EIBURS provides grants to University Research Centres working on research topics and themes of major interest to the Bank. EIB sponsorships, of up to EUR 100 000 per year for a period of three years, are awarded through a competitive process to interested University Departments or Research Centres, associated with Universities of EU, Accession or Acceding Countries, with recognised expertise in EIB-selected areas, so they can expand their activities in these areas. The successful proposal will entail the delivery of a variety of outputs (research, organisation of courses and seminars, networking, dissemination of results, etc.) that will be the subject of a contractual agreement with the Bank.

In adition to our useful documents section, further informations, as well as relevant documents on EIBURS Call for Proposals can be found at the European Investment Bank website.

 Urban Development Funds in Europe: Opportunities, Structures, Operations

Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas (JESSICA), a policy initiative of the European Commission and the EIB, is designed to promote Urban Development Funds (UDFs), i.e. financial engineering instruments supporting investment in sustainable urban development. JESSICA responds to the need to assist the renewal and transformation of European cities, and address the scarcity of investment funds for PPPs and projects complying with integrated and sustainable urban development criteria.

The initiative is meant to foster the growth of a new segment in the European investment fund market, populated with investment vehicles specialised in identifying and investing in sustainable city assets and supporting urban transformation operators capable of achieving sustainable urban development outcomes.

The proposed research programme is expected to lead to deliverables, including:

• Papers for publication in academic and professional journals.
• Organisational/operational templates for UDFs, including legal structures, performance principles and criteria, methods and benchmarks to assess and manage asset portfolios.
• Training modules for long-term investors, including specialists and professionals engaged in UDF-type urban operations and projects, financial structuring and advisory/technical assistance.
   

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

• 0,30 Million EUR (Global Budget)

• 30 November 2009 - 15 years ago (Deadline for the presentation of proposals)

• EIBURS sponsorships within its EIB-Universities Research Action (Legal base)

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

• Universities

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

• European Union (EU)

Directorate-General for Research

• Call for proposals - Three new EIBURS sponsorships within its EIB-Universities Research Action
• EIBURS sponsorship in the framework of its EIB-Universities Research Action
• EIBURS sponsorship within its EIB-Universities Research Action
• Two EIBURS sponsorships within its EIB-Universities Research Action
• EIBURS sponsorships within its EIB-Universities Research Action