RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF DEVELOPMENT ISSUES AND PROMOTING DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

Deadline for presentation of concept notes: 30 January 2014

The global objective of this Call for Proposals is: to support actions, presented and implemented by

Non-State Actors and Local Authorities, aiming at raising public awareness of development issues and promoting development education in the European Union (EU) and acceding countries, to anchor development policy in European societies, to mobilise greater public support for action against poverty and for fairer relations between developed and developing countries, and to change attitudes to the issues and difficulties facing developing countries and their peoples.

Proposals must address one or several of the following issues:

• Basic living standards
• Drivers for inclusive and sustainable growth
• Sustainable management of natural resources
• Equality, equity and justice
• Peace and security

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MARCO POLO-NEW WAYS TO A GREEN HORIZON

DEADLINE: 23 AUGUST 2013

From the road to more environmentally friendly modes

This call supports actions to reduce road congestion resulting from freight traffic with a view of improving the environmental performance of the transport system and enhancing intermodal transport, thereby contributing to a more efficient and sustainable transport system which will provide EU added value without having a negative impact on economic, social or territorial cohesion. It is specifically intended to help cover initial stage losses resulting from freight transport in new or enhanced intermodal services or resulting from freight traffic avoidance actions.

 

The measures proposed under the Marco Polo Work Programme 2013 shall contribute to Achievements of the EU goals for sustainable growth as established in the Europe 2020 Strategy.

In 2013, the programme supports five distinct types of action:

• Modal shift actions, which focus on shifting as much freight as economically meaningful under current market conditions from road to short sea shipping, rail or/and inland waterways.
• Catalyst actions change the way non-road freight transport is conducted in the European Union. Under this type of action, structural market barriers in European freight transport are overcome through a highly innovative concept: causing a real break-through.
• Motorways of the sea actions offering an integrated service, which shifts freight from long road distances to a combination of short sea shipping and other modes of transport.
• Traffic avoidance actions integrating transport into production logistics: reducing freight transport demand by road with a direct impact on emissions.
• Common learning actions enhance knowledge in the freight transport and logistics sector and foster advanced methods and procedures of co-operation in the freight market, with an overall objective of promoting intermodal solutions aiming at achieving modal shift or traffic avoidance.

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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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European funds for culture

EuropeAid programme

EU grant funds for Supporting culture as a vector of democracy and economic growth 

Deadline: 18 December 2012 for concept notes

The call for proposals is divided into two lots, corresponding to two different specific objectives, as follows: 

Lot 1: Encourage cultural expressions which promote diversity, intercultural dialogue and human and cultural rights, in the context of reconciliation, conflict resolution and democratisation 

Target groups include cultural actors (such as policy-makers, artists and cultural workers), media, education professionals and civil society.  

Lot 2: Strengthen capacities of cultural actors for the development of a dynamic cultural sector contributing to economic growth and sustainable development 

Target groups include different categories of cultural actors, such as policy-makers, artists and cultural workers in general (including technicians, managers and professionals involved in production, promotion and distribution), entrepreneurs, etc., as well as other stakeholders involved in the cultural sector, including relevant public bodies, civil society organisations or private entities.

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Green ICT for Growth and Sustainability?

Multinational knowledge brokerage event on Green ICT for Growth and Sustainability

Linking Science and Policy.

Date: 30 May -1 June, 2012 Vienna University of Economics and Business

The Knowledge Brokerage event on “Green ICT for Growth and Sustainability?” focuses on potentials and challenges within the ICT domain with regards to their contribution to green growth and sustainable consumption. In particular, the aim is to stimulate discussions on the issues of network standby consumption, energy labeling, and smart metering, amongst others.

The event aims to foster networking, mutual understanding and knowledge exchange between policy-makers and experienced researcher in the field

Further  information

Life + 2012

European grant funds: LIFE + programme

Deadline: 26 September 2012

The general objective of LIFE+ will be to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of Community environmental policy and legislation, including the integration of the environment into other policies, thereby contributing to sustainable development.

European funds for Culture

MULTI ANNUAL COOPERATION PROJECTS

Deadline: 5th October 2011

ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES:
EU Member States, Croatia, Turkey and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina


ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS MUST
be a public or private organisation with legal status, whose principal activity is in the cultural sphere (cultural and creative sectors); and have their registered legal seat in one of the eligible countries.

PURPOSE:

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. One of the main aim of the programme is to support the trans-national circulation of cultural and artistic works and products.

European grant for Tourism

Trans-national cooperation projects on  European Cultural Routes

Deadline: 7th October 2011

Overall objectives: 
1) to contribute to differentiating the European tourism offer, capitalising on the shared cultural heritage;

2) to contribute integrating both horizontally and vertically the cultural tourism sector, facilitating
clusters/networks of both cultural tourism products and enterprises of the cultural tourism sector.

