Horizon 2020 FUNDS FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Hybrid light and heavy duty vehicles

Deadline: 28th august 2014

Specific challenge: The competitiveness of European road vehicle manufacturers is based on technological leadership particularly on system optimisation and affordability, particularly with respect to powertrains. The challenge is to recover a leading position in hybrid technology. The technology will also have positive effect on the reduction of CO2 emissions from road transport and air quality.

Scope: Proposals should develop new knowledge on hybrid components (storage system power electronics, etc.) and system engineering, simulation and technology integration with the aim of achieving hybrid powertrain weight and cost reduction, increased functionality, simplification of complex systems, efficiency and affordability while decreasing emissions and improving performance, comfort and functional safety. For light vehicles, preference would be given to concepts providing significant zero emission ranges. The research should be validated through at least one demonstrator for each platform subject of research.

Project Budget: between EUR 10 to 20 million each

Funding rate: 70% (except for non-profit legal entities, where a rate of 100% applies)

Source: European Commission official website

FUNDS FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Transforming the use of conventionally fuelled vehicles in urban areas

Deadline: 18th March 2014

Proposals should address one of the following domains:

• Comparing innovative policies, measures and tools that will, inter alia, halve the use of conventionally fuelled vehicles in cities, while increasing accessibility of urban areas and improve air quality and road safety. This could include:

– Assessing the role of regulatory measures, demand side measures, innovative mobility services and the promotion of alternative modes as part of wider package of technologies, policy-based and soft measures with a strong potential for replication. The related consensus building, information and communication activities should be fully integrated in the work.

– Exploring how changes in mobility behaviour, individual choices, and social norms can be catalysed, accelerated and guided towards modal shift, changing vehicle use or ownership, reducing the need for travel, new mobility patterns, or their combination. Relevant drivers and barriers could be identified. The research should gather, evaluate and disseminate techniques that can be employed, including approaches that use social media.

• Exploring policy frameworks and measures to ensure the uptake of alternative fuelled vehicle fleets in urban areas. This could include:

– Assessing the opportunities for large scale deployment of alternative fuel distribution infrastructure, including for electric vehicle recharging. This could include a comparative assessment of deployment approaches combined with the adequate vehicles. Research on partnerships, business models and planning/rollout approaches could be undertaken and standardisation aspects could form part of the work. Pre-commercial procurement initiatives could be facilitated.

– Analysing the potentials for upgrading and/or regenerating electric public transport systems (i.e. trolleybus, tram, light rail and metro) while ensuring the safe integration of electric vehicles into infrastructure, in line with the trend towards electromobility. This could include the evaluation of costs and benefits of development schemes, also addressing noise aspects, as well as knowledge transfer, exchange of experience and preparing policy recommendations. Activities to improve the operational potential and energy performance of electric public transport may be included.

Project Budget: between EUR 4 to 6 million each

Funding rate: 100%

Source: European Commission official website

For further information please contact us

European funding for innovation

Towards the energy efficient and emission free vessel

Deadline: 18th March 2014 (for pre-proposals)

The challenge is to support developments that make new and existing vessels used in maritime operations (including leisure) and in inland navigation significantly more efficient and less polluting through solutions addressing four ship sub-systems: engine, pollution abatement systems, propulsion, energy sources and management including the efficient operation of on-board systems

: In order to meet this challenge, proposals should address one or several of the following aspects:

• Optimisation of conventional ship engines, including fuel flexibility, new materials, lifetime performance and near zero emissions engines.

• Development of low-maintenance, affordable off-the-shelf retrofit solutions for emission reductions of existing engines.

• Development of Liquified Natural Gas/dual fuel powered engines for small and mid-size ships, including the specific aspects of retrofitting, fuel supply and storage, safety (on-board and on-shore) and classification, and solutions to address the risks of methane slip.

• Design and demonstration of new and improved propulsion means and vessel configurations that include the entire drive train and the propeller and hull optimisation for vessels, including applied research in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).

