BEYOND PLASTIC MED- Committing to a plastic-free Mediterranean Sea

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BEYOND PLASTIC MED- Committing to a plastic-free Mediterranean Sea


The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Tara Ocean Foundation, Surfrider Foundation Europe, and the Mava Foundation joined forces to give life to the Beyond Plastic Med initiative (BeMed), which was launched at the international conference “Plastic in the Mediterranean: beyond the observations, what are the solutions?” in Monaco in March 2015. The association Beyond plastic Med was created in January 2019 and the IUCN has since become part of it, as they were eager to become involved alongside the founding members.


Open calls


Call for projects to reduce plastic pollution in the Mediterranean Islands | 21 June 2020


General information
The call was published the 01/04/2020.

By supporting projects implemented by or in close collaboration with local actors involved in the fight against plastic pollution, BeMed aims to achieve the following objectives:

·       Reduce plastic pollution at source and its impact on the marine environment by carrying out initiatives in the field,

·       Putting in place sustainable solutions,

·       Improve the understanding of the local context related to plastic pollution (major sources, level of information of the population, waste treatment system, regulations, main obstacles to the implementation of solutions, key actors…),

·       Build partnerships and strengthen the capacity of local partners,

·       Reinforce and replicate the effective actions already underway in the Mediterranean.

LINK:  https://www.beyondplasticmed.org/en/call-for-projects/

Deadline

The deadline for submission of applications is 21st June 2020 -21:00 (Paris time, GMT+2)

Project duration

The projects’ duration is of a maximum of 24 months months.  In any case, projects must concern activities implemented from 1 October 2020 and must be completed by 30 September 2022 at the latest.

Financial allocation
The total amount available is €100,000 and co-financing is required with BeMed not exceeding the 70%. The co-finance can take the form of self-financing by the project leader and/or co- financing by local or international financial partners.

Partnership

Eligible countries / geographical areas:

  • The call for projects concerns all the countries around the Mediterranean Sea.
  • The project must target a Mediterranean island (or a group of islands) without priority of size.
  • The project must have a significant impact at the scale of an island or group of islands.

Eligible projects sponsors:

  • The call for projects concerns all types of stakeholders whose legal status allows them to receive grants.
  • Particular attention will be paid to the financial soundness of the applicant organization.
  • Priority will be given to organizations that develop activities mainly in the areas of awareness raising, nature protection, environmental lobbying, societal change, solution finding and innovation.
Further information
Types of actions

  • The call for projects concerns all types of stakeholders whose legal status allows them to receive grants.
  • Particular attention will be paid to the financial soundness of the applicant organization.
  • Priority will be given to organizations that develop activities mainly in the areas of awareness raising, nature protection, environmental lobbying, societal change, solution finding and innovation.
  • Particular attention will be paid to the multi-stakeholder approach of the proposed actions. Projects must demonstrate good integration between the public sector, local authorities and the private sector.

 


More information here (link removed/ inactive page)


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MedPAN

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MedPAN


MedPAN is the network of Marine Protected Areas managers in the Mediterranean. Its mission is to promote, through a partnership approach, the sustainability and operation of a network of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean which are ecologically representative, connected and effectively managed to help reduce the current rate of marine biodiversity loss.

The network currently includes 120 institutions and NGOs that either have direct responsibility for managing Marine Protected Areas (MPA) or are involved in the development of MPAs in the Mediterranean. These players manage over 100 MPAS in 20 Mediterranean countries.

The activities of the network revolve around 3 strategic components

  1. Be a network for knowledge, information, anticipation and synthesis
  2. Develop the life of the network, the exchanges between its members and their capacity to effectively manage their MPAs in link with the other players in their territories.
  3. Reinforce the sustainability, prominence, governance and resources of the MedPAN network.

[1] https://medpan.org/


No ongoing relevant calls  (24/03/2020)

PRIMA CALLS

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Transnational call – Thematic Area 3 – Agrofood chain:New optimized models of Agri-food supply chain systems offering fair price for consumers and reasonable profit share for producers | 16 September 2020


General information
The Mediterranean Agri-food value chain represents a complex ecosystem with numerous local actors, including farmers, small-scale food manufacturers and local distributors, canteens and retailers local public authorities. However, its competitiveness is seriously challenged by increasing imported agriculture resources and food products, as processed food, or as ingredients of food productions.

Those products are produced in large volumes for global markets, at low prices, and in regions suffering less from climate and environmental constraints, compared to the Mediterranean area. In addition, the price small farmers get for their products is quite low, compared to the price that products are sold to the end customer. This is due to the presence of many powerful actors, other than smallholders, in the farm-to-fork supply chain who can position and negotiate powerfully. Hence, there is a need for innovative organisational approaches and tools (tools and machines, business models, green public procurement, software, applications, etc.) that can help overcoming this challenge. New optimization models for the local Agri-food supply chain are requested, which provide local and distinguished benefit, economically, environmentally and socially to smallholders.

Increasing the competitiveness of small-scale farmers, manufacturers, local distributors and all other intermediate actors in the food chain is of key importance in order to guarantee a fair profit share for them. Optimized business models should be investigated that allows a better positioning of smallholders in the local and international markets, including innovative green public procurement approaches for local public authorities. In addition, new supply chain arrangements may be considered, analysed and empowered (if already in place elsewhere), especially shorter supply chains and more transparent relations between actors.

