CILIFO launches, through the Finnova Foundation, an Accelerathon on prevention and fighting of forest fires, and the post-fire recovery of affected habitats within the Euroregion Alentejo-Algarve-Andalucía

    • This Accelerathon will be introduced during a webinar celebrated next 15thJune 2020.
    • Winners will receive a European acceleration ticket in order to get access to EU funds, internationalize or attract an investment of up to €2 million for a pilot project.

    05.06.2020. Finnova Foundation has organised, as a partner of the Iberian Centre for Research and Forest Firefighting (CILIFO by its acronym in Spanish), an Accelerathon on prevention and fighting of forest fires, and the post-fire recovery of burnt areas.

    This initiative aims to rise a series of innovative challenges in order to employ them in real life for the prevention and fighting of forest fires, and the post-fire recovery of affected areas, using for that purpose EU funds. Additionally, this tool will give visibility to the CILIFO Project and to the activity of cross-border beneficiaries from the Euroregion Alentejo-Algarve-Andalucía.

    Accelerathon-CILIFO encourages networking and open innovation through its incubation programme Firefighting Open Innovation Lab – CILIFO. CILIFO’s accelerator would bring in innovative solutions to common challenges that could receive Community funds applying for open calls of the LIFE programme on Environment, among other EU programmes.

    The Accelerathon-CILIFO will be introduced by Finnova Foundation during a webinar on Zoom that will take place on Monday, 15th June 2020, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (CEST). We will disclose more information concerning the speakers that will participate in the webinar and how to attend very soon.

    Participate in the Accelerathon-CILIFO here.

    WHAT IS ACCELERATHON?

    Accelerathon is an acceleration programme for innovative projects powered by Finnova Foundation. Finnova’s methodology aims to find solutions and funding for projects through an applied, online open innovation system. Its objective is to bind together all the actors from the innovative ecosystem related to environment, a domain in which the European Commission is currently working.

    In order to accomplish that purpose, there will be training, mentors, a jury and some very special prizes. One of them is that the winner will have the possibility to present its project to an EU open call, such as the LIFE programme, and receive up to €2 million for its project for a period of three years.

    ACCELERATHON’S GOAL AND CHALLENGE

    The aim is to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs 13 and 15 of the United Nations through innovation on the adoption of urgent measures in order to combat climate change and its impacts, and protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

    The challenges presented are:

    1. Prevention of forest fires.
    2. Fighting of forest fires.
    3. Recovery of habitats after forest fires.

    The purpose of these challenges is to identify innovative solutions, and attract enterprises, public and private entities, startups and entrepreneurs, so they can define their own environmental challenges concerning the prevention and fighting of forest fires, and the post-fire recovery of affected areas.

    ACCELERATHON – CILIFO

    Who is it for?

    Accelerathon is an innovation competition for entrepreneurs, universities, institutes of technology, business associations, municipalities, industrial parks, SMEs, and public and private entities from all over the world. The only condition is to be engaged with the above-mentioned challenges.

    Team competition and training

    During the competition, the different teams will be able to make use of e-learning tools and apply the LIFE methodology. A joint work will be developed in order to achieve optimal solutions. Participants will be offered to enrol in a training session on EU funding.

    Duration and awards

    The Accelerathon-CILIFO programme will be held during approximately two weeks, from 17th June (deadline for registration) until 26th June (final round). The prize will be a European acceleration ticket that will provide access to Community funds, to internationalization or to the co-drafting of a European project related to CILIFO’s themes.

    Download the Accelerathon-CILIFO roadmap here.

    CONTACT:

    Beatriz Martínez Muñoz (EU Project and Communications Officer at Finnova)

    beatriz.martinez@finnova.eu

    +34 605 52 10 84

     

    José Manuel Requena Benítez (International Project Manager at Finnova)

    jrequena@finnova.eu

    +34 639 99 15 27

     

CILIFO, through the Finnova Foundation, launches an Accelerathon on prevention and fighting of forest fires, and the post-fire recovery of affected habitats within the Euroregion Alentejo-Algarve-Andalucía

  • This Accelerathon will be introduced during a webinar celebrated next 15thJune 2020
  • Winners will receive a European acceleration ticket in order to get access to EU funds, internationalize or attract an investment of up to €2 million for a pilot project

05.06.2020. Finnova Foundation has organised, as a partner of the Iberian Centre for Research and Forest Firefighting (CILIFO by its acronym in Spanish), an Accelerathon on prevention and fighting of forest fires, and the post-fire recovery of burnt areas.