Financed actions:
The call will support initiatives aimed at promoting and giving more visibility to trans-national Cultural-Tourism Routes - here after referred to as "Routes" -  (also including those recognised by the Council of Europe).
By Route, within the context of this call, it is intended that an itinerary that could either be physical (based on a physical infrastructure) or virtual (linking places/destinations/attractions which have a conceptual link, e.g. a common theme). Hence, these routes are not necessarily built on existing physical route infrastructures.

Eligibility

Applications from legal entities established in one of the following countries are eligible:
(1) EU Member States
(2) Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and Israel

Research on Sustainable Surface Transport

European funds for research in the field of Sustainable Surface Transport

Deadline: 1st December 2011

MAIN AREAS OF INTERVENTION:

CHALLENGE 1. ECO-INNOVATION

ACTIVITY:THE GREENING OF SURFACE TRANSPORT

AREA: THE GREENING OF PRODUCTS AND OPERATIONS

• Assessment and mitigation of noise impacts of the maritime transport on the marine environment
• Support to the development of joint programming in marine and maritime research to address cross-cutting sea-related challenges
• Management of energy in railway systems

CHALLENGE 2. SAFE AND SEAMLESS MOBILITY
ACTIVITY: ENCOURAGING MODAL SHIFT AND DECONGESTING TRANSPORT CORRIDORS
AREA: MARITIME AND INLAND WATERWAYS TRANSPORT

• Innovative fleet for efficient logistics chain

AREA QUALITY OF RAIL SERVICE

• Planning rail towards 2050
• The role of rail in the European transport system in response to major disruptions
• Efficient rolling stock and train operations for competitive rail freight services

AREA: INTEROPERABILITY AND SAFETY

• Rail system interoperability (regulatory and non-legislative interoperability based on technological innovations)
• Europe to Asia: rail research collaboration

ACTIVITY: ENSURING SUSTAINABLE URBAN MOBILITY

AREA: NEW TRANSPORT AND MOBILITY CONCEPTS

• Research actions regarding the accessibility of transport systems
• Innovative design and operation of new or upgraded efficient urban transport interchanges
• Take-up of transport innovation in urban and regional transport
• Automated urban vehicles

AREA: HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC TRANSPORT

• Coordinating innovation for efficient bus systems in the urban environment

ACTIVITY: IMPROVING SAFETY AND SECURITY
AREA: INTEGRATED SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR SURFACE TRANSPORT SYSTEMS

• Human element factors in shipping safety
• Safety of ships in Arctic conditions
• Large scale naturalistic driving observations for safe and sustainable transport

AREA: POLICY SUPPORT

• Priorities for road safety research in Europe

CHALLENGE 3: COMPETITIVENESS THROUGH INNOVATION

ACTIVITY: STRENGTHENING COMPETITIVENESS

AREA: COMPETITIVE SURFACE TRANSPORT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

• Tools and conditions for attractive, efficient and competitive single wagonload traffic and its interaction with road and intermodal transports
• Next generation tools for optimised infrastructure asset management
• Innovative structural and outfitting materials for ships including inland ships
• Innovation and standardisation in the field of signalling to accelerate a European Train Control System rollout
• E-guided vessels: the 'autonomous' ship

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Research fundings: "Factories of the Future"

Research grant funds: "Factories of the Future"

Deadline: 1st December 2011

MAIN AREAS OF INTERVENTION:

Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production

• Adaptive production systems and measurement and control equipment for optimal energy consumption and near-to-zero emissions in manufacturing processes
• Methodologies and tools for the sustainable, predictive maintenance of production equipment
• Intelligent production machines and 'plug-and-produce' devices for the adaptive system integration of automation equipment, robots and other intelligent machines, peripheral devices, smart sensors and industrial IT systems
• High – performance manufacturing technologies in terms of efficiency (volumes, speed, process capability etc), robustness and accuracy
• High precision production technologies for high quality 3D micro-parts
• Knowledge-based tools and approaches for process planning and integrated process simulation at factory level
• Innovative technologies for casting, material removing and forming processes

ICT – Information and Communication Technologies

• Smart Factories: Energy-aware, agile manufacturing and customisation
• Manufacturing solutions for new ICT products

Research funds for Green Cars

European research funds for "Material for Green Cars"

Deadline: 1st December 2011

MAIN AREAS OF INTERVENTION:

Innovative automotive electrochemical storage applications based on nanotechnology

Expected Impact: (i) High energy densities with respect to the state-of-the art (i.e. higher than 400 Wh/kg); (ii) Overall performance, safety, recyclability and life-cycle sustainability; (iii) A minimum lifetime of 3000 cycles in a 80% DoD window in typical automotive conditions over 10 years; (iv) Establish and maintain world-class status for the European automotive battery industry.

