EU promotes sustainable fisheries in the Mediterranean at high-level conference on MedFish4Ever initiatives

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Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, who is representing the Commission at the conference, said: “Fisheries are a source of food and livelihoods for thousands in the Mediterranean. This is why two years ago, together with our partners, we delivered the MedFish4Ever Declaration setting political commitments to turn around the struggling and critical state of most fish stocks. We have made significant and concrete progress towards delivering our ambition to achieve sustainable fisheries. We must keep up the direction and the speed, committing to do even more in the coming years”.

Adopted in 2017, the Declaration sets in motion a new drive towards sustainable development of Mediterranean fisheries and aquaculture. Riparian countries have committed to a roadmap with concrete actions for the coming 10 years, and significant progress has since been achieved, including ambitious fisheries management measures, protection of biodiversity, improved research and control, and a stepped-up fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU). All these achievements were possible thanks to close regional cooperation as well as to the reinforced capacities in the EU and in the neighbouring countries of the Mediterranean region. Despite improvements in fisheries management, the Mediterranean remains in a critical state and further action is urgently needed to secure the future of fishing communities. In order not to lose momentum, the high-level conference will take stock of the common achievements and renew the commitment to live up to the full promises of MedFish4Ever.

Source: DG MARE

Coast Guard Experts discuss burning issues in the Mediterranean

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Illegal migration, fisheries control, maritime surveillance, environmental protection, oil spill response are just some of the challenges the coast guards have to deal with in their daily work. The eighth Mediterranean Coast Guard Functions Forum plenary meeting held in Casablanca on 12-13 May 2019, addressed some of these issues and highlighted the importance of close cooperation among Coast Guards.

Representatives from the participant countries (Croatia, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey) and organisations (European Commission, EFCA, EMSA, Frontex, INTERPOL) agreed on the need to adopt a common approach in enforcing international conventions and instruments.  The first step is to share information and best practices among European Coast Guard Functions Forum, Black Sea Cooperation forum, Atlantic Coast Guard Forum and Asian Coast Guard Agencies. A useful cooperation tool would be to develop guidelines to better support the implementation of sea basin and sub sea-basin strategies and initiatives.

Knowledge is best spread though participating in trainings and exchange programs organised by national maritime authorities in the region. A dedicated workshop on multipurpose operations will be co-organised with the EU coast Guard Agencies in spring 2020.

Source: DG MARE (note: link removed/ page inactive)

Horizon 2020 | Empower SME clusters to bring SMEs ‘across the valley of death’ | 4 April – 4 September 2019

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4 April – 4 September 2019

The call opened the 4th of April 2019 and it is classified as a Bio-based Industries Coordination and Support action (BBI-CSA)

CSA: actions consisting primarily of accompanying measures such as standardisation, dissemination, awareness-raising and communication, networking, coordination or support services, policy dialogues and mutual learning exercises and studies, including design studies for new infrastructure, and may also include complementary activities of networking and coordination between programmes in different countries.

 

BLUE ECONOMY TOPIC: Clusters

The specific challenge is to design the appropriate tools and system to build the capacity of SME clusters so that they can train SMEs to devise excellent projects that are scalable, investment ready and which convey these qualities to potential investors.

Identify possible systems for enabling SME clusters to set up a platform where SME entrepreneurs in the bio-based industry and investors can exchange expertise and business opportunities that could lead to successful cooperation. The scope includes the necessary steps to ‘train the trainers’ as well as practical steps SMEs can use when preparing and presenting projects with a high level of investment readiness and building the capacity of SME clusters to build links with investors.

Proposals should devise a framework that can be used to select the best projects through a competition in which investors evaluate and select winning SME proposals at regional level. If the winner’s reward is a cash prize, its value is not an eligible cost in the framework of the grant agreement.

Proposals should also set the basis for a European final of regional winners, and hence, proposers should link up with relevant and interested regional authorities.

The Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) will set up an industry and market expert group from among its members to provide expertise on the implementation and follow-up of the different tasks and help organise meetings. This expert group is not to be a part of the proposal, but will be offered to the project consortium to assist as needed.

 

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Horizon 2020 | Apply microorganisms and/or enzymes to resolve end-of-life issues of plastic | 4 April – 4 September 2019

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4 April – 4 September 2019

The call opened the 4th of April 2019 and it is classified as a Bio-based Industries Research & innovation actions (BBI-RIA).

RIA: are actions primarily consisting of activities aiming to establish new knowledge and/or to explore the feasibility of a new or improved technology, product, process, service or solution. For this purpose they may include basic and applied research, technology development.