• Use of new energy sources including renewables, alternative fuels, hybrid and electric solutions with the aim to demonstrate the feasibility of the zero or near-zero emissions vessel.

Project Budget: between EUR 8 to 17 million each

Funding rate: 70% (except for non-profit legal entities, where a rate of 100% applies)

Source: European Commission official website

Call for proposals for 'Career Development'

Deadline: 15 April 2014

The European Commission has published a call for proposals for 'Career development'.

The European Union needs highly trained and qualified researchers to improve the well-being of its citizens and ensure economic growth. In this context, this new call aims to support the EURAXESS Services Network and to complement the efforts made so far in support of researchers' career development in an academic environment.

The call builds on the principle that - based on the knowledge, behaviour and characteristics of an individual researcher - career development advice, coaching, and training could further enable a researcher to aspire to excellence, whether inside and outside academia. Researchers will be provided with tools, best practices, advice and training, and they will be able to set personal targets and demonstrate evidence of achievements.

Indicative budget: EUR 0.96 million

Beneficiaries: At least 3 independent legal entities, each of which is established in a EU member state or Associated country, and no 2 of which are established in the same EU member state or Associated country.

For more information, please contact us

Eurotransbio programme

Deadline for submitting the project proposals is 31st January  2014 

Eurotransbio (ETB) programme calls for innovative near to the market Research, development and innovation projects in all fields of modern biotechnology (health, agro/food, industrial biotech, environment, marine/aquatic solutions) 

ETB’s mission is to foster the competitiveness of the European biotechnology industry by supporting research intensive SMEs and their strategic partners (large industries, public and private research organizations/universities) with the aim of achieving a thriving European biotechnology industry. 

Consortia coordinated by an SME and consisting of at least two enterprises belonging to two different countries participating in the 9th ETB Call [Austria, Belgium (represented by the regions of Flanders and Wallonia), Finland, France (represented by the region of Alsace), Germany, Italy, Russia, and Spain (represented by the regions of Andalusia and Basque Country)]  and coordinated by an SME can apply for ETB funding.

A consortium may involve as many additional partners (e.g. SMEs, Large Industries (LI), and Research Organisations (RO) belonging to the participating countries/regions) as necessary to achieve the project goals.  

Budget: EUR 21.000.000

For more information, contact us

TUBITAK Scholarship Programme for Least Developed Countries

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) aims to give scholarships for graduate students from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in the fields of Natural Sciences, Engineering and Technological Sciences, Medical Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities in Turkish Universities for improving science and technology capacity of LDCs and building scientific and socio-economic bridge between LDCs and Turkey.

Maximum durations of scholarship are 2 years for MSc/MA students and, 4 years for PhD students. Additionally, fellows attending a language school may be supported up to one year by 75 % of the full stipend. The fellows should start their fellowship in one year after the announcement of the results.

Fall Term:  19 August-27 September 2013

Further information

Scientific co-operation between Eastern Europe and Switzerland

SCOPES 2013-2016 

DEADLINE: 20 September 2013

 

The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) are launching a new phase of the programme “SCOPES - Scientific co-operation between Eastern Europe and Switzerland”.

 

The programme aims at supporting individual researchers, research teams and research institutions from the target countries in their endeavour to overcome the difficulties of the transition period. From a Swiss perspective, the programme offers the possibility to fund scientific collaborations and promote synergies with the target countries.

Who can apply? Researchers working at research institutions in Switzerland and in countries of Eastern Europe, the Western Balkans and the New Independent States of the former Soviet Union. The main applicant must be employed at a Swiss research institution.

 

In spring 2014, there will be a call for Institutional Partnerships (IPs).

CONTACT US for further information

 

European funding for software-intensive systems and services

ITEA 2 is a strategic pan-European programme. It stimulates and supports innovative and pre-competitive R & D projects that contribute research excellence to European industry in Software-intensive Systems and Services (SiSS).

