FUNDS FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Smart Rail Services

Deadline: 18th March 2014 (pre-proposals)

Proposals should address one of the two main challenges:

1) Seamless multimodal travel

2) Logistic Services

Regarding Seamless multimodal travel, research and innovation activities should aim at conceiving and prototyping an on-line, mobile, suite of integrated facilities providing a whole new traveller experience throughout the journey (namely planning and reservation of user-friendly multimodal trips and services, including information related to the specific needs of persons with reduced mobility and to the environmental impact of user choices), easily accessible entitlements, validation and control for all transport modes, en-route assistance including re-accommodation. The whole process should be further supported by the necessary business analytics providing relevant feedback of traveller data with the aim of ensuring more robust and responsive transport operations. Developments should evolve on the basis of robust business models capable of guaranteeing the economics of these e-services in the long-term.

Regarding Logistic Services, proposals should aim at addressing the key challenges of freight through a systematic "top-down" approach that backtracks from the performance indicators to be achieved – either in a geographical reach perspective (i.e. applicability of the solutions on a European scale) or in market segmentation (e.g. trainload/intermodal/wagonload or commodity-based segments) - and define the optimal combination of business, operational and technological solutions that are required for their delivery. In view of the significant financial fragility of the sector, priority should be given to those aspects that maximise potential returns in the short-term and require only moderate investment.

Project Budget: around EUR 12 million for the first challenge (Seamless multimodal travel) and around EUR 6 million euro for the second challenge (Logistic services)

Funding rate: 100%

Source: European Commission official website

XIFI Competitive Call for additional Project Partners

Submission deadline: 27 November 2013 

XIFI (eXperimental Infrastructures for the Future Internet), a project currently active in the Seventh Framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities contributing to the creation of the European research area and to innovation (2007-2013) requires the participation of new partners to carry out certain tasks within the project. In particular the tasks pertain to the expansion of the infrastructure nodes of the FI-PPP capacity by the involvement of providers and operators of additional infrastructures at locations considering the requirements of the early trial projects of the FI-PPP. 

Maximum budget available for new beneficiaries 2,170,000 € 

Maximum funding request per proposal 200,000 € 

The major objective of XIFI with this Open Call is to enlarge the infrastructure capacity of the FI-PPP by additional nodes aiming at achieving: 

• Balanced geographical distribution of infrastructures across Europe
• Increased heterogeneity of infrastructures and diversity of service capabilities 
• Greater diversity of access technologies including reach to Internet of Things infrastructures 
• Larger scale for Europe-wide early trials in the FI-PPP

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Funding for victims of torture

DEADLINE: 22 October 2013

The main objective of this Pilot Project is to create a new line of funding for the final benefit of victims of torture (EU or non-EU citizens) present in the Union.

 

The funding should cover the following actions designed, developed and implemented in EU Member States:

• 
  to create rehabilitation centres for victims of torture or to support the existing ones by providing funds for their rehabilitation costs and their other activities;
  
• to provide access to multidisciplinary support and counseling, including physical and psychotherapeutic treatment, psycho-social counseling, legal services, and socioeconomic support to the victims;
• to support international networking between rehabilitation centres in order to build capacities, support the exchange of good practices among specialists, allow peer supervision as a means of prevention of vicarious trauma, etc.;
• to support activities which aim to empower torture victims themselves and, in general, to support the ability of torture victims to integrate into society in European countries.

 

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of projects is EUR 2.000.000.

The minimum grant will be EUR 175.000 and the maximum grant will be EUR 350.000. Financial contribution from the European Union cannot exceed 90 % of the total eligible costs of the action.

 

Eligible organisations are: national, regional and local authorities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), public or private bodies, university departments, research centres that are constituted with a legal personality and are duly registered in one of the eligible countries.

 

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Analysis of reception, protection and integration policies for unaccompanied minors in the EU

DEADLINE for submission of proposals: 24 October 2013

 The main objective of this Pilot Project is to identify good practices on prevention, reception, protection and integration policies for unaccompanied minors.

The Pilot project will cover the following specific objectives:

(a) Identifying prevention actions and policies vis-à-vis the group to which the Unaccompanied Minors belong (e.g. asylum seekers, victims of trafficking, children who enter illegally into the Union) and/or the country or region of origin

(b) Identifying good practices in measures to support protection programmes for Unaccompanied Minors in third countries.

(c) Identifying best practices on child reception and protection, and in particular on issues such as procedures at first encounter, legal representation, appointment of a guardian, access to and adequacy of reception facilities, initial interviews, education and medical care.

(d) Identifying good practices in specific measures and procedural guarantees for Unaccompanied Minors in the European Union.

(e) Evaluating the various experiences of combating the phenomenon of unaccompanied minors going missing and identifying best practices.

(f) Identifying best practices on restoring family unity and reintegration of Unaccompanied Minors in their countries of origin.

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of projects is EUR 1.000.0004 .

The minimum grant will be EUR 200.000 and the maximum grant will be EUR 1.000.000. Financial contribution from the European Union cannot exceed 90 % of the total eligible costs of the action.