The access to markets, through innovative tools, including but not restricted to multi-technologies and ICT tools (web, apps, mobile devices), should be reconsidered as well as levers to improve the direct contacts between market players (supermarkets, out-of-home and consumers, canteens) and the farmers/ manufacturers, respecting the local socio-cultural characteristics of the target groups, i.e. smallholders in rural and underserved regions. Finally, all organizational and technological innovations and underlying research approaches that help local clusters and cooperatives to be more competitive are highly appreciated; considering the characteristics of the local societies. Additionally, the actions shall empower, through a Responsible Research and Innovation Approach, the climate of creativity of the small famers/producers/SMEs in the local community (i.e. social and inclusive innovations).

It shall also promote the concept and implementation of circular economy and responsible production-consumption concepts, with meaningful usage of resources via cascading eco-industrial methods and technologies highly performed at small scale.

LINK: http://prima-med.org/call-for-proposal/call-section-2-multitopic-2020/

Deadline
Stage 1 Pre-proposals – 15 April, 2020 (17:00h Barcelona Time) – maximum 10 pages

Stage 2 Full proposals – 16 September, 2020 (17:00h Barcelona Time) – maximum 50 pages

Project duration
PRIMA considers that proposals requesting a contribution as from EUR 1 million and with a duration from 36 months to 48 months

Financial allocation
The Indicative total amount is EUR 38.152 million

Depending on National Regulations. Each national funding body will fund the beneficiaries established in its own country, thus, the national funding rules apply. The coordinator of the project has to decide with the partners of a common starting date of the project and send this information to all the funding bodies involved in funding this project in order to ensure that the national contracts are synchronized in time to cover all the period of the project.

Partnership
Algeria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Spain, Slovenia, Tunisia, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Turkey

Specific info
·       New technology tools and business models for access to market, suited to local clusters and SMEs, and creation of a new generations of young entrepreneurs.

·       New insights in the competitiveness of local clusters of farmers, small manufacturers and distributors, with integrated innovative planning and institutional solutions for sustainability and profitability.

·       New options to increase the added value of products from local clusters.

·       Transparencies in fair trade and shortening Agri-food chain beneficial for smallholders.

·       Verified consumer feedback on quality and safety of products from small holders, locally produced or obtained in inter-Mediterranean country trade.

Key Indicators:

·       Number of business models for quality and sustainability adapted to SME and smallholders.

·       SDG#2 Indicator 2.3.1: Volume of production per labour unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size

More information here (removed link/ inactive page)


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CHAFEA, the EU’s Consumer, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency

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ERASMUS+

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ERASMUS +


Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe. Its budget of €14.7 billion will provide opportunities for over 4 million Europeans to study, train, and gain experience abroad. Set to last until 2020, Erasmus+ doesn’t just have opportunities for students. Merging seven prior programmes, it has opportunities for a wide variety of individuals and organisations.

The aim of Erasmus+ is to contribute to the Europe 2020 strategy for growth, jobs, social equity and inclusion, as well as the aims of ET2020, the EU’s strategic framework for education and training. Erasmus+ also aims to promote the sustainable development of its partners in the field of higher education, and contribute to achieving the objectives of the EU Youth Strategy.


No relevant open calls currently (24/03/2020)

CONNECTING EUROPE FACILITY (CEF)

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Connecting Europe Facility (CEF)


The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is a key EU funding instrument to promote growth, jobs and competitiveness through targeted infrastructure investment at European level. It supports the development of high performing, sustainable and efficiently interconnected trans-European networks in the fields of transport, energy and digital services. Since January 2014, INEA is the gateway to funding under the CEF. INEA implements most of the CEF programme budget,in total €28.7 billion out of €30.4 billion (€23.5 billion for Transport, €4.7 billion for Energy, and €0.5 billion for Telecom).

The CEF has 3 main sectors and particularly interesting is the CEF Transport sector (https://ec.europa.eu/inea/connecting-europe-facility/cef-transport).

CEF Transport (focuses on cross-border projects and projects aiming at removing bottlenecks or bridging missing links in various sections of the Core Network and on the Comprehensive Network (link), as well as for horizontal priorities such as traffic management systems. CEF Transport also supports innovation in the transport system in order to improve the use of infrastructure, reduce the environmental impact of transport, enhance energy efficiency and increase safety. The total budget for CEF Transport is €24.05 billion for the period 2014-2020.


Open Calls




New CEF Transport Blending Facility | Until March 2021


General information
The 28 of March 2019, the European Commission (EC) together with the European Investment Bank (EIB) launched the new CEF Transport Blending Facility, an innovative financial instrument. It is implemented via a cooperation framework between the European Commission and Implementing Partners to support Blending Operations, i.e. investments combining the use of grants and/or financial instruments from the EU budget and financing from the Implementing Partners (via a loan, debt, equity or any other repayable form of support).

The rolling call for proposals has been published on 15 November 2019.  The CEF Transport Blending Facility supports two areas which deliver on the Commission’s agenda for a clean and digital transport system:

  • Deployment of the European Railway Traffic Management System (ERTMS)
  • Deployment of Alternative Fuels

The relevant priority is the second one. Only Actions which are part of a Project of Common Interest identified in the TEN-T Regulation may receive Union financial support in the form of CEF grant under the CEF Transport Blending Facility. They should comply with the following:

– contribute to the objectives falling within at least two of the four categories set out in Article 4 of TEN-T Regulation;

–  be aligned to Chapter III of TEN-T Regulation;

– demonstrate European added value.

