Ongoing 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 six types of project:

- Cooperation in the audiovisual sector, MEDIA International
- Deadline - 13 June 2008

- Funding for television broadcasting of European audiovisual works, MEDIA 2007
- Deadline - 13 June 2008

- Promotion and market access of movies, MEDIA 2007
- Deadline 4 July 2008

- Movie distribution and production, MEDIA 2007
- Deadline 7 July 2008

- Promotion of movies internationally, MEDIA 2007
- Deadline 9 July 2008

- Video on Demand and Digital Cinema Distribution, MEDIA 2007
- Deadline 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 IMI (Innovative Medicines Initiative).

- Research in the pharmaceutical sector, Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI)
- Deadline 15 July 2008

Environment, energy and transport

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:

- Renewable energy and energy efficiency, Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE)
- Deadline 26 June 2008

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

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)

If you are developing technical, ICT based solutions to tackle current organisational barriers in Europe, you may find the following funding opportunities useful. The European Commission is working hard to make digital content in Europe more usable and exploitable.

- Making digital content in Europe more accessible and useable, E-ContentPlus
- Deadline 12 June 2008

- Projects to increase the use and uptake of ICT; ICT Policy Support Programme
- Deadline 9 September 2008

Research & Innovation

If you are carrying out research or developing innovative solutions for a range of industries, see below for two current funding opportunities for computing technology and SMEs.

- Research in embedded computing technologies, ARTEMIS
- Deadline 3 September 2008

- Research and development undertaken by SMEs (any technological area), Eurostars programme
- Deadline 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 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.

Funding opportunities for large businesses

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

- Trans-European Transport Network, TEN-T
- Deadline 20 June 2008

- Trans-European Energy Network, TEN-E
- Deadline 30 June 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 Legislation and consultations

Agriculture

Review of the Less Favoured Area Scheme, EC consultation The consultation reviews the implementation of Less Favoured Area support scheme, with a view to an eventual Council Decision. The LFA is the EU’s instrument for maintaining the countryside in marginal areas.

Chemicals

New amending Regulations on the classification, packaging and labelling of chemicals, HSE consultation The consultation seeks comments on proposed amendments to the Hazard Information and Packaging Supply Regulations for Chemicals. This is required because the UK must transpose EC Directive 2006/8/EC into national law.

Consumers

Credit agreements for consumers, legislation. Repealing a previous Directive on credit agreements for consumers, Directive 2008/48/EC seeks to guarantee a high level of consumer protection and to harmonise certain aspects of Member States’ laws, regulations and administrative provisions concerning consumer credit. It will cover personal consumer loans of between €200 and 75,000 repayable after more than a month, and it will not apply to mortgages or deferred debit cards. The Directive is foreseen to enter into force in the Member States by 2010.

Mediation in civil and commercial matters, legislation Following a 2002 Green Paper on alternative dispute resolution, Directive 2008/52/EC seeks to facilitate and encourage mediation as an alternative way of solving cross-border consumer disputes within the EU. It applies when one party to the dispute is based in a different Member State to that of the other party, and when national law necessitates mediation to be used in similar domestic disputes. The provisions of the Directive will enter into force in the Member States by May 2011.

Enterprise policy

Implementation of the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Directive BERR consultation This consultation seeks views on draft regulations for implementing certain requirements of Directive 2006/66/EC on Batteries and Accumulators and Waste Batteries and Accumulators in the UK. Particular emphasis is placed on the proposed approach for implementing provisions in the Directive relating to the placing on the market of new batteries and accumulators.

Environment

Energy efficiency in ICT, EC consultation The aim of this consultation is to gather information and opinions from stakeholders on the sectors that offer the most promising prospects for improved energy efficiency through the use of ICT; thereby identifying the actions to be taken at EU level in order to maximise these effects.

Emissions Trading Scheme, EC consultation The proposed amendments to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme Directive discussed in this consultation accompany proposals for a new Directive on renewable energy. This allocates amongst the Member States the responsibility for achieving emissions reductions outside the EU ETS sectors.

Draft Water Resources Management Plan, Thames Water Consultation In May 2008, Thames Water published their draft Water Resources Management Plan for the 25 year period between 2010 and 2035. The draft plan sets ou how they propose to make available sufficient water to meet customer needs during this time. As a result, they invite views to be submitted on the content of the draft plan.

Information Society

Review of the Roaming Regulation, EC consultation The Commission is seeking to extend the current Roaming Regulations to encompass SMS and data roaming, and it therefore calls for input on the general functioning of the Regulations as well as their effects on smaller operators and domestic prices.

Public Health

Recast of the Medical Services Directives, EC consultation The Commission is considering a revision of the legal framework in Europe for Medical Devices, in order to improve and strengthen this framework and to meet the growing expectations of European citizens. As a result, it seeks comments on the impacts, costs and savings of the legislation on SMEs.

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 (this will open in a new window)
Phone 020 7489 1992 or email europe@londonchamber.co.uk

Business events

All the links below will open in a new window

UKTI International Month – new markets overseas, London, throughout June 2008

Europe INNOVA Annual Partnering Event 2008, Hungary, 1-3 June 2008

The best ways to make life easier for SMEs, Slovenia, 3-4 June 2008

Climate change, Energy & Sustainable Business Development, Belgium, 5-6 June 2008

Finding business and technology partners in Paris, France, 8-9 June 2008

4th Annual Competition Policy Conference, UK, 20 June 2008

Kosovo Business and Investment Summit, Pristina, 25-26 June 2008

European Business Network Annual Congress, Hungary, 25-27 June 2008

Finance in Framework Seven Workshop, Italy, 26 June 2008

How to bid successfully for FP7 funding, 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

3rd European Conference on Entrepreneurship and Innovation, UK, 15-16 September 2008