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European funding for low-carbon energy technologies.

Deadline: 13th September 2013

EUROGIA2020 goal is to support and promote international partnerships developping innovative projects in low-carbon energy technologies.

It is a bottom-up, industry driven, market oriented programme which addresses all areas of the energy mix, from renewable energy to efficiency, and reduction of carbon footprint of fossil fuels.

EUROGIA2020 is a cluster of the EUREKA network, a decentralized intergovernmental initiative started in 1985 to enhance European competitiveness by supporting businesses, research centers and universities that take part in trans-national projects.

 It adresses all innovative energy technologies that will:

• reduce the carbon footprint of energy production and;
• use develop new technologies for energy such as solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, energy efficiency, etc.

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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.

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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.

 

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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.”

 

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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.

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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

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Europe-Brazil relations

Exchange of New Entrepreneurs between the Federative Republic of Brazil and Europe

DEADLINE: 4 July

This call for proposals assumes that exchanges with knowledgeable entrepreneurs from Brazil and from CIP Participating Countries will help Brazilian and European SMEs and entrepreneurs to address the lack of business and entrepreneurial know-how and skills environment to grow and encourage their development.

The overall objective of this call for proposals is:

• To increase exchanges between Brazil and CIP Participating Countries;
• To provide on-the-job-training for New entrepreneurs in small and medium-sized enterprises in Brazil and in Europe in order to facilitate a successful start-up, and development of their business ideas;
• To foster sharing of experience and information between entrepreneurs on the obstacles and challenges of starting up and developing their businesses in Brazil and in the CIP Participating Countries;
• To enhance market access and identification of potential partners for new and established businesses in Brazil and in Europe;
• To support business networking between entrepreneurs from Brazil and the CIP Participating Countries by building on knowledge and experience from each other.

The specific objective is to select an organisation which will manage the exchange of new entrepreneurs between the Federative Republic of Brazil and CIP Participating Countries at local level. This call for proposals is expected to result in 100 successful exchanges.

 

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Making Tourism more sustainable

Supporting the enhancement and promotion of sustainable transnational thematic tourism products

DEADLINE: 3rd July 2013

The overall objectives of the call for proposals are the following:

• to support the enhancement and promotion of sustainable transnational thematic tourism products contributing to the development and promotion of sustainable tourism in Europe by improving their visibility and market uptake.

• to contribute to the creation of an environment favorable to transnational co-operation among tourism-related stakeholders with a particular emphasis on the SMEs.

A transnational thematic tourism product is meant as made up of a set of tourism destinations, attractions, services and taking the form of a transnational route/itinerary/trail/tourism offer, either physical (based on physical infrastructure) or conceptual (linking places/destinations/attractions) having a common thematic link and a high potential for sustainable tourism development.

 

Contact us for more information.

 

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AAL - Ambient assisted living

Deadline: 30 April 2013 

Call 6 aims at the development of ICT-based solutions which enable older adults to continue managing their occupation – at work in an office, a factory or any working environment; in a first or subsequent career, in paid or voluntary occupation including local social activities – while preserving health and motivation to remain active. Occupation in the context of this Call 6 is defined as paid and unpaid activity that results in benefit for the community, society and economy. 

The AAL Joint Programme is looking for ICT solutions to promote, enhance and sustain: 

• paid activity (including but not exclusive to professional, entrepreneurial/small business and self-employment) 
• unpaid activity (e.g. volunteering, knowledge sharing, counselling).

 The AAL Joint Programme aims at innovative and ICT-based solutions delivered through applied research and development activities, which are financially sustainable and underpinned by a credible business case at proposal submission stage. Projects are expected to target market needs and demands

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EU ICI-ECP PROGRAMME FOR JOINT MOBILITY PROJECTS (JMP) AND JOINT DEGREE PROJECTS (JDP)

EU ICI-ECP programme for joint mobility projects and joint degree projects Deadline: 15 May 2013

The Industrialised Countries Instrument (ICI) promotes co-operation between the European Union and seventeen industrialised and other high-income countries and territories in North America, the Asia-Pacific region and the Gulf region.

One of the supported specific actions promotes "people-to-people links" with the aim to enhance mutual understanding between cultures and to facilitate the exchange of knowledge. 

This 2012 ICI-ECP Call for Proposals supports co-operation with Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea by means of Joint Degree projects (JDP) and Joint Mobility projects  (JMP). 

Such projects focus on structured exchanges of students and faculty members; and on the joint development of joint or shared curricula and joint study programmes, as well as on the award of joint or double degrees in the case of Joint Degree projects. 

All projects must address: 

• development of innovative international curricula; 
• student services, 
• language and cultural preparation; 
• organisational frameworks for student mobility and faculty members' mobility; 
• evaluation; 
• sustainability and dissemination.

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Progress funding programme

PARES (PARtnerships between Employment Services) - EU Flagship Agenda 'New Skills and Jobs' - Europe 2020 

Deadline: 1st March 2013

PARES seeks to bring together all employment services with a view to improving their co-operation and further defining the fields in which they can deliver complementary services. 