Specific eligibility criteria for the Deployment of Alternative Fuels proposals are listed in APPENDIX B of the “CEF Transport Blending Facility under the Multi-Annual Work Programme 2014-2020” [1]

Works relating to the deployment of infrastructure for Alternative Fuels shall be located on, or within a maximum distance of 10 km from the trajectories of the TEN-T Core Network, or in nodes of the Core Network as listed in Regulation 1315/2013 Annex II.1 and II.2. Works relating to mobile assets concerning the deployment of alternative fuels shall be eligible provided they are used on the European transport network.

Promoters can only apply for the CEF TBF grants with the support of the Implementing Partners. The complete list of Implementing Partners can be found in the CEF Transport Blending Facility Implementing Partners[2]

Proposals to the CEF Transport Blending facility include two elements: – a Grant Application form submitted by the applicant – Application File submitted by the Implementing Partner

Promoters must engage first with an Implementing Partner that will screen potential operations for their eligibility for a CEF TBF grant and in order to be included in the CEF TBF Project Pipeline. Implementing Partner will engage with the project promoters to conduct the necessary appraisal in order to obtain the approval of the Implementing Partner’s governing bodies for the project. Promoters with operations included in the pipeline, will prepare a Grant Application form that and will be transmitted to the Implementing Partner, who will then submit the Application File to the European Commission that will decide on the award of the grant.

LINK: https://ec.europa.eu/inea/en/connecting-europe-facility/cef-transport/apply-funding/blending-facility

Deadline
The call includes quarterly cut-off dates until March 2021, unless the budget would be exhausted earlier, as showed in the table below:

Grant Application forms submitted by the Applicants, together with Application files submitted by the Implementing Partners will be evaluated by the European Commission after each cut-off date.

Project duration

No maximum project duration indicated.

Financial allocation
The indicative amount to be allocated on the basis of this rolling call for proposals is in total EUR 198 mil of wich EUR 99 mil for the priority “Deployment of Alternative Fuels”. Grants for will take the form of a reimbursement of a specified proportion of the eligible costs actually incurred for proposals addressing Alternative Fuels, as specified in the table below:

(b) For the deployment of LNG vessels in inland navigation, the co-funding rate is set at 20% of the eligible costs

The CEF grant per Action shall be in excess of EUR 1 million. The minimum size of the Implementing Partners financing to a project supported by the Blending Operation shall be EUR 5 million. EIB project loan size is typically at least EUR 12,5 million.

Costs related to land acquisition, renting/leasing of facilities, permits and indirect costs, such as staffing and administrative costs, are not eligible.

Partnership
In accordance with Article 9 of the CEF Regulation, the grant related elements under the CEF Transport Blending Facility shall be eligible to receive Union financial support only if presented by:

– one or more Member States, and/or

– international organisations, joint undertakings, or public or private undertakings or bodies or entities established in Member States with the agreement of the Member States concerned, and/or

– entities which do not have legal personality under the applicable national law, with the agreement of the Member States concerned, provided that their representatives have the capacity to assume legal obligations on their behalf and offer a guarantee for the protection of the Union’s financial interests equivalent to that offered by legal persons.

Applicants may designate affiliated entities within the meaning of Article 187 of the Financial Regulation, for the purpose of supporting the implementation of the Action submitted for funding

Applications submitted by natural persons are not eligible.

Further information:
Detailed information on the application process, the proposal properties and eleigibilities is described in the Call Text[3] and in the Guide for Applicants[4].

Contact with the European Investment Advisory Hub (EIAH)

Project promoters interested in financing and blending opportunities or advisory services in the context of the CEF Transport Blending Facility may receive advice through the EIAH by sending an email request to eiah@eib.org.

[1]https://ec.europa.eu/inea/sites/inea/files/c2019-2743_annex_to_commission_decision_bf_only.pdf

[2]https://ec.europa.eu/inea/sites/inea/files/cef_transport_blending_facility_implementing_partners_20191219.pdf

[3] https://ec.europa.eu/inea/sites/inea/files/2019_cef_transport_bf_call_text_final.pdf

[4] https://ec.europa.eu/inea/sites/inea/files/guide_for_applicants_-_cef_transport_2019_blending_facility_v1_final.pdf


More information here


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EMFF

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The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)


The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)  is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. (Information on funding after 2020 is available here: EU budget: Commission proposes a new fund to invest in the maritime economy and support fishing communities)


No ongoing calls (24/03/2020)

JPI HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE SEAS AND OCEANS

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JPI Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans


The ongoing joint transnational call for research and innovation projects on risks posed to human health and the environment by pollutants and pathogens present in the water resources has been announced by the three Joint Programming Initiatives (JPIs) on Water, Oceans and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

The call will support research and innovation projects that establish integrated and cross-sectoral approaches for risk-management combining the research areas of contaminants of emerging concerns (CECs), pathogens and antimicrobial resistance. The whole water cycle, from the source through the river basins and eventually to the estuaries and oceans, has to be considered. This Joint Transnational Call (JTC) aims to make the research communities in the freshwater, marine and the health sectors work together and create synergies for joint approaches.

Call themes:

1) Measuring – Environmental behaviour of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), pathogens and antimicrobial resistant bacteria in aquatic ecosystems

2) Evaluating – Risk assessment and management of CECs, pathogens and antimicrobial resistant bacteria from aquatic ecosystems (inland and marine) to human health and environment

3) Taking Actions – Strategies to reduce CECs, pathogens and antimicrobial resistant bacteria fromn aquatic ecosystems (inland coastal and marine)


Open calls


Aquatic Pollutants – Joint Transnational Call (JTC) | 18 May 2020


General information
The ongoing joint transnational call for research and innovation projects on risks posed to human health and the environment by pollutants and pathogens present in the water resources has been announced by the three Joint Programming Initiatives (JPIs) on Water, Oceans and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

The call will support research and innovation projects that establish integrated and cross-sectoral approaches for risk-management combining the research areas of contaminants of emerging concerns (CECs), pathogens and antimicrobial resistance. The whole water cycle, from the source through the river basins and eventually to the estuaries and oceans, has to be considered. This Joint Transnational Call (JTC) aims to make the research communities in the freshwater, marine and the health sectors work together and create synergies for joint approaches.

