The EU Environmental Technology Verification pilot programme (ETV), that operates on a voluntary basis as part of a build-up towards a formalised system, aims to generate independent and credible information about new environmental technologies. It will do this by verifying that performance claims by technology developers and vendors are accurate, complete, fair and based on reliable test results.

In order to facilitate the launch of the ETV pilot programme and indirectly to lower the cost of ETV procedures for technology manufacturers, grant agreements are proposed to accredited Verification Bodies (VBs) to cover partially the 'fixed costs' associated with their participation in the ETV pilot programme. This includes the costs of setting-up the ETV service through internal procedures, the participation in the ETV programme structure in particular in the technical groups and the cost of reporting on the implementation of ETV and results achieved. It includes also the assistance offered to technology manufacturers, in particular to SMEs, in addition to the strict application of the ETV procedure, in order to facilitate the access to ETV and the efficient use of ETV results.

The following activities are all mandatory, shall be elaborated in the project proposal and will be included in the grant agreements. The inclusion of other activities going beyond the strict application of the General Verification Protocol ('GVP') is encouraged.

• Completing and maintaining the internal procedures, especially Quality Management procedures and controls, necessary for the effective and reliable implementation of ETV
• Implementing ETV procedures, following the General Verification Protocol, which includes the participation in thematic technical groups and following the guidance published by these groups
• Facilitating the access to ETV verification procedures to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, through reduced fees or specific support activities such as a help-desk, pre-review (quick-scan) of application file, support to the choice of testing bodies and analytical laboratories where appropriate, support to test plans and review of test reports...
• Monitoring of the impacts of technology verifications and annual reporting on ETV activities, based on a standard set of indicators
• Outreach activities to inform potential proposers and other stakeholders such as technology users and investors, on the potential benefit and results of verifications under ETV

The Community provisional funding available for the call for proposals is:

• 2,00 Million EUR (Orientation of the budget)

• 07 September 2012 - 11 years ago (Deadline for the presentation of proposals)

• Official page of the Call

Opened to the following bodies or institutes with legal status established in the covered areas:

• Any legal organisation

Bodies or institutes must have their registered legal seat in one of the countries taking part in the Programme which are:

• European Union (EU)
• Candidate Countries
• European Economic Area (EEA)
• Third countries

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