Main objective: to encourage new forms of collaboration between employment services at national and EU level for the delivery of complementary services with a high standard of quality and efficiency. 

The call shall also help to promote a culture of partnership working by breaking traditional barriers and pre-conceptions regarding the different roles of employment services. 

 In line with this general objective, the present call for proposals will support projects which involve at least two different types of partners from public, private or third sector employment services, also being eligible education and training providers, NGOs, welfare institutions, etc. to work together by relying on the specific strengths and expertise of each employment service. 

 Projects are strongly encouraged to target the 'green economy'. 

 Duration of each project is maximum 18 months.

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Funding for the Transeuropean transport network (TEN-T)

EU funding programme: TEN-T

Deadline: 28th February 2013

Grants will be awarded in the following fields: 

• Projects concerning rail, road and inland waterways (PPs; indicative amount available is €731 million); 

• European Rail Traffic Management Systems (ERTMS; indicative amount available is €100 million); 

• River Information Services (RIS; indicative amount available is €10 million); 

• Air Traffic Management (ATM; indicative amount available is €50 million); 

• Motorways of the Sea (MoS; indicative amount available is €80 million); 

• Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS; indicative amount available is €50 million).

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KEP Austria: Call for proposal

European funds: Know-how Exchange Programme

Deadline: 28th December 2012

Objectives of the funding programme:

• Strengthen economic and social advancement of the CEI non-EU Member States; 
• Help the recent EU members in their transformation from recipients to donors (emerging donors) of development assistance; 
• Promote principles of foreign development aid and support international collaboration among institutions in CEI member countries.

Within the scope of KEP AUSTRIA Call for Proposal 2013 the following priority areas apply:

 I. European Integration, Capacity Building and Market Economy 

II. Infrastructure Planning and Development 

III. Agriculture, Energy, and Environment 

Project implementation should start after 1 March 2013. Project duration should not exceed 12 months

Detailed newsletter and official documents

European fundings for culture

European funds for culture

Deadline: 7th October 2012

Multi-annual cooperation projects can be realised in all areas of cultural activity. These projects are intended to enhance the common European cultural area with a view to encouraging the emergence of a sense of European citizenship.

Projects must have a duration of not less than 36 months and not more than 60 months

The only eligible applicants are public or private organisations with legal personality whose main activity is in the cultural field (areas of cultural or creative activity)

Cultural organisations are given support for projects to work together across borders and to create and implement cultural and artistic activities. The thrust of this programme is to help organisations, such as theatres, museums, professional associations, research centers, universities, cultural institutes and public authorities from different countries participating in the Programme to cooperate so that different sectors can work together and extend their cultural and artistic reach across borders.

Detailed newsletter and official documents

European funds for SMEs

7 Framework programme: Research for the benefit of SMEs

Deadline: 15/11/2012

Activites

1. Research for SMEs scheme

The objective of this scheme is to directly support SMEs in the project to outsource their research activities. The scheme aims at supporting SMEs in need of outsourcing research activities to RTD performers such as universities, research centres or research performing SMEs. 'Other enterprises and end-users', which belong to the same value chains as the participating SMEs, can participate, if it is in the interest of the project.

Projects aim at creating new knowledge or achieving results with a clear exploitation potential to improve or develop new products, processes or services which meet the needs of the participating SMEs.

This scheme can assist SMEs in acquiring technological know-how and accessing international networks for their medium to long-term business development and follow a bottom-up approach, meaning that the research can originate in the entire field of science and technology in all industrial sectors.

 

2. Research for SME Associations scheme

The objective of this scheme is to indirectly support SMEs through their associations /groupings to outsource research activities. This scheme targets SME associations which act on behalf of their members to identify and address common technological problems and to promote the effective dissemination and take-up of research results. Projects include research, technological development and demonstration activities and are encouraged to include other activities such as training, to facilitate the dissemination and exploitation of results.

 

3. Demonstration activity

The objective of this activity is to prove (demonstrate) the viability of a new solution (itself a successful outcome of a research project) that offers a potential economic advantage but which cannot be directly commercialised as further technological or other developments are required. SMEs often need to follow up research projects with work linked to ‘demonstration’ or production of prototypes before actually commercialising goods and services but funding for this kind of activity is not readily available. Activities could e.g. include testing of prototypes, scale-up studies, performance verification and implementation of new technological and non-technological solutions. This action could also include detailed market studies and business plans. There are no thematic restrictions.

 

4.Coordination and Support Action - supporting action

The Commission, in its proposal for the SME support in the forthcoming programme Horizon 2020, has put strong emphasis on the development of a direct face-to-face mentoring and coaching support to SMEs desiring to innovate.

 

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EU Funds for research and developments

European funds for research: 7 Framework programme (7FP)

KBBE: knoweldge-based bio-economy

Deadline: 5 February 2013

Sustainable production and management of biological resources from land, forest and aquatic environments 

• Enabling research Area 
• Increased sustainability of all production systems (agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture); plant health and crop protection 
• Optimised animal health, production and welfare across agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture 
• Socio-economic research and support to policies