Call themes:

1) Measuring – Environmental behaviour of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), pathogens and antimicrobial resistant bacteria in aquatic ecosystems

2) Evaluating – Risk assessment and management of CECs, pathogens and antimicrobial resistant bacteria from aquatic ecosystems (inland and marine) to human health and environment

3) Taking Actions – Strategies to reduce CECs, pathogens and antimicrobial resistant bacteria fromn aquatic ecosystems (inland coastal and marine)

LINK: http://jpi-oceans.eu/calls/proposals/aquaticpollutants-joint-transnational-call-2020

Deadline
The provisal timeline is:

·           Call opening: 17 February 2020

·           Deadline pre-proposals: May 18th 2020:

·           Invitation to submit full proposals: June 2020

·           Deadline full proposals: 14 August 2020

·           Funding decision announced: October 2020

Project duration
Start / end of projects: December 2020 – March 2021/2024

Project duration must be a maximum of 36 months. Funded consortia will be asked to agree on a common starting date. The last possible end date for the projects is the 30th of June 2024.

Financial allocation
26 countries are pooling resources of about 22,6 M€ to implement the joint transnational call for research and innovation projects. Partners applying in a consortium cannot request more than their relevant FPO stated in the national/regional regulations

Partnership
Participating countries and organisations are listed below:

Belgium: BELSPO / FNRS / FWO; Brazil: CONFAP; Cyprus: RIF; Czech Republic: TAČR; Denmark : IFD;

Egypt: ASRT; Estonia: ETAg; Finland: AKA; France: ANR; Germany: BMBF; Greece: GSRT; Ireland: EPA; Israel: CSO-MOH; Italy: A.R.P.A. Sicilia / MIUR; Moldova: NARD; Norway: RCN; Poland: NCBR; Portugal: FCT; Romania: UEFISCDI; South Africa: WRC; Spain: AEI; Sweden: FORMAS / SRC; Taiwan: MoST; Tunesia / MHESR; Turkey: TUBITAK; Scotland (United Kingdom) : Scottish Enterprise

Further information:
Title: “Risks posed to human health and the environment by pollutants and pathogens present in water resources”

The main research and innovation objectives of the AquaticPollutants 2020 Joint Transnational Call are:

• to establish integrated and cross-sectoral approaches for risk management combining the research areas of emerging pollutants, pathogens and antimicrobial resistance under the overall topic “from the source to the mouth“;

• to analyse the spread of CECs and pathogens related to antimicrobial resistance from the different sources (e.g. urban areas) that leads to impacts and risks on the aquatic ecosystem, environment and human health;

• to describe the transformation of such CECs and pathogens and their effects when entering the different aquatic systems and accumulating in the food chain;

• to improve strategies and develop/ evaluate technologies (incl. digital technologies) for reducing CECs and pathogens at the sources, on their pathways and end-of-pipe; and

• to develop/ integrate innovative methodologies and tools to allow policy-makers to develop more effective policies and efficient regulations.

Ø Emerging pollutants, pathogens and materials linked to antimicrobial resistance, their risks for human health and aquatic ecosystems, and the transfer between inland and marine environments will be the main topic of the call.

Ø It is not mandatory to address emerging pollutants, pathogens and antimicrobial resistant bacteria simultaneously in one proposal.

Ø Micro-plastics will not be subject to the call.

Applicants should note that, in some countries, several funding organisations participate in the call with different organisational rules and priorities. Applicants must pay attention to the national regulations and if questions arise, it is highly recommended to contact the NCPs before submitting a pre-proposal and full proposal.

Eligibility:

Ø    Each consortium must be composed of eligible independent entities requesting funding to FPOs from a minimum of three different EU Member States or H2020 Associated countries (listed in Table 1 in grey). FPOs listed in the categoy of ”third countries and other countries” are not included in the minimum requirements for consortia composition.

Ø    In each proposal, one of the entities must act as the Consortium Coordinator who has the responsibility for submitting the proposal. The Consortium Coordinator must be eligible to be funded by one of the EU member States or H2020 Associated countries (listed in Table 1 in grey).

Ø    A Consortium Coordinator can only participate in one proposal (i.e. if the principal investigator is the Consortium Coordinator of a proposal, he/she cannot participate in any other proposal, neither as a Consortium Coordinator nor as a partner).

Ø    The workload distribution within a consortium must be balanced, and no partner should have more than 50% of person months.

Ø    There is the upper limit of 8 eligible project partners per consortium (including self funded partners). The maximum number of partners from the same country within the consortium must comply with national/regional regulations.

Ø    No more than one self-funded project partner per consortium is allowed.

Ø    Project partners who are not eligible for funding may participate at their own expense or if they have their own separate source of funding. The applicants have to prove (letter of intent/commitment) the willingness to self-fund their own activities or the willingness of other partners to fund their own activities. They have to follow the rules given in this Call Announcement and have to be part of the consortium agreement. However, they cannot coordinate a project. They are not considered in the minimum requirement of eligible partners and countries in the AquaticPollutants eligibility criteria

 

Scope

Ø    Proposals should go beyond the state of the art by providing high quality R&I and, when appropriate, make use of innovative technologies, approaches and concepts to do so;

Ø    Proposals should consider on-going research activities funded by other instruments, programmes or projects. Cooperation with these activities is of high importance;

Ø    Proposals should consider and incorporate as approporiate cross-cutting issues, such as socio-economic and/or capacity development.