This initiative aims to rise a series of innovative challenges in order to employ them in real life for the prevention and fighting of forest fires, and the post-fire recovery of affected areas, using for that purpose EU funds. Additionally, this tool will give visibility to the CILIFO Project and to the activity of cross-border beneficiaries from the Euroregion Alentejo-Algarve-Andalucía.

Accelerathon-CILIFO encourages networking and open innovation through its incubation programme Firefighting Open Innovation Lab – CILIFO. CILIFO’s accelerator would bring in innovative solutions to common challenges that could receive Community funds applying for open calls of the LIFE programme on Environment, among other EU programmes.

Participate in the Accelerathon-CILIFO here.

The Accelerathon-CILIFO will be introduced by Finnova Foundation during a webinar on Zoom that will take place on Monday, 15th June 2020, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (CEST). We will disclose more information concerning the speakers that will participate in the webinar and how to attend very soon.

WHAT IS ACCELERATHON?

Accelerathon is an acceleration programme for innovative projects powered by Finnova Foundation. Finnova’s methodology aims to find solutions and funding for projects through an applied, online open innovation system. Its objective is to bind together all the actors from the innovative ecosystem related to environment, a domain in which the European Commission is currently working.

In order to accomplish that purpose, there will be training, mentors, a jury and some very special prizes. One of them is that the winner will have the possibility to present its project to an EU open call, such as the LIFE programme, and receive up to €2 million for its project for a period of three years.

ACCELERATHON’S GOAL AND CHALLENGE

The aim is to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs 13 and 15 of the United Nations through innovation on the adoption of urgent measures in order to combat climate change and its impacts, and protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

The challenges presented are:

  1. Prevention of forest fires.
  2. Fighting of forest fires.
  3. Recovery of habitats after forest fires.

The purpose of these challenges is to identify innovative solutions, and attract enterprises, public and private entities, startups and entrepreneurs, so they can define their own environmental challenges concerning the prevention and fighting of forest fires, and the post-fire recovery of affected areas.

ACCELERATHON – CILIFO

ACCELERATHON – CILIFO

Who is it for?

Accelerathon is an innovation competition for entrepreneurs, universities, institutes of technology, business associations, municipalities, industrial parks, SMEs, and public and private entities from all over the world. The only condition is to be engaged with the above-mentioned challenges.

Team competition and training

During the competition, the different teams will be able to make use of e-learning tools and apply the LIFE methodology. A joint work will be developed in order to achieve optimal solutions. Participants will be offered to enrol in a training session on EU funding

Download the Accelerathon-CILIFO roadmap here

CONTACT:

Beatriz Martínez Muñoz (EU Project and Communications Officer at Finnova)

beatriz.martinez@finnova.eu +34 605 52 10 84

José Manuel Requena Benítez (International Project Manager at Finnova)

jrequena@finnova.eu  +34 639 99 15 27

Call for Technology and Innovation Platforms 2020

29.05.2020. The call for early processing for the year 2020 for the granting of aid to Technology and Innovation Platforms, within the State Programme for Research, Development and Innovation Geared to the Challenges of Society (within the framework of the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2017-2020), has been approved. The objective of this call is the creation and consolidation of Technology and Innovation Platforms.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES TO BE FUNDED:

The Technology and Innovation Platforms carry out activities to promote and stimulate R&D&I, they are structures for exchange and communication between the different agents in the Spanish science-technology and innovation system that promote the improvement of the technological capacity and competitiveness of the national productive sector, carrying out activities of knowledge exchange, planning and dissemination. The Technology and Innovation Platforms are key structures for the promotion of public-private collaboration and the detection of new demands. The activities that are financed are:

a) Organization of the Platform’s Annual Assembly.
b) Dissemination activities or thematic conferences related to the activity of the Platform.
c) Preparation of documents related to the Platform’s activity.
d) Elaboration of prospective studies and early demand studies.
e) Actions in the field of Challenges in collaboration with other Platforms.
f) Actions aimed at promoting technological cooperation and advice on the preparation of R&D&I projects.
g) Promotion of participation in R&D&I internationalisation activities.

BENEFICIARIES:

In accordance with the provisions of Article 5 of the resolution of the call, public research bodies, public universities, state-level Technology Centres and Technology Innovation Support Centres, other public and private non-profit R&D&I centres, companies and sectorial business associations may be beneficiaries of the aid.

