SOS Researchers - EU funding: July 2013

31 July 2013

Audiovisual projects on environment

DEADLINE: 13 September 2013

The objective of this call for proposals is to select a proposal to raise awareness of the EU citizens about sustainable development, biodiversity and nature issues by providing financial support to the production of a high quality movie on those subjects for a commercial distribution in cinemas for European audiences, presented by European production companies.

Biodiversity loss and the degradation of nature in the Union have important implications for the environment and are costly for society as a whole, particularly for economic actors in sectors that depend directly on ecosystem services. Biodiversity and nature is vital to countless human activities. Much food production is only possible because of natural benefits like fertile soil and water, and bees that pollinate plants and trees.

To that end, the proposed movie subject should relate closely to the thematic priority objective of the Commission’s proposal for a new Environment Action Programme for 2020 “Living well, within the limits of our planet"2 intended to: "Protect, conserve and enhance the Union’s natural capital".

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of the awarded project is estimated at 1.500.000 EUR.

Who can apply? Public or private entities whose main activity is audio-visual production and their Partners. Applicants may act individually or with partner organisations and/or associates.

29 July 2013

Framework partnership agreements with EU-level NGOs networks

DEADLINE: 6 SEPTEMBER 2013

The purpose of this call is to establish long-term cooperation between the European Commission and European-level networks active in promoting social inclusion and poverty reduction in society as well as European-level networks active in the promotion of access to finance (microfinance or social enterprise finance).

The EU level networks organisations play an important role in promoting changes in employment and social policies and legislation. In the current macroeconomic climate in particular, there is the need to re-build the citizens' trust in the European project and to re-gain the support of the grassroots organisations thereby creating the necessary legitimacy for a social Europe.

Who can apply: EU Member States, EFTA/EEA countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), and EU candidate countries (Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey).

Applicants must choose one of these areas:

European level networks active in the promotion of social inclusion and poverty reduction .
European level networks active in the promotion of access to finance (microfinance and social enterprise finance).

For 2014 the indicative amount for the specific annual grant agreements will be:

A total of EUR 10 000 000 altogether for the EU level NGO networks active in the promotion of social inclusion and poverty reduction.
A total of EUR 1 000 000 altogether for European level networks of organisations active in the promotion of access to finance (microfinance or social enterprise finance).

24 July 2013

Support the development of comprehensive active ageing strategies

DEADLINE: 30 September 2013

Due to rising life expectancy and declining fertility rates, the proportion of older people in Europe is increasing rapidly. It is projected that by 2050, the ratio of people over 65 compared to the working age population (15-64 years of age) will reach 50% - double of the current levels. The present situation poses a challenge to the labour supply and to social protection systems.

The aim of the "active ageing" policy approach is to allow older people to remain longer in the labour market, to participate actively in society and to live independently as long as possible. The aim of this call for proposals is to provide financial support for Member State national public authorities willing to engage in the development and implementation of comprehensive strategies for active ageing. Support will be provided to national authorities wishing to involve different policy areas as well as different levels of governance and relevant stakeholders to enhance their capacity to take concrete actions for tackling the challenges posed by ageing populations.

The project proposals should start with an analysis of the specific challenges and the potentials for promoting active ageing. Based on this analysis of the present situation the proposals should demonstrate how a comprehensive strategy can contribute to improving the conditions for active ageing. Projects could either aim for:

designing and implementing a new comprehensive strategy
improving an existing one.

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of projects is estimated at € 2.000.000.

22 July 2013

Clean Sky: research project for low-carbon aircraft

DEADLINE: 22 October 2013

Aviation is an essential element of today's global society, bringing people and cultures together (2.2 billion passengers yearly) and creating economic growth (425 billion of world GDP - gross domestic product). The air transport industry is paying a lot of attention to growing public concern about the environmental issues of air pollution, noise and climate change.

Clean Sky, a Public Private Partnership between the European Commission and the Aeronautical Industry, was set up to bring significant step changes regarding the environmental impact of aviation. Clean Sky will speed up technological breakthrough developments and shorten the time to market for new and cleaner solutions tested on full scale demonstrators, thus contributing significantly to reducing the environmental footprint of aviation (i.e. emissions and noise reduction but also green life cycle) for our future generations.

The programme is arranged around the six following Integrated Technology Demonstrators (ITDs):

Smart Fixed Wing Aircraft
Green Regional Aircraft
Green Rotorcraft
Systems for Green Operation
Sustainable and Green Engines
Eco-Design

INDICATIVE BUDGET : € 32 336 250

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19 July 2013

Future Internet 2013

Deadline: 10 December 2013

The European Commission has launched the Future Internet Public-Private Partnership Programme (FI-PPP). The main goal is to advance a shared vision for harmonised European-scale technology platforms and their implementation, as well as the integration and harmonisation of the relevant policy, legal, political and regulatory frameworks. As set forth in the Digital Agenda for Europe, these are considered to be prerequisites for realizing a European online Digital Single Market (DSM) and, more broadly, an inclusive knowledge society.

The FI-PPP follows an industry-driven, holistic approach encompassing R&D on network and communication infrastructures, devices, software, service and media technologies. In parallel, it promotes their experimentation and validation in real application contexts, bringing together demand and supply and involving users early in the research lifecycle.

The programme aims to:

Increase the effectiveness of business processes and infrastructures supporting applications in areas such as transport, health, and energy.
Derive innovative business models that strengthen the competitive position of European industry in sectors such as telecommunication, mobile devices, software and services, and content provision and media.