The ITEA 2 approach is:

• Industry driven;
• Bottom-up to favour innovation;
• Flexible to favour business impact;
• Market oriented;
• Intergovernmental;
• Based on a multi-dimensional concept of excellence for project selection
• Community oriented, easily accessible by industry and SMEs

It is possible to submit any idea that fits in the domain of software-intensive systems and services.

Projects involve between 40 and 300 person-years and typically last up to three years.

                                Download our newsletter for further information

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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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

CONTACT US for further information

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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JPI Cultural Heritage Programme

JPI Cultural Heritage Programme 

Deadline: 5 April 2013

Research topics: 

1. Methods, tools (including non-invasive instruments) and modelling for understanding damage and decay mechanisms (including the effects of weathering and climate change) on tangible heritage (including buildings, sites and landscapes); 

2. Materials, technologies and procedures for the conservation of tangible cultural heritage; 

3. Use and re-use of buildings and landscapes, including the relationship between changes of use and public policy, including costs and added value (for example as a result of planning regulations and urban development); 

4. Increasing understanding of cultural values, valuation, interpretation, ethics and identity around all forms of cultural heritage (tangible, intangible and digital heritage). 

 The project must have a maximum duration of 36 months

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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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European fundings for environment

Anticipation on the new call for proposal within the VII Framework programme for research and development: Environment

Topics will cover the following area:

• Coping with climate change
• Sustainable use and management of land and seas
• Improving resource efficiency
• Protecting citizens from environmental hazards
• Mobilising environmental knowledge for policy, industry and society
• Public-Private Partnership 'Energy Efficient Buildings Initiative'

EU fundings for research and innovation

Agreement on Horizon2020 – the EUs next framework programme for research and innovation

The European ministers for research- and innovation have after long and hard negotiations reached an agreement on the overall structure for the EUs coming Framework programme for research and innovation – Horizon 2020 – which has a proposed budget of EUR 80 billion.

European funds for research

Clean Sky JTI 2012-02

Deadline: 10 July 2012

Clean Sky is made up of 6 Integrated Technology Demonstrators.

Smart Fixed Wing Aircraft will deliver active wing technologies and new aircraft configuration for breakthrough, news products.

Green Regional Aircraft will deliver low-weight aircraft using smart strutures, as well as low external noise configurations and the integration of technology developed in other ITDs, such as engines, energy management and new system architectures.

EU grant - IMI programme

European funding - Innovative medicines initiative (IMI)

Deadline: 16th May 2012 for expression of interest

The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) has officially launch its 5th Call for proposals, giving researchers from diverse sectors the opportunity to participate in ambitious public-private partnerships that will pave the way for the development of the medicines of the future.

European funds for researchers

Marie Curie for international outgoing fellowships for career development (IOF)

Deadline: 16th August 2012

The project is expected to include a coherent research programme for the total duration of the contract, of which an initial outgoing phase, of between one and two years, is to be spent in a distinct legal entity in an other third country (partner organisation) and a mandatory re/integration phase of one year within the contracting organisation (return host organisation) in a Member State or an associated country.

European grant for Ambient Assisted Living

Research funding in the ICT sector for Ambient assisted living

Call deadline: 29h May 2012

The aim of the AAL Joint Programme is to provide innovative ICT-based solutions including innovative products, systems or services to enhance older adults’ quality of life and to strengthen the industrial base in Europe

The AAL programme is a demand-driven research and development funding programme for innovative ICT-based products, services, and systems. Its main goal is improving the quality of life, autonomy, participation in social life, skills, and employability of older adults, while improving service delivery and reducing the costs of care are secondary targets.

The EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) Secretariat invites you to take part in the 2012 edition by organising an Energy Day in your city or region (18-22 June 2012).

Five good reasons to get involved:

1. Confirm your active role in this European movement towards a change in the energy landscape
2. Get communication support from the EUSEW Secretariat (event organisation, media relations, social media) and improve your chance of impact
3. Showcase your initiatives throughout our social media channels, and join the online EUSEW community
4. Benefit from the EUSEW online web platform, and get in the official programme
5. Benefit from an European media focus on sustainable energy and achieve media coverage for your organisation.