Type of funding: Grant

Budget: 4.000.000 €

Deadline: June 2, 2020 – June 16, 2020

More information: http://www.ciencia.gob.es/portal/site/MICINN/menuitem.dbc68b34d11ccbd5d52ffeb801432ea0/?vgnextoid=a17304aad8ac1710VgnVCM1000001d04140aRCRD

Forest protection, biodiversity and artificial intelligence: what challenges ahead?

29.05.2020. Forest Protection, Biodiversity and Artificial Intelligence: What Challenges Ahead? is an event that will consist of a debate on future challenges regarding forest protection in the European Union and globally; as well as the use of artificial intelligence to counteract biodiversity loss and improve environmental sustainability (#Tech4Forests).

The speakers and details of the event will be announced in the coming days. Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, this event will be streamed.

ABOUT THE DEBATE

As recognized by both the UN and the European Commission, forests are rapidly disappearing as a result of deforestation and degradation. Furthermore, global deforestation and forest degradation also negatively affects many objectives, both of Europe and of the international community; and in several other important aspects of life on Earth, such as ensuring peace and good governance or promoting the rule of law as highlighted in the objectives of the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.

#Tech4Forests: The issue of forest protection continues to be a crucial feature of the global public debate on climate change, as forests are not only an important aspect of the fight to protect the climate, but also a decisive aspect of the success of the actions being taken by European and international institutions.

When: 24 June 2020

Time: 6 p.m.

Where: online

The audience will be able to ask questions during the discussion and afterward in the question and answer round.

Registration: https://bit.ly/2yIBnmZ

UBLIC CONSULTATION – Adapting to Climate Change: an EU Strategy

28.05.2020. The European Green Deal aims to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent in the world.

Climate impacts are already being felt across Europe and are likely to increase even further in intensity and frequency. Without drastic emission reduction measures, continued climate change could increase the likelihood of serious, widespread and irreversible consequences, such as the collapse of natural ecosystems, the erosion of global food security or the displacement of people. The Commission therefore believes it is important to bring together a wide range of stakeholder views for the new Strategy to inform the design and policy options explored, as well as the appropriate level of ambition.

You can contribute and participate in this call through the following link: https://bit.ly/3gxEVJC

Europe is affected by indirect climate impacts outside the Union in many ways, such as trade, spread of infections and supply chains or migration.

The ultimate goal of climate change adaptation strategies is to protect people, the planet and prosperity from environmental impacts. By promoting global adaptation actions together with accelerated emission reductions, the EU can help ensure the well-being of EU citizens, safeguard our natural environment and cultural heritage, and protect our investments and economic assets.

Feedback period from 14 May 2020 to 20 August 2020

More information on the consultation at: https://bit.ly/3gp6o0h

 

Firefighting Open Innovation Lab – CILIFO joins International Biodiversity Day 2020 celebrations

22.05.2020. The loss of biodiversity is a loss for humanity, that is why every 22nd of May since 1993 is celebrated as the International Day for Biological Diversity. This day aims to increase understanding and awareness of issues related to biological diversity (the variability of living organisms, including diversity within species (genetics), between species and of ecosystems.

One of the key pillars of the Iberian Centre for Research and Fight against Forest Fires (CILIFO) is awareness, since prevention is one of the main actions in the fight against forest fires, and it includes both preventive forestry on forest fuel, and other actions aimed at raising public awareness of the problem of fires: «social prevention».

Environmental education and awareness is a complement to environmental policies and actions, since without the active and committed involvement of all members of society, the environmental strategies carried out by public and private bodies would not be sufficient to meet the challenges presented by sustainable development. For this reason, knowing the mechanisms of fire, the way in which the extinguishing devices and the harmful consequences of these, is a fundamental link in the chain that leads us to its prevention.

The biological diversity is a global good of great value for the present and future generations, the number of species diminishes at an accelerated rate, due to the human activity, according to the Web of the United Nations. Given the importance of education and public awareness about this threat, CILIFO joins the celebration of the International Day of Biodiversity 2020.

About biological diversity:

As the United Nations explains on its website: «Biodiversity is understood to mean the wide variety of plants, animals and microorganisms that exist, but it also includes the genetic differences within each species – for example, between varieties of crops and breeds of livestock – as well as the variety of ecosystems (lakes, forests, deserts, agricultural fields,…) that host multiple interactions between their members (humans, plants, animals) and their environment (water, air, soil…)».

