Ongoing Funding Application Deadlines

Culture

If you are working in the cultural sector and wish to set up cultural projects or be supported as an organisation, you may benefit from the Culture programme, which is divided into two strands with different types of activities and deadlines:

• Support for cultural projects (strand 1) - Cultural organisations are given support for projects to work together across borders and to create and implement cultural and artistic activities - 1 October 2008, 1 February 2009, 1 May 2009

• Support for organisations active at European level in the field of culture (Strand 2) - 1 November 2008

Energy

Fusion for Energy has launched a call for expressions of interest in a list of experts in order to assist the organisation with a set of activities, including providing technical expertise and participation in working groups. Successful applicants will be included on a list of experts which will be valid until 4 July 2013.

Applications may be submitted at any time, up to the last 3 months of validity of the list i.e. 4 April 2013.

Entrepreneurship

Are you setting-up your own business and willing to learn from the experience of a successful entrepreneur's company in another Member State? The Commission is offering grants under the following funding programme:

• Erasmus for young entrepreneurs - 20 August 2008

Environment

If you are developing environmental technologies or are engaged in eco-innovation you may be able to access funding through the Intelligent Energy Europe or Eco-innovation programmes. The eco-innovation programme finances projects in the areas of material recycling, sustainable buildings, food and drink industrial processes, green businesses and smart purchasing. Priority will be given to applications from SMEs.

• Eco-friendly products and services, Eco-innovation programme - 11 September 2008

Through Life+ organisations engaged in the environment sector can access funding for up to 50% of the costs of a project in three key areas:

Nature and Biodiversity; European Policy and Governance (relating to climate change etc.) and Information and Communication (e.g. dissemination of best practice) 21 November 2008

If you would like support with your Life+ or eco-innovation applications, please email Rachael McCorriston at GLE who will be running one-to-one sessions for both programmes.

Evaluation and technical support

The European Research Council (ERC) is looking for organisations which can help to develop its evaluation and assessment framework. In particular funding is available for evaluations of the management and delivery of aspects of the ERC's work, as well as mapping exercises and policy analysis. For more information, click here.

Proposals must be submitted by 12 November 2008.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)

If you are developing ICT based solutions, you may be able to access funding under the ICT Policy Support Programme:

• Using ICT to improve public participation in legislative and decision-making processes, eParticipation - 29 August 2008
• Projects to increase the use and uptake of ICT; ICT Policy Support Programme - 9 September 2008

Regional development

Funding will be available for organisations which carry out research and analysis of European territorial development and cohesion issues. The following calls for proposals will be formally announced on 20 August 2008 with a final submission deadline of 20 October 2008:

• Applied research on climate change and territorial effects on regions and local economies
• Targeted analysis of eight key themes, including 'territorial diversity' and ' potential of rural regions'
• Development of scientific platform and tools in relation to territorial indicators and indices

For more information on EPSON 2013, please see the Operational Programme.

Research & Innovation

If you are carrying out market-orientated research and development, you may be able to access funding from the European Union which supports R&D in a range of technological areas, including electronic computing technology.

• Research in embedded computing technologies, ARTEMIS - 3 September 2008
• Research and development undertaken by SMEs (any technological area), Eurostars programme - 21 November 2008

Science

If you are part of an interdisciplinary, scientific research network this funding could be for you. The COST programme aims to strengthen the foundations of scientific excellence across Europe; it does not fund research itself.

• European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical research (COST) - Preliminary proposals by 26 September 2008; final proposals by 14 November

Transport

If you are active in the transport sector and in particular carry out research, deliver training or work to coordinate standards and procedures across Europe, you may be able to access funding under the recent call for proposals released by the DG for Transport:

• Grants in the field of transport, 18 August 2008

Vocational training

If you are delivering vocational education and training, or if your company is interested in offering training opportunities to staff members, the European Union runs funding programmes for cooperation with Asia and Oceania in the field of training from which you could benefit:

• Training for Company Executives interested in developing their business in the Japanese or Korean markets, Executive Training Programme (ETP) - 30 September 2008

Subscribe to daily alerts for new tender opportunities

Subscription to the tender monitoring service (TED) includes:

• Creation of a unique company profile tailored to your business activity
• Daily alerts of contract notices matching your unique company profile
• Ad hoc searches for contract notices
• Profile adjustment to meet changing needs
• Assistance and advice on tendering procedures and procurement legislation

For more information, please click here for the TED section of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry website, or contact Tessel van Essen on 020 7203 1838.