Indicative budget: EUR 130 million

17 July 2013

Financial and Economic Crime

DEADLINE: 7 October 2013

Under the specific programme Prevention of and Fight against Crime, this Call aims to strengthen the expertise in and the coordination of financial investigations and exchange of best practices; development and implementation of instruments regarding the prevention and fight against money laundering, terrorist and proliferation financing, corruption, racketeering or extortion and transparency of legal entities and legal arrangements.

Some priorities fixed for 2013 within this Call:

Financial investigation as a tool enabling effective fight against modern criminal threats.
Cooperation in the field of anti-money laundering.
Prevention and fight against corruption, development of anti-corruption policies.
Fight against fake medicine.
Extortion racketeering.

The total amount for co-financing of grants foreseen under this Call is € 7.000.000.

15 July 2013

Encouraging Senior Citizens to travel in Europe

DEADLINE: 26 September 2013

Tourism is an economic activity capable of generating growth and employment in the EU, while contributing to development and economic and social integration.

The general objective of this call for proposals is to facilitate transnational tourism flows of seniors within Europe in the low season with a view to:

Foster the demand and supply of transnational tourism for seniors;
Improve tourism seasonality patterns across Europe, by contributing to the extension of the tourism season;
Create innovative tourism packages for seniors, which will be available and sustainable after the EU co-financed period;
Set up and strengthen sustainable public-private European partnerships, to contribute creating a European tourism domestic market for seniors in the long term.

12 July 2013

LIFE + Programme: EUR 281.4 million in new environment and climate projects

The European Commission has approved funding for 248 new projects under the LIFE+ programme, the European Union's environment fund. An informal agreement was reached in Brussels on 27 June 2013 on the next funding period for the LIFE programme (2014-2020). Changes include a specific section devoted to climate mitigation and adaptation, and a new funding category for "Integrated Projects".

The projects cover actions in the fields of nature conservation, climate change, environmental policy and information and communication on environmental issues across all Member States. Overall, they represent a total investment of some EUR 556.4 million, of which the EU will provide EUR 281.4 million.

Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: “The LIFE+ programme continues to provide vital funding for innovative projects. These new projects will make a big contribution to protecting, conserving and enhancing Europe’s natural capital. They will support the goal of turning the EU into a resource efficient, greener and more competitive low-carbon economy.”

10 July 2013

Combating Discrimination

DEADLINE: August 8, 2013

The global objective of this Call for Proposals is to reinforce the EIDHR fight against discrimination. EIDHR aims to contribute to the development and consolidation of democracy and the rule of law and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Actions in this call are divided in four lots:

LOT 1 - Discrimination against Indigenous Peoples: actions to improve their social, economic and political participation; to support free, prior and informed consent in decision making processes; to promote dialogue with authorities on access to land and their natural resources; to protect them from violence and criminalization; to ensure access to justice, etc.
LOT 2 - Discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI): actions to improve LGBTI organizations’ visibility and acceptance; to improve dialogue with authorities to change laws; to combat homophobia; to protect LGBTI persons from violence; to offer them and their organizations training, information, legal support, etc.
LOT 3 - Discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief (or non-belief): Actions contributing to intercultural and inter-religious dialogue; promoting the perception and development of equal participation of men and women discriminated on these grounds, in the social, economic and political life, etc.
LOT 4 – Worst forms of discrimination against girl infants – Female infanticide (0 to 5 years old): Actions contributing to awareness rising on female infanticide, both among society and local authorities; data collection and education campaigns to reduce female infanticide; support women’s protection from pressure to commit female infanticide; enhance dialogue on human rights and discrimination, etc.

Applications must address only one of the above mentioned four lots.

The overall indicative amount made available under this Call for Proposals is EUR 20 million.

EU contribution could cover up to 95 % of the total eligible costs of the action.

08 July 2013

Illegal use of Internet

DEADLINE: 7 October 2013

Under the general programme Security and Safeguarding Liberties, this targeted Call for Proposals has the following priorities:

supporting the co-operation between experts and law enforcement authorities on understanding and combating cybercrimes;
actions establishing standard forms for law enforcement requests to the private sector and vice versa;
co-operation to develop and exchange efficient methods of combating terrorist, racist and xenophobic content on the Internet, including content inciting minors.

Some measures and expected results:

setting up joint cyber crime investigation and enquiry teams, preferably in cooperation with Europol and Eurojust, to fight criminal groups operating on the Internet and child sexual abuse online;
development of tools to identify new threats as they emerge, to monitor their evolution and share information between relevant partners;
development of innovative digital investigative and forensic tools to support the law enforcement agencies in combating cyber crime.

Budget available: 5.000.000 euro

04 July 2013

Trafficking in Human Beings

Deadline: 31 October 2013

The call Trafficking in Human Beings is part of the specific programme Prevention of and Fight against Crime.

Projects should achieve one or more of the following results:

More comprehensive and sustainable systems or frameworks for assistance, support and protection of victims of trafficking in human beings;
Establishment of partnerships between all relevant actors at all levels addressing trafficking in human beings from a wide perspective with the aim of exchanging good practices on identification of trafficking cases and establishing guidelines on cooperation agreements for investigation, prosecution and victims protection and support.
A reduction of the demand and supply for goods and services provided by victims of trafficking in human beings
Development of initiatives to better prevent trafficking in human beings and protect, assist and support victims of human trafficking (victims-centred approach); increase the knowledge on groups vulnerable to trafficking in human beings, especially women and children at risk, domestic workers, Roma communities and undocumented workers;
Increased knowledge and awareness of new or less investigated forms of trafficking, such as trafficking for the purpose of domestic servitude, forced begging or forced criminal activities, forced marriages, and/or trafficking for the purposes of removal of organs etc.

Budget for this call: 5.000.000 euro