In addition, biological resources «are the pillars that support civilizations. Fish provide 20% of animal protein to some 3 billion people. More than 80% of the human diet is composed of plants. Approximately 80% of people living in rural areas in developing countries depend on traditional plant-based medicines for basic health care.

Finally, the United Nations reports on its website that 2020 is a year «of reflection, opportunity and solutions. 2020 is the year when, more than ever, we must express our will to «flatten and reduce the curve» of biodiversity loss for the benefit of humans and all life on Earth. 2020 will see the final period of the 2011-2020 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and the Aichi Targets, as well as the Decade of Biodiversity, which will usher in new biodiversity decades for the period 2021-2030: the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration; and the Biodiversity Summit, to emphasize the need for high-level action in support of a post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

For more information on International Biodiversity Day: https://www.un.org/es/observances/biological-diversity-day

Contact: Beatriz Martínez (EU Project Officer at Fundación Finnova) beatriz.martinez@finnova.eu 

FIREFIGHTING OPEN INNOVATION LAB-CILIFO CELEBRATES EUROPEAN NATURE DAY 2000

20.05.2020. European Natura 2000 Day refers to 21 May 1992, when both the EU Habitats Directive and the LIFE programme were approved. This Directive together with the Birds Directive (adopted in 1979) became a basis for the EU’s Natura 2000 network of protected areas. Today, Natura 2000 consists of more than 27,800 sites on EU land and sea that successfully contribute to the preservation of Europe’s unique natural heritage.

The Iberian Centre for Research and Fight against Forest Fires (CILIFO) joins the celebration of this day directly related to the climate change, since the project bets on a cross-border cooperation area of the Euroregion Alentejo-Algarve-Andalusia with a bet of measures towards the prevention and extinction of forest fires in the cooperation area. CILIFO is being developed thanks to the collaboration of a public-private partnership made up of public research bodies, non-profit organisations of public interest and public administrations, all with the common objective of fighting forest fires.

According to the European Commission’s website, to celebrate the Natura 2000 network, one of the EU’s most outstanding achievements, and to honour the efforts of all those involved in making it a success, the European Commission together with the European Parliament, the Council Presidency and the Committee of the Regions declared 21 May as the European Natura 2000 Day.

In 2020, the European Natura 2000 Day will put the focus on «young people and nature» with the aim of inspiring them to commit themselves to the protection and restoration of nature. Given the current situation with COVID-19 in Europe, this special day is celebrated on social networks with the hashtags #Natura2000 or #Natura2000Day

About Natura 2000

Natura 2000 is a European ecological network of biodiversity conservation areas. It consists of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) established under the Habitats Directive and Special Protection Areas for birds (SPAs) designated under the Birds Directive. Their purpose is to ensure the long-term survival of species and habitat types in Europe by helping to halt the loss of biodiversity. It is the main instrument for nature conservation in the European Union.

For more information on Natura 2000: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/index_en.htm

Contact: Beatriz Martinez (EU Project Officer at Fundación Finnova) beatriz.martinez@finnova.eu

Online Conferência sobre agua e empreendedorismo

12.02.2020. On Thursday, 7 May 2020, the «Conference on Water and Entrepreneurship» took place, organized by H2On-line: «Cycle of conferences on the water sector. Topics such as water resources management, current management challenges, water, sanitation, environment and technology will be some of the topics dealt with».

Miguel Lemos Rodrigues from Aguas de Gaia; Bruno Abreu from Sofist; Juan Manuel Revuelta from the Finnova Foundation; and Fernando Miguel Fraga from Acreditia were invited to the session.

During the afternoon of Thursday 07 May 2020, the online conference on water and entrepreneurship was held and various topics were presented, among which Juan Manuel Revuelta, director of the Finnova Foundation, presented the CILIFO Project as an example of good practice.

Specifically, the Iberian Centre for Research and the Fight against Forest Fires (CILIFO) was discussed as a project financed by 75% of the Interreg VA Spain – Portugal – POCTEP (2014-2020) cross-border cooperation programme. It is an example of the strengthening of cross-border cooperation, working procedures and training among the Forest Fire Prevention and Extinction mechanisms in the cooperation area of the Euroregion Alentejo – Algarve – Andalusia. In addition, the Firefighting Open Innovation Lab-CILIFO was presented as an  accelerator/incubator of Start-ups and participants were encouraged to participate if they had an innovative idea related to water and fire.