EU Press releases

• Transport: Commission earmarks single radio frequency for road safety
• Environment: Revision of the regulation on ozone-depleting substances
• Environment: EU connects to UN's international carbon credit registry
• Financial services: Commission decision cuts red tape for audit firms from third countries

Click here for more EU press releases

EU Legislation and consultations

Environment:

UK actions to meet EU air quality limit values, Defra consultation The consultation seeks opinions on a UK Government draft report to the European Commission on programmes to meet EU air quality limit values. After exceeding the limit values for nitrogen dioxide in certain UK areas in 2006, the UK Government must submit to the Commission plans and programmes on how to reduce the pollutant.

Revised waste exemptions from environmental permitting, Defra consultation Under the regulation of waste recovery and disposal, there are a number of exemptions from environmental permitting available. The aim of this consultation is to receive opinions on a number of proposed measures intended to provide a more risk based approach, i.e. measures that increase the use of exemptions for low risk activities whilst reducing the availability of exemptions for high risk activities.

External relations:

EU maintains trade preferences for developing countries, EC legislation The EU's preferential scheme Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) allows 176 developing countries preferential access to the EU market through reduced or abolished customs duties. EU Member States have now updated and extended the preferential system, which will allow exporters in developing countries as well as importers in the EU to continue to benefit from the scheme until 2011.

Energy:

Advanced energy metering for SMEs, BERR consultation As part of the UK Government's commitment to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption, electricity and gas suppliers will be required to provide advanced meters to electricity and gas customers with an annual consumption exceeding a certain limit. The Government now seeks views on the proposal to require advanced or smart metering for businesses below this consumption limit.

Financial services:

Legislative framework for credit rating agencies, EC consultation The Commission aims to propose a legislative framework for credit rating agencies intended to increase the transparency of credit rating agencies' activities, to improve quality of output and to establish an enforcement regime in the EU. Opinions are sought from particularly investors and their industry associations, other professional organisations in the field of financial markets, credit rating agencies and securities regulators.

Confused about how EU legislation affects your business? Any other queries on EU affairs or trans-European matters? Take advantage of our free enquiry service: Phone 020 7489 1992 or mail to europe@londonchamber.co.uk

Click here for the EU's Enterprise and Industry online magazine

Business Events

Building the Capacity of SMEs: Unlocking the UK's Talent, London/UK, 12 August 2008

Co-ordinating EU Research Projects, Cambridge/UK, 2 September 2008

Commodity Prices, Capital Flows and the Financing of Investment, London/UK, 3, September 2008

European Conference on Information Management and Evaluation, UK, 11 September 2008

Lille international forum of entrepreneurship, Lille/France, 8-10 September 2008

European Conference on Information Management and Evaluation, London/UK, 11 September 2008

SME Banking in Europe Conference, Brussels/Belgium, 11-12 September 2008

Third European Conference on Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Winchester/UK, 15 -16 September 2008

Green IT Networking Event, London/UK, 24 September 2008

Sustainable Cities and Communities conference, Geneva/Switzerland, 30 Sep - 1 Oct 2008

Discover Slovenia: a dynamic country in the heart of Europe seminar, London/UK, 2 October 2008

Belgium: A tax holiday in Europe? seminar, London/UK, 7 October 2008

Is Romania good for your business? Come and meet the experts, London/UK, 21 October 2008

Infectious diseases conference: Innovative technologies for detection, treatment and prevention, London/UK, 22 October 2008

Baltic States: Discover the opportunities for your business seminar, London/UK, 4 November 2008

International Entrepreneurship and Small Business Conference, Belfast/UK, 4 - 7 November 2008