Ø    Collaboration with the parallel running Transfer Project during execution is encouraged, but not compulsory.

More information here


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MarTERA joint call on marine and maritime technologies | 4 September 2020


General information
The focus of development in MarTERA is given to technologies (instead of sectors) due to their potentially large impact to a wide range of application fields. Sectors with a high potential for sustainable blue economy like waterborne transport, shipbuilding & ship repair, offshore and sub-sea activities, monitoring and observations, can support sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors as a whole and use the potential of Europe’s oceans, seas and coasts for jobs, value and sustainability.

Technology developments in the following priority areas are supported:

  • Priority Area 1: Environmentally friendly maritime technologies
  • Priority Area 2: Innovative concepts for ships and offshore structures
  • Priority Area 3: Automation, sensors, monitoring and observations
  • Priority Area 4: Advanced manufacturing and production
  • Priority Area 5: Safety and security

Call announcement link: https://www.martera.eu/joint-calls

Deadline
The provisal timeline is:

·         January 7th 2020: Call opening (1st Step)

·         April 24th 2020: Deadline pre-proposals

·         June 2nd 2020: Communication of the outcomes to the research project coordinator

·         September 4th 2020: Submission of full proposals (Second step)

The provisional project starting date is expected for early 2021

Financial allocation
The transnational call has a budget of about 13 Mio € for collaborative research and innovation projects in the following areas:

Partnership
This call is initiated by ministries/funding organisations from 11 countries: Belarus, Belgium, France, Germany, Malta, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, South Africa and Turkey. Applicants from these countries are eligible for funding and applicants from other countries are eligible in case they finance their involvement from other sources.

Further information:
Title: “Maritime and Marine Technologies for a new Era”

The need for highly-specialised marine equipment, more efficient and greener waterborne transport systems, clean energy, increased seafood production, technologies for reliable ocean observations, and safe marine and maritime operations etc. calls for substantial innovations with respect to the whole spectrum of marine and maritime technologies.

Scope:

– The proposed research and innovation project must be consistent with the scope and objectives of this call and with the national/regional thematic priorities of the countries/regions involved in the project (see Priority Areas matrix). National/regional priorities are described in the National Regulations and/or can be communicated by the National Programme Managers (NPMs).

– The proposed project must relate to (at least) one of the sub-themes listed in the Priority Area Matrix of this call.

– The proposal should be novel and not correspond with on-going or completed projects funded by other instruments, programmes or projects.

Eligibility:

Ø Project consortia consisting of at least two independent eligible legal entities from at least two different European Member States or associated countries listed in chapter 3.2 can apply for funding. Legal entities/consortia from Belarus and South Africa are eligible for funding as well but they must have in their consortia at least two independent eligible legal entities from at least two different EU MS or associated countries

Ø The project proposals must involve industry. As national funding rules are applied, some topics or partners may not be eligible in all participating funding organisations (e.g. some programmes fund only academic but no industrial partners and others request industry involvement). The eligibility of a partner can be assessed by checking the Matrix of Priority Areas or by contacting the National Programme Managers (NPMs).

More information here


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COSME

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COSME


The COSME programme addresses four main objectives:

  • Ease access to finance for SMEs by providing loan guarantees and risk capital (access to finance)
  • Help companies access new markets, within and outside the EU (access to markets)
  • Create a business-friendly environment by reducing the administrative burden on SMEs (improving conditions for businesses)
  • Encourage an entrepreneurial culture (encouraging entrepreneurship)

The European Commission designs policies and is responsible for the programming. It delegates parts of the implementation of EU programmes, such as COSME, to executive agencies. The Executive Agency for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (EASME) manages the parts of the COSME work programme addressing access to markets, improving conditions for businesses and encouraging entrepreneurship on behalf of the European Commission. Financial instruments under access to finance are managed by the European Investment Fund (EIF).

The COSME programme disposes of a EUR 2.3 billion budget from 2014 to 2020.


No relevant ongoing calls currently (24/03/2020).

LIFE

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LIFE Programme

The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. LIFE contributes to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental and climate policy and laws by co-financing projects with European added value. Since its creation in 1992, LIFE has been through different funding periods.

The LIFE Programme is structured in two sub-programmes: the sub-programme for environment and the sub-programme for climate action.

The sub-programme for environment covers three priority areas:

  1. LIFE Environment and Resource Efficiency
  2. LIFE Nature and Biodiversity
  3. LIFE Environmental Governance and Information

The sub-programme for climate action covers three priority areas:

  1. LIFE Climate Change Mitigation
  2. LIFE Climate Change Adaptation
  3. LIFE Climate Governance and Information

The current funding period 2014-2020 has a budget of €3.4 billion, 75% of which is allocated to the sub-programme for environment (EUR 2.592.491,250) and 25% of which is allocated to the sub-programme for climate action (EUR 864,163,750). During the 2014-2020 period, the Contracting Authority will launch one call for LIFE project proposals per year. The second LIFE Multiannual Work Programme (MAWP) covering the period 2018-2020 foresees a budget of EUR 1.243,81 million for the sub-programme for environment and EUR 413,25 million for the sub-programme for climate action.