BLUE ECONOMY TOPIC: Marine Litter

Microorganisms and/or enzymes can be applied to biodegrade/decompose plastic waste, one of the major threats to our ecosystem. This is a key focus area to apply the concept of the circular economy, besides changing human behaviour and production systems.

Scope: Select and apply the appropriate microorganisms and/or enzymes to address one or both of the following issues:

▪ convert waste streams containing non-biodegradable polymers;

▪ remove non-biodegradable polymers from the environment.

Proposals may include tailored microorganisms and/or enzymes for co-digestion or co-fermentation of different feedstock, provided that the developed solutions result in sufficient yields in terms of: (i) breaking down the feedstock; and/or (ii) conversion into valuable products.

Proposals should address all requirements for RIA as shown in Table 3, pp.24-25, in the Introduction of the Annual Work plan 20199. The technology readiness level (TRL) at the end of the project should be  4-5 for the bio-based value chain in question. Proposals should clearly state the starting and end TRLs of the key technology or technologies targeted in the project. Industry participation in the project would be considered as an added value

 

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Horizon 2020 | Produce components for various materials, including for food and feed, from microalgae | 4 April – 4 September 2019

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4 April – 4 September 2019

The call opened the 4th of April 2019 and it is classified as a Bio-based Industries Innovation action – Demonstration (BBI-IA-DEMO).

Innovation actions – “Demonstration” aim to validate the technical and economic viability of a new or improved technology, product, process, service or solution in an operational environment. They contain mainly demonstrator activities corresponding to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) levels 6 to 7.

BLUE ECONOMY TOPIC: Aquaculture

Demonstrate the efficient and sustainable cultivation, recovery and processing of microalgae and downstream production of high-value chemicals and/or materials including food and feed ingredients. The scope of this topic excludes energy carriers (such as liquid fuels or hydrogen) as the main products. Proposals should aim for large-scale continuous cultivation and recovery of microalgae, as well as separation and purification of the targeted products. Proposals should also aim at reducing inputs for microalgae cultivation such as energy, water, nutrients and CO2 (or other carbon sources in case heterotrophic microalgae are envisaged). Proposals should valorise as many as possible of the valuable compounds contained in the microalgae through a cascading approach.

Proposals should address all requirements for IA – demonstration actions as shown in Table 3, pp.24-25, in the Introduction of the Annual Work plan 2019 . The establishment of a demo-scale production facility, being it a new installation, a substantially modified existing facility, or the use of existing demo facilities is mandatory.

 

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Horizon 2020 | Secure societies | 14 March – 22 August 2019

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14 March – 22 August 2019

The call opened the 14th of March 2019 and it is classified as a “ CSA Coordination and support action” and the focus area is: boosting the effectiveness of the Security Union (SU).

In Europe, practitioners interested in the uptake of security research and innovation are dedicated to performing their duty and are focused on their tasks.

Scope: Practitioners are invited to associate in 3 different categories of networks in the field security:

  1. [2019-2020] Practitioners (end-users) in the same discipline and from across Europe are invited to get together: 1) to monitor research and innovation projects with a view to recommending the uptake or the industrialisation of results, 2) to express common requirements as regards innovations that could fill capability and other gaps and improve their future performance, and 3) to indicate priorities as regards areas requiring more standardisation. Opinions expressed and reported by the networks of practitioners should be checked against what can be reasonably expected, and according to which timetable, from providers of innovative solutions. In 2019, proposals are invited to address the specific area of handling of hybrid threats in line with the existing EU policy framework.
  2. b.[2018] Innovation clustersfrom around Europe (established at national, regional or local level), especially those managing demonstration sites, testing workbenches, and training facilities (including those providing simulators, serious gaming platforms, testing of PPDR applications on broadband networks) are invited to establish one network 1) to establish and maintain a roster of capabilities and facilities, 2) to organise to share expertise, 3) plan to pool and share resources with a view to facilitating access to their respective facilities among collective membership when this would constitute an economy of scale and allow a more intensive use of expensive equipment, and 4) to coordinate future developments and workbenches’ acquisition.
  3. [2018] Procurement agencies, or departments, active at budgeting and implementing the acquisition of security solutions at European, national, regional or local level can get together: 1) to share investment plans, 2) to compare procurement techniques and rules, and 3) to plan for common procurements of research services as well as of innovative, off-the-shelf products.

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ENI CBC Med | Strategic Projects | April – 3 July 2019

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April – 3 July 2019|

The “Strategic Projects” call started early April 2019. The Joint Monitoring Committee has selected 7 out of the Programme 11 priorities for the call for strategic projects.

