission – Directorate-General for the Environment
Background
Timo Mäkelä is Director – Sustainable Development and Integration – at the DG Environment of the
European Commission. His present responsibilities include sustainable development and economic analysis,
sustainable production and consumption - including waste management, environmental research, science
and innovation policies as well as environmental policies for the industry. Mr Mäkelä has held a number of
posts at the Ministry of Environment of Finland. Furthermore, he has also served as a head of department at
the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Water Affairs in Gaborone, Botswana and as a Director at the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London. Since 1996, Mr Mäkelä has been employed
by the European Commission, as a Head of Unit at the Enlargement Unit of DG Environment in Brussels and
as the Head of European Commission Representation in Finland, before his present post.
Patrick Lambert
Director
Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI)
Background
Patrick worked for British Gas for 10 years in finance and personnel management. In 1984 he joined the
Energy DG of the European Commission, working firstly in the natural gas field but thereafter enjoying spells
in energy policy, international relations, energy efficiency and renewable energies. When energy and
transport were merged in 2000 to create DG TREN, Patrick was responsible for international relations in
these two sectors as well as relations with the Council and Parliament. Towards the end of 2004 he was
appointed Director of the Intelligent Energy Executive Agency, the first executive agency created by the
Commission. In 2007 the IEEA became the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI),
responsible for managing a number of EU programmes in the fields of intelligent energy, sustainable
transport, eco-innovation and small business support.
Beatriz Yordi
Head of Unit Market Replication- Eco-innovation and Intelligent Energy
Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI)
Background
Physicist, Beatriz started at Ciemat (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y
Tecnológicas) and joined the private electricity utility Union Fenosa in a pioneer EU technology project on
solar energy together with RWE and Endesa. She joined the European Commission in 1994 working in the
RTD programme on renewable energies. From 2000, she was conceiving, and implementing Community
legislation and policy orientation at DG TREN. Beatriz has been responsible for drafting and implementation
of the Directives on electricity from renewable energy sources and Biofuels and the setting of 20% objective
on renewable energy sources. In 2008, she joined EACI and was appointed responsible for managing market
replication on eco-innovation and intelligent energy