Open calls


Traditional projects – Environment sub-programme | 14/16 July 2020


General information
Three calls for traditional projects under environment sub-programs were opened the 4th of April 2020 and are focusing on:

i) Nature and biodiversity – The environment sub-programme funds nature conservation projects in particular in the areas of biodiversity, habitats and species. It provides action grants for best practice, pilot and demonstration projects that contribute to the implementation of the EU’s directives on birds and habitats, the EU’s biodiversity strategy to 2020, and the development, implementation and management of the Natura 2000 network. Projects receive a co-funding of up to 60%. The co-financing rate can be up to 75% if at least half of the total estimated project costs are used for actions to improve the conservation status of priority habitats or species listed in the EU’s birds and habitats directives.

LINK: https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/section/life/2020-life-call-proposals-traditional-projects-nature-and-biodiversity

ii) Environment and resource efficiency– LIFE co-finances projects in the environmental sector in particular in the areas of air, chemicals, green and circular economy, industrial accidents, marine and coastal management, noise, soil, waste, water, and the urban environment.The programme provides action grants for pilot and demonstration projects to develop, test and demonstrate policy or management approaches. It also covers the development and demonstration of innovative technologies, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of EU environmental policy and law, as well as best practices and solutions. The European Commission is particularly looking for technologies and solutions that are ready to be implemented in close-to-market conditions, at industrial or commercial scale, during the project duration. Projects receive a co-funding of up to 55%.

LINK: https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/section/life/2020-life-call-proposals-traditional-projects-environment-and-resource-efficiency

iii) Environmental governance and information– The programme supports projects in the areas of awareness raising, environmental training and capacity building, legislative compliance and enforcement, knowledge development and public and stakeholder participation.It co-finances action grants for information, awareness and dissemination projects that aim to promote awareness raising on environmental matters. This includes cooperation platforms and knowledge sharing on sustainable environmental solutions and practice. Projects receive a co-funding of up to 55%.

LINK: https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/section/life/2020-life-call-proposals-traditional-projects-environmental-governance-information

Details on priorities are provided under “Further information” (see below)

Deadline
Deadlines for submitting CONCEPT NOTES are:

– the 16th of July 2020, 16:00 CET, for Nature and biodiversity and Environmental governance and information

– the 14th of July 2020 for Environment and resource efficiency.

FULL proposals: February 2021 for Nature and Biodiversity, Environment and resource efficiency and Environmental governance and information

Project duration
There is no pre-determined project duration for a LIFE project. On average projects last for 3–5 years. It is suggested they start after the Grant Agreement signature, expected in June 2020 for these calls.

Financial allocation
The maximum EU co-financing rate for « traditional » LIFE projects is 55% of the total eligible project costs. An exception is made the priority area “Nature and Biodiversity” for which the EU co-funding rate can go up to 60%, or 75% in specific cases. The coordinating beneficiary must bear part of the project costs.

There is no fixed minimum size for project budgets (e.g. small projects €500.000; large projects over €5mil).

LIFE projects shall take place in the territory of the European Union Member States, but LIFE Programme may also finance activities outside the EU and in overseas countries and territories (OCTs), in specific situations.

At least 25% of the total eligible budget of a LIFE Nature and Biodiversity projects must concern « concrete conservation » actions.

Partnership
Entities participating in the proposal may fall into three types of beneficiaries: (1) public bodies, (2) private commercial organisations and (3) private non-commercial organisations (including NGOs).

There is no pre-defined number of associated beneficiaries to be involved in a LIFE proposal. A proposal that is submitted without any participant other than the coordinating beneficiary itself is eligible.

The coordinating beneficiary must show its legal status, confirming legal registration in the EU. In addition to the coordinating beneficiary, a LIFE proposal may also involve one or more associated beneficiaries and/or one or more project co-financiers. The associated beneficiary/ies must always contribute technically and financially to the Proposal. A project co-financier only contributes to the project with financial resources, has no technical responsibilities, and cannot benefit from the EU financial contribution.

Exceptionally an associated beneficiary may be legally registered outside the European Union if the actions outside the EU it is responsible for are (the coordinating beneficiary of the project in any case be based in the EU) necessary to achieve EU environmental objectives and to ensure the effectiveness of interventions carried out in the Member State territories to which the Treaties apply.

For private beneficiaries, the Contracting Authority may accept that affiliated entities to a beneficiary participate in a project, as long as all conditions listed in the Model Grant Agreement and its Annex X (Financial and Administrative Guidelines) are fulfilled.

Further information:
Thematic priorities and project topics

i.           Nature and biodiversity – project sectors:

·       Nature (activities for the implementation of the Birds and/or Habitats Directives);

·       Biodiversity (activities for the implementation of the Union Biodiversity Strategy to 2020).

Further details on the priorities and project topics could be find in pp. 23-27 of the “LIFE 2020 Nature and Biodiversity application guide”.

ii.         Environment and resource efficiency – project sectors:

·       Water, including the marine environment;

·       Waste;

·       Resource Efficiency, including soil and forests, and green and circular economy;

·       Environment and Health, including chemicals and noise;

·       Air quality and emissions, including urban environment.

Details on the priorities and project topics could be find in pp. 22-33 of the “LIFE 2020 Environment and Resources Efficiency application guide”.

iii.        Environmental governance and information- project sectors:

·       Information, communication and awareness raising campaigns;

·       Activities in support of effective control process as well as measures to promote compliance.

Details on the priorities and project topics could be find in pp. 22-28 of the “LIFE 2020 GIE Application guide”.

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Traditional projects – Climate action sub-programme | 6 October


General information
Three calls for traditional projects under Climate sub-programs were opened the 2nd of April 2020. The climate action sub-programme supports projects in the areas of renewable energies, energy efficiency, farming, land use, and peatland management.