The chosen priorities and related EU financial allocation are:

– A.1 Business and SMEs development:

  • A.1.1 – Support innovative start-up and recently established enterprises, with a particular focus on young and women entrepreneurs and facilitate the protection of their Intellectual Property Rights and commercialization, where applicable;
  • A.1.2 – Strengthen and support Euro-Mediterranean networks, clusters, consortia and value-chains in traditional sectors and non-traditional sectors.

– A.2 Support to education, research, technological development and innovation:

  • A.2.1 – Support technological transfer and commercialisation of research results, strengthening the linkages between research, industry and other private sector actors.

– A.3 Promotion of social inclusion and the fight against poverty

  • A.3.1 – Provide young people, especially those belonging to the NEETS, and women, with marketable skills;

– B.4 Environmental protection, climate change adaptation and mitigation:

  • B.4.1 – Support innovative and technological solutions to increase water efficiency and encourage use of non-conventional water supply;
  • B.4.2 – Reduce municipal waste generation and promote source separated collection and the optimal exploitation of its organic component;
  • B.4.3 – Support cost-effective and innovative energy rehabilitations relevant to building types and climatic zones, with a focus on public buildings.

These priorities were selected following national consultations in all participating countries and based on an updated socio-economic and environmental analysis, aiming at identifying the most relevant challenges in the Programme cooperation area.

Strategic projects are meant to foster policy-relevant innovations, as well as long-lasting and far-reaching effects that last beyond the funding of the Programme.

More information here and there.

Interreg MED l Second call for horizontal projects l 9 May – 27 June 2019

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9 May – 27 June

The 2nd call for Strategic projects opened on 9 May 2019. Horizontal Projects have been established to connect and support the Modular projects’ implementation, promoting both, communication and capitalisation activities. Against this background, they act as a single interface for Modular projects providing the frame to develop synergies and scale up cooperation throughout the entire Interreg MED community including the Axis 4 platform project, PANORAMED and forthcoming Strategic Projects.

The objective of the 2nd call for Horizontal Projects (HPs) targets an Interreg MED 2nd generation of HPs explicitly focused on capitalisation, a fundamental and key cooperation principle of the Interreg MED Programme Strategic Framework. Within this call, the capitalisation principle entails a very precise content, composed of transfer, mainstreaming and strategic liaising activities. Within this context, Horizontal Projects shall embed a comprehensive set of key features capturing their three-level positioning: strategic, thematic and territorial.

This is a restrictive call with respect to the Lead Partner eligibility requirements.

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EMFF l Maritime Spatial Planning l 7 May – 4 September 2019

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7 May – 4 September 2019

The objective of this call for proposals is to support the establishment and implementation of Maritime Spatial Plans in line with the objectives pursued in the framework of the MSP Directive. More specifically, this action intends to support Member States in setting up maritime spatial plans and ensuring plans are coherent and coordinated across marine regions concerned.

Deadline for submitting proposal 04/09/2019

More information here

Commissioner Karmenu Vella visits WestMED Initiative’ s booth at the European Maritime Day

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The WestMED Initiative was represented at the European Maritime Day 2019, on 16 and 17 May 2019, in Lisbon. Fórum Oceano, which is the WestMED Portuguese National Hub, assured the presence of the Initiative at the exhibition area. After the opening ceremony session, held on 16 May, the Commissioner Karmenu Vella visited the WestMED’ s booth, exchanging some encouraging words with Frederico Ferreira, Fórum Oceano.

The European Maritime Day (EMD) it a two-day annual event that DG MARE organises since 2008. In 2019, the EMD took place at the Lisbon Congress Centre, on 16 and 17 May 2019. It was co-organised by the European Commission (DG MARE), the Ministry of the Sea (Directorate General for Maritime Policy) and the Lisbon City Council, in collaboration with Fórum Oceano, the Portuguese Maritime Cluster, which was the entity responsible for organising the exhibition area.

According to DGMARE: “with 1500 registered participants, EMD 2019 has broken all previous records, including for the biggest ever exhibition, with 105 exhibitors. (note: Linke removed/ inactive page)” The focus of the 2019 edition was blue entrepreneurship, innovation and investment to transform traditional maritime sectors and boost emerging technologies and value chains. The event comprised workshops, breakout sessions, B2B meetings, pitches and an exhibition area (EMD EXPO).

The EMD in numbers (note: link removed/ inactive page):

  1. 1500 registered participants, from 53 countries
  2. More than 150 speakers
  3. 8 breakout sessions organised by the European Commission
  4. 28 workshops organised by blue economy stakeholders
  5. 21 pitch presentations
  6. More than 140 B2B meetings have been scheduled
  7. 105 exhibitors