New Funding Opportunities for Businesses

Audiovisual sector

If you are a company working in the audiovisual sector, the MEDIA programme can cover up to 50% of your project costs. MEDIA supports the development and distribution of thousands of films as well as training activities, festivals and promotion projects throughout the continent. Funding is currently available for these types of project:

• Promotion and market access of movies, MEDIA 2007 – 4 July 2008
• Movie distribution and production, MEDIA 2007 – 7 July 2008
• Promotion of movies internationally, MEDIA 2007– 9 July 2008
• Video on Demand and Digital Cinema Distribution, MEDIA 2007 – 14 July 2008

Biopharmaceutical sector

If you are undertaking research in the pharmaceutical sector you may be able to access funding for up to 75% of the eligible project costs for research activities through the IMI (Innovative Medicines Initiative):

• Research in the pharmaceutical sector, Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) – 15 July 2008

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

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, energy and transport

If you are a company working in the audiovisual sector, the MEDIA programme can cover up to 50% of your project costs. MEDIA supports the development and distribution of thousands of films as well as training activities, festivals and promotion projects throughout the continent. Funding is currently available for six types of project:

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

If you are involved in large-scale infrastructure projects, funding opportunities for trans-European energy networks may be of interest to you. The 2008 Annual Work Programmes set out the types of projects for which funding is available.

• Trans-European Energy Network, TEN-E – 30 June 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

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

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 for 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

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

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• Creation of a unique company profile tailored to your business activity
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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

• Enterprise: Small Business Act adopted
• Transport: Second package of legislation for Single European Sky adopted
• Trade: EU to maintain suspension of import duties on cereals
• Environment: Progress towards meeting of Kyoto targets welcomed by Commission
• Energy: Commission’s response to high oil and food prices
• Funding: €162 million made available to flood-hit UK areas from EU Solidarity Fund
• Interest representation: Commission launches online register of lobbyists’ interests
• Justice and Home Affairs: Proposal for a strengthened European Judicial Network
• Justice and Home Affairs: Proposals for a new common immigration policy for Europe
• Research: €600m to be made available for new digital solutions for Europe's elderly people
• Consumers: Five priorities for a new consumer policy in the digital age set out by Commission
• Transport: Proposals to establish a more integrated infrastructure with the Western Balkans

Click here for more EU press releases

EU Legislation and consultations

Agriculture

Rules on Prevention of BSE, EC legislation The Regulation lays down new rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, as well as amending the revision of the annual monitoring programmes concerning BSE.

Chemicals

Implementation of Directive 2006/8/EC on Hazard Information and Packaging Supply Regulations, HSE consultation The consultation seeks view on the implementation into national law of the EU’s Dangerous Preparations Directive (2006/8/EC), concerning in particular the rules and procedures for classifying and labelling a chemical preparation containing carcinogens, mutagens or substances toxic for reproduction. New classification and labelling requirements for preparations containing ozone depleting substances are also set out.

Environment:

Draft UK Strategy for Radioactive Discharges, Defra consultation The purpose of this consultation is to seek views on the draft revised UK strategy for radioactive discharges 2006 -2030. The revised strategy is an update on the 2001-2020 strategy issued in 2002, and demonstrates how the UK Government will intends to implement the OSPAR Strategy for radioactive substances

Food Safety

Use of sweeteners in foodstuffs, EC legisation Directive 2008/60/EC lays down specific purity criteria concerning sweeteners for use in foodstuffs. All authorised food additives have to fulfil purity criteria which are set out in detail in three Commission Directives, of which this Directive is the most recent addition. EU legislation on food additives is based on the principle that only those additives that are explicitly authorised may be used.

Health and safety:

Amending Health and Safety information for employees, HSE consultation The HSE requires employers to provide information to their employees relating to health safety and welfare at work by displaying, in the workplace, a copy of the approved poster or alternatively by giving employees a copy of the approved leaflet. The proposed amendments to the Regulations would allow HSE to approve and publish new posters and leaflets which do not require the addition or updating of information by businesses displaying them.

Telecoms:

Competition in the telecommunications equipment market, EC legislation Directive 2008/63/EC amends the existing Directive 88/301 on competition in the telecommunications market, as the intervening years have seen considerable technical developments in networks and in the area of terminal equipment. In response to the proliferation of types of terminal equipment, the Directive seeks to ensure a free choice between the various types of equipment available to fully benefit from the technological advances made in this sector.

Transport:

Implementation of Directive 2007/46/EC on vehicle approval, DFT consultation, The consultation seeks opinions on the implementation of Directive 2007/46/EC on vehicle approval in the UK, and on the proposed implementation of national approval schemes covering all passenger and commercial vehicles. This includes vans, trucks, minibuses, buses, coaches, trailers and various specialist vehicles like motorhomes and breakdown vehicles.

Uniform checks on the transport of dangerous goods by road, EC legislation Directive 2008/54/EC amends the existing Directive 95/50/EC on uniform procedures for checks on the transport of dangerous goods by road, as regards the implementing powers conferred on the Commission. In particular, the annexes to the previous Directive have been amended to take into account scientific and technical progress in the automotive industry during the past decade.

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

Workshop on FP7 Possibilities for the London Business Community, UK, 1 July 2008

Sustainability in the Urban Environment, UK, 2 July 2008

EMT Seminar: Roles of Government and Industry in Translational Research, UK, 9 July 2008

Understanding Commercial Agreements and Dispute Resolution in the EU, UK, 10 July 2008

Eighth European Conference on e-Government, Switzerland, 10-11 July 2008

Euroscience Open Forum 2008, Spain, 18-22 July 2008

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