It provides action grants for best practice, pilot and demonstration projects that contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the implementation and development of EU policy and law, best practices and solutions. The European Commission is particularly looking for technologies and solutions that are ready to be implemented in close-to-market conditions, at industrial or commercial scale, during the project duration.

The sub-programme also promotes knowledge sharing and integrated approaches, such as for climate change mitigation strategies and action plans at local, regional or national level.

1. Climate change mitigation – The climate action sub-programme supports projects in the areas of renewable energies, energy efficiency, farming, land use, and peatland management.

It provides action grants for best practice, pilot and demonstration projects that contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the implementation and development of EU policy and law, best practices and solutions. The European Commission is particularly looking for technologies and solutions that are ready to be implemented in close-to-market conditions, at industrial or commercial scale, during the project duration.

The sub-programme also promotes knowledge sharing and integrated approaches, such as for climate change mitigation strategies and action plans at local, regional or national level.

2. Climate change adaptation – The LIFE programme co-finances projects in the areas of resilience to water scarcity, droughts, forest fires or floods, adaptive technologies for economic sectors, and safeguarding natural resources.

It provides action grants for best practice, pilot and demonstration projects that contribute to increased resilience to climate change. The European Commission is particularly looking for technologies and solutions that are ready to be implemented in close-to-market conditions, at industrial or commercial scale, during the project duration.

The climate sub-programme also promotes the development and implementation of EU policy on climate change adaptation, best practices and solutions for climate change adaptation, including ecosystem-based approaches and knowledge sharing;

3. Climate governance and information – The programme funds projects in the areas of awareness raising, training and capacity building, law compliance and enforcement, knowledge development and stakeholder participation. LIFE provides action grants for information, awareness and dissemination projects on climate matters. This includes public and stakeholder support for EU policy-making, supporting communication, management and dissemination of information to facilitate knowledge sharing and cooperation platforms, promoting and contributing to more effective compliance with and enforcement of EU climate law, providing training and fostering the development and dissemination of best practices and policy approaches.

LINK: https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/section/life/2020-life-call-proposals-traditional-projects-climate-action

Deadline
Deadline for submitting FULL PROPOSALS is the 6th of October 2020

Project duration
There is no pre-determined project duration for a LIFE project. On average projects last for 2–5 years.

Financial allocation
The maximum EU co-financing rate for « traditional » LIFE projects is 55% of the total eligible project costs. There is no fixed minimum size for project budgets (e.g. small projects €500.000; large projects over €5mil).

LIFE projects shall take place in the territory of the European Union Member States, but LIFE Programme may also finance activities outside the EU and in overseas countries and territories (OCTs), in specific situations.

Partnership
Entities participating in the proposal may fall into three types of beneficiaries: (1) public bodies, (2) private commercial organisations and (3) private non-commercial organisations (including NGOs).

There is no pre-defined number of associated beneficiaries to be involved in a LIFE proposal. A proposal that is submitted without any participant other than the coordinating beneficiary itself is eligible.

The coordinating beneficiary must show its legal status, confirming legal registration in the EU. In addition to the coordinating beneficiary, a LIFE proposal may also involve one or more associated beneficiaries and/or one or more project co-financiers. The associated beneficiary/ies must always contribute technically and financially to the Proposal. A project co-financier only contributes to the project with financial resources, has no technical responsibilities, and cannot benefit from the EU financial contribution.

Exceptionally an associated beneficiary may be legally registered outside the European Union if the actions outside the EU it is responsible for are (the coordinating beneficiary of the project in any case be based in the EU) necessary to achieve EU environmental objectives and to ensure the effectiveness of interventions carried out in the Member State territories to which the Treaties apply.

For private beneficiaries, the Contracting Authority may accept that affiliated entities to a beneficiary participate in a project, as long as all conditions listed in the Model Grant Agreement and its Annex X (Financial and Administrative Guidelines) are fulfilled.

Further information:
Detailed information on thematic priorities and project topics could be found in pp. 25-42 of the “LIFE 2020 Climate Action Application Guide”.

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Integrated Projects (IPs) – Environment and Climate Action sub-programme | 6 October 2020


General information
Integrated projects are strategic projects supporting EU Member States to achieve full implementation of Strategies or Action Plans required by the EU environmental and climate legislation. They are implemented at national or regional scales, involving relevant authorities and very significant budgets from several EU and national sources, lasting for 6-10 years on average.

Under the sub-programme for environment, these large-scale projects implement plans, strategies or roadmaps in the areas of nature (including Natura 2000 network management), water, waste, and air.
For more information please read this presentation and check examples of ongoing projects in this leaflet and in our project database (choose as strand “Integrated Projects for Environment”).

IPs are designed toimplement certain plans and strategies at a large territorial scale with full engagement of all the concerned stkeholders to aim at mobilizing significant additional sources of funding to further support the implementation of the EU environmental/climate policy framework.

IPs should target the full implementation of the following strategic:

– environmental plans/strategies

–  climate plans/strategies

LINK: https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/section/life/2020-call-proposals-integrated-projects

Deadline
A two-stage proposal. Deadline for submitting a concept note: 6 October 2020. Deadline for 2nd stage of full proposals March 2021

Project duration
There is no pre-determined project duration for a LIFE project. On average projects last for 6 years or more.

Financial allocation
·   Projects receive a co-funding of up to 60%, with an average of €10 million LIFE grant per project.

·   The applicant is required to mobilise at least one complementary fund at the time of full proposal submission.

