New Funding Opportunities for Businesses

Environment

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+ application, please email Rachael McCorriston at GLE who will be running one-to-one sessions with Life+ applicants.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

Life Long Learning

If you have an interest and role in vocational education and training as well as qualifications, you may be eligible for the Life Long Learning programme:

• Actions to test and develop the credit system for vocational education and training (ECVET), Life Long Learning programme - 13 August 2008
• Actions to develop and implement the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), including national and sectoral qualifications frameworks - 13 August 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

• Financial services: Proposal for improved EU legislative framework for investment funds
• Environment: New proposals to develop sustainable products and technologies
• Taxation: Commission proposes increase in excise duties on tobacco
• Consumers: EU clampdown on ring-tone scams
• Telecoms: Commission to take action on roaming rip-offs for text messages abroad
• Research: New legal framework for European research infrastructures
• Finance: Publication of annual Commission report on the fight against fraud in the EU
• Competition: Commission outlaws restriction of choice to music authors and users
• Industrial property rights: New strategy drives innovation from the laboratory to the marketplace
• Competition: Proposed acquisition of GBI UK by Lesaffre approved by Commission
• Progress reports: On management of EU funds and judicial reform in Bulgaria and Romania

Click here for more EU press releases

EU Legislation and consultations

Consumer:

Risk Assessment Guidelines for non-food consumer products, EC legislation The regulation amends Regulation (EC) 773/2004 on the conduct of settlement procedures in cartel cases. The purpose is to make those subject to investigation for violations of the rules to settle cases more quickly with a 10% reduction of the fine.

Energy:

Requirements for a sustainability scheme for energy uses of biomass,EC legislation This consultation seeks views on key principles and criteria to be developed at EU level to ensure that the biomass for energy purposes comes from sustainable sources. The Commission has undertaken to report on such requirements by 2010 in its proposal for a Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources. The proposal is a part of the Commission's overall energy and climate change package, published on 23 January.

Strategic Siting Assessment process and siting criteria for new nuclear power stations in the UK, BERR consultation
In its January 2008 White Paper on the future of nuclear energy in the UK, the Government stated its aim to complete a Strategic Siting Assessment to identify criteria for assessing the strategic suitability of sites nominated for new nuclear power stations. The consultation therefore seeks views on a study of the environmental and sustainability effects of the criteria.

Enterprise:

Action Programme for reducing administrative burdens, EC legislation The Action Programme for reducing administrative burdens in the EU, which runs from 2007-2012, aims to cut information obligations for EU businesses by 25%. The Commission has launched an online consultation where businesses can suggest more efficient solutions or report cases where they feel they are obliged to provide unnecessary information.

Environment:

Proposed regulations on certain greenhouse gases, Defra consultationThe consultation seeks opinions on ten Commission Regulations establishing legal requirements for personnel working within industry sectors involving fluorinated greenhouse gases, as well as reporting and labelling. The regulations will be of particular interest to trade associations and companies dealing with fluorinated greenhouse gases, such as producers, importers and exporters or enterprises handling appliances such as refrigeration and air-conditioning.

Transport:

Amending Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences, EC legislation Directive 2008/65/EC amends the previous Directive to take into account the scientific and technological progress made in the field, particularly with regard to the driving licence category for vehicles with automatic transmission only. The Directive also announces a review of the minimum requirements for practical and theory tests.

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

25th European Conference on Surface Science, UK, 27 July - 1 August 2008

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

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

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

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

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

Green IT Networking Event, UK, 24 September 2008

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