The Official Journal of the European Union has published on April 20th 2009, a Call for proposals for actions in the field of eco-innovation under the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), which will be funded with up to 30 million Euro. Closing date for applications is September 10th 2009.

The Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI) has launched a call for proposals for CIP Eco-innovation first application and market replication projects, under the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP). This initiative is addressed mainly to organisations that have developed an environmental product, service, management practice or process which has a proven track record, yet is not fully marketed due to residual risks. The Eco-innovation initiative is intended to overcome those barriers to further market penetration and turn these products and processes into Europe's future eco-innovation successes. Applications from SMEs are particularly encouraged.

CIP-EIP-ECO-INNOVATION-2009 will support projects concerned with the first application or market replication of eco-innovative techniques, products, processes or practices, which have already been technically demonstrated, but due to remaining risks need incentives to penetrate significantly the market.

CIP Eco-Innovation will also support market oriented activities related to the uptake ofenvironmental technologies and eco-innovative activities by enterprises and theimplementation of new or integrated approches to Eco-Innovation.

CIP-EIP-ECO-INNOVATION-2009 Main Objectives

• Promote the adoption of new and integrated approaches to eco-innovation in fields such as environmental management and more environmentally friendly products, processes and services.
• Encourage the uptake of environmental solutions by increasing the market uptake and by the removing the barriers to market penetration. Solutions are understood to include products, processes, technologies or services.
• Increase innovation capacities of SMEs.

This Call goes in line with measures adopted by the Commission aiming at the support of green economy as a way to tackle economic crisis, such as the temporary framework set for the implementation of State aid measures for the production of green products.

Budget, Eligibility and Application Deadline

Applications can be submitted by one or several entities. All applicants must be legal persons, whether private or public, established in the territory of the European Member States.

The indicative total amount available for this Call is EUR 30 million.

Applications must be submitted by September 10th 2009, using the on-line submission system and application forms.

Further information as well as any other relevant documentation may be found at the Eco-innovation EU projects website.