·   The amount of complementary funds (those going beyond the 40% cofinancing) as well as their likelihood and functional link to the plan shows the project maturity.

·   Complementary funds and actions should target the areas of the plan or strategy that the IP is not able to address

Partnership
Applicants may fall into three types of beneficiaries: (1) public bodies, (2) private commercial organisations and (3) private non-commercial organisations (including NGOs).

In contrast to other funding programmes LIFE projects are very flexible in terms of how they are set up. You can decide if you want to run a project on your own, or if you prefer to join forces with partners from your own or another country. However, in the case of integrated projects, the applicants should include in the partnership the authority in charge of the implementation of the plan or strategy targeted by the project, preferably as project leader.

If you apply without any partners or are the project leader among several partners, you will be referred to as coordinating beneficiary. Other partners who contribute but do not lead a project are associated beneficiaries. Associated beneficiaries must be responsible for one or more project actions and must contribute financially to the project.

If you are based outside the EU, you can contribute to a project as associated beneficiary by undertaking actions that are necessary for achieving the environmental or climate goals of the EU. UK applicants and beneficiaries remain eligible to receive LIFE funds for the entire duration of grants under the 2014-2020 LIFE programme, including after the end of the transition period. This applies to existing grants, ongoing procedures and calls for proposals published in 2020 even if the grant is signed after 31 December 2020.

Further information:
EASME staff can help participants to develop a good IP proposal & solve doubts by:

·       Provide feedback on the ideas for IPs (all year round)

·       Respond to general questions on IPs (all year round)

·       Respond to specific questions related to IP Application and Evaluation Guides, application forms, concerned provisions of the Multiannual Work Programme (during open calls, typically between April – September and November – February)

·       Facilitate networking with successful running IPs (all year round)

·       Schedule meetings with us in person in Brussels, respond by e-mail, phone or

videoconference

Differencies between the LIFE Traditional Projects and IPs can be found in the following presentation: https://ec.europa.eu/easme/sites/easme-site/files/life_ip_presentation_final.pdf

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Technical Assistance | 16 July 2020


General information
4 calls for proposals for action grants to finance « technical assistance projects » under the LIFE sub-programmes for environment and climate action opened the 9th of April 2020.

Area

Call ID

Scope
Environment LIFE-TA-01-2020 Provides financial support for the preparation of a proposal for an Integrated Project in order to implement a River Basin Management Plan (RBMP), a Waste Management Plan (WMP) or an Air Quality Plan.
Nature LIFE-TA-02-2020 Provides financial support for the preparation of a proposal for an Integrated Project in order to implement a Priority Action Framework (PAF).
Adaptation LIFE-TA-03-2020 Provides financial support for the preparation of a proposal for an Integrated Project in order to implement specific set of strategic climate plans or strategies:

– Climate change adaptation IPs: should aim at the implementation of national, regional or local specific adaptation strategy or action plan;

– Urban climate change adaptation IPs: should aim at the implementation of urban or community-based action plan pioneering the transition to a climate resilient society.
Mitigation LIFE-TA-04-2020 Provides financial support for the preparation of a proposal for an Integrated Project in order to implement specific set of strategic climate plans or strategies:

– Climate change mitigation IPs: national, regional or industry-/sector-specific greenhouse gas mitigation strategy or low carbon economy roadmap.

– Urban climate change mitigation IPs: should aim at the implementation of urban or community-based action plan pioneering the transition to a low carbon society.

LINK: The calls information and documents are now accessible under the following link: https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/section/life/2020-call-proposals-technical-assistance-projects

Deadline
16th of July 2020 17:00:00 Brussels time

Project duration
In general, the project duration will be either 7–8 months or 19– 20 months, however should not exceed two years. Extensions will be possible only exceptionally, for duly justified reasons and with our agreement.

Financial allocation
The available total call budget is EUR 1.280.000 and the budget per topic is split as in the the table below. Project budget: No limit; maximum requested EU contribution: EUR 100.000 per proposal. The grant awarded may be lower than the amount requested.

Area

Call ID

Topic EU Budget
Environment LIFE-TA-01-2020 400.000
Nature LIFE-TA-02-2020 580.000
Adaptation LIFE-TA-03-2020 130.000
Mitigation LIFE-TA-04-2020 130.000

Partnership
The participants must be:

– legal persons;

– belong to one of the following categories: private entities, public entities, or international organisation;

– be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the project with the other applicants (i.e. not acting as an intermediary);

– be established in one of the eligible countries (i.e.: EU Member State – including overseas countries and territories (OCTs) or eligible non-EU countries).

As coordinators, only applicants from EU member states are eligible for Technical Assistance projects.

It is expected that the applicant of a Technical Assistance project is the intended applicant of the future Integrated Project.

Natural persons are NOT eligible.

Member State entities which receive financing for a Capacity Building project, which covers at least a part of the period to be covered, by the Technical Assistance project are not eligible. EU bodies (with the exception of the European Commission Joint Research Centre) can NOT be part of the consortium. However, the European Commission Joint Research Centre can participate in a LIFE project only at zero cost.

Further information:
For further details on eligibilities, please consult the call document “ Call for proposals Technical Assistance LIFE-TA-2020”[1].

[1] https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-search;freeTextSearchKeyword=;typeCodes=1;statusCodes=-,31094501,31094502;programCode=LIFE;programDivisionCode=null;focusAreaCode=null;crossCuttingPriorityCode=null;callCode=Default;sortQuery=openingDate;orderBy=asc;onlyTenders=false;topicListKey=topicSearchTablePageState


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