Innovative advanced lightweight materials for the next generation of environmentally-friendly electric vehicles

Expected Impact: (i) Considerable weight reduction: a 30% body in white weight reduction was already demonstrated in recent EU projects on conventional vehicles; a further 20% reduction (taking into account the higher acceptable cost) is to be demonstrated, with the relevant safety, energy efficiency and environmental benefits; and/or (ii) Overall reduction in time-to-market and development costs while increasing product flexibility; and (iii) Economic viability and technological feasibility of the advanced materials and the related processes with reference to real applications of industrial relevance; and/or (iv) Options for the use of globally available, recyclable or recycled, and carbon-neutral materials; and/or (v) Extended lifetime of durable components of a vehicle and lower life-cycle costs.

Research on Environment (including climate change)

Two calls are expected under the FP7 Environment Theme targeting five challenges, including climate change, sustainable use and management of land and seas, improving resource efficiency, protecting citizens from environmental hazards, and mobilizing environmental knowledge for policy, industry and society.

Specific objectives for the environment and climate research are:

• Provide knowledge-based options for addressing major societal challenges notably climate change, biodiversity loss, land and sea management and resource efficiency.
• Develop and strengthen European leadership in innovation including key environmental technologies pursuing a broad concept of innovation, both research driven innovation and new business models, eco-design, services (e.g. ecosystem services) and innovation in policy, governance and consumption behaviour.
• Promote and facilitate knowledge transfer, assessment, uptake and exploitation of scientific data and results, in particular through demonstration and delivery of innovative tools and services such as ecosystem services and earth observation systems.

Publication Date: 20/07/2011

Partner search for Eco Innovation call

We are searching tanneries and companies that make seats for the air, automotive, bus and naval sectors.

Any other profile will be evaluated anyway.

The project proposal aims to reuse scrapes from the leather fashion industry. The process is based on the reutilisation of cuttings derived from the manufacturing by the fashion firms. These scrapes will be treated through a patent tanning process to produce a new material.

These scraps are now largely treated as waste because of their very small dimension and nowadays can not be reused for other productions.

This waste material is normally discarded as non-hazardous special waste.

Through a reworking process, it is possible to obtain a new material for other applications in the industrial field.

This new material has some characteristics that can be conveniently used in the coating of coverings for the automotive, railway and air sectors. It also responds to industry-specific safety regulations.

The project intent to type-test this material in accordance with the automotive, rail and air standards and the European and international standards.

The project aims also to establish and install a production process on an industrial scale, to meet the production volumes required for potential markets. Moreover, a sales network has to be developed.

The coordinator is an Italian SME.

More information about the call for proposal

For further information please contact me.

Research on Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and Production Technologies

The new call for proposal will be published on 20th July 2011.

Main Activites for 2012 research projects:

The focus will be on  smart and sustainable growth, for a greener industry

The activites proposed in the programme will support the European Economic Recovery Plan, through three Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): 'Factories of the future', 'Energy efficient Buildings' and 'Green cars'.

With regard to specific challenges, the following issues are addressed:

• Energy and Energy efficiency
• Environmental issues and sustainable development 
• Raw Materials 
• Health and safety 
• Factories of the Future 
• European energy-efficient buildings 
• Green Cars

If you are interested in this call, please contact us for further information.

European funds for Mediterranean regions

European grant fund: "Cross-border cooperation in the Mediterranean"

DEADLINE: 14^th July 2011 for concept note

AREAS OF INTERVENTION:


Priority 1. Promotion of socio-economic development and enhancement of territories
• Agro-food: Definition of policies and promotion of pilot initiatives to support R&D, innovation and technology transfer, with particular attention to SMEs, and promotion of innovating SMEs clusters in the Agro-food industry


• Sustainable Tourism: Definition of policies and promotion of pilot initiatives to support R&D, innovation and technology transfer, with particular attention to SMEs, and promotion of innovating SMEs clusters in the Sustainable tourism based on the preservation and enhancement of cultural and natural heritage


• Integrated coastal zone management: Promotion of joint planning methodologies with regard to integrated coastal zone management including maritime safety


Priority 2. Promotion of environmental sustainability at the basin level
• Waste treatment and recycling: Support to R&D, innovation and technology transfer, with particular attention to SMEs, in relation to Waste treatment and recycling


• Water management with attention on:

- Quantity and quality of supply, with a focus on alternative water supplies and wastewater re-use and/or
- Efficient use of water resources, with a focus on agricultural use


• Solar energy: Definition of policies and promotion of pilot initiatives to support R&D, innovation and technology transfer, with particular attention to SMEs, in the field of Solar energy


Please note that ONLY the following countries are eligible: Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia

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