Video:

Online workshop LIFE 2020 call: EU grant 1 million euros per project in circular economy for Gran Canaria in environment and resource efficiency

11.05.2020. To celebrate Europe Day and in memory of Robert Schuman’s declaration on its 70th anniversary the Cabildo de Gran Canaria (SPEGC) is organising together with the Finnova Foundation and in partnership with Atlantic Euroconsulting the webinar «LIFE 2020 Call – Opportunities for Gran Canaria in terms of the environment and resource efficiency».

A workshop with experts in European funds that will address the possibilities of funding in circular economy and green economic development in Gran Canaria. The session will take place today Monday, 11th May 2020 at 9.30h (Canary Island time) through the videoconference platform of the Society for the Economic Promotion of Gran Canaria of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria.

During the virtual workshop, practical information and informative pills will be given on various environmental aspects related to the LIFE Programme and the possibilities of European funding through the environmental sub-programme

The objective is to promote the presentation of as many innovative projects in the circular economy as possible that will obtain 1 million euros and generate green jobs.

This online workshop will be presented by Raúl Garcia Brink , Technical Coordinator of Economic Development, Energy Sovereignty, Climate and Knowledge, on behalf of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria SPEG; and moderated from Brussels by Juanma Revuelta, CEO of Startup Europe Accelerator who will explain the new role of startups in the LIFE Programme and possible innovative projects in the field of circular economy, energy recovery and tackling agricultural and livestock waste; José Manuel Requena, director at Finnova of the CILIFO project (INTERREG), led by the Andalusian Government and which, with a budget of 24 5 million, is the leading project in the prevention, fire fighting and regeneration of burnt areas; Juan Viesca, Director of EU Funds at the Finnova Foundation will speak on water management efficiency; Íñigo Bilbao, expert in Smart Cities will speak on waste management and Adrián Noheda, Director of the Firefighting Open Innovation Lab – CILIFO (incubator for ideas in the field of fire) as well as blue economy and bioeconomics.

The topics are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDO) related to water, employment, climate change, energy and the circular economy. Therefore, the workshop aims to encourage and identify entities that, in a multidisciplinary manner, work intensively to identify innovations, implement them and attract entrepreneurs and investors committed to the fight against climate change and the generation of new business opportunities and employment. The methodology consists of putting together innovative ideas with the seal of excellence of the Horizon 2020 Program that can inspire winning projects. A horizontal objective will be to promote sustainable tourism so that the COVID-19 crisis can be tackled with improvements in a more effective, more sustainable model that makes better use of its resources and attracts new tourists committed to sustainability.

This webinar is aimed at civil servants and policy-makers from city councils; from companies and public corporations; from business associations; from technological institutes; from universities; from innovative companies with patents; or from corporations with environmental challenges that can be solved with the financial and technological boost of the LIFE Programme.

CABILDO DE GRAN CANARIA SPEGC

The SPEGC is a commercial entity fully owned by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria and is currently attached to the Regional Ministry of Economic Development, Energy Sovereignty, Climate and Knowledge. Its main purpose is to promote the economic development of Gran Canaria by encouraging investment in the creation of companies. Its mission is therefore to promote economic and business activities that contribute to the development and expansion of Gran Canaria. (More information: https://www.spegc.org/)

FINNOVA FOUNDATION.

European Foundation for the Financing of Innovation. Its objectives are to promote public-private cooperation through technology transfer of low-cost solutions among the best available technologies to address social challenges such as employment, entrepreneurship, UN ODS, circular economy, waste recovery, sustainable tourism, fight against climate change. (More information: http://finnova.eu/)

ATLANTIC EUROCONSULTING.

Canarian company with headquarters in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and office in Brussels, which develops consulting activities in European affairs: legislation, training, communication and obtaining European funds. Together with Finnova, it advises both public administrations and private entities in the Canary Islands in seeking and obtaining European funding. (More information: https://www.atlanticeuroconsulting.com/)

Contact information:
Juan Manuel Revuelta
CEO of Finnova Foundation
juanmarevuelta@finnova.eu
696324236

Lola Bordás
Head of Communication of Fundación Finnova
cmo@finnova.eu
619110266

 

CILIFO CELEBRATES EUROPE DAY

09.05.2020. Every May 9th, Europe Day celebrates the peace and unity of the continent. The date is the anniversary of the historic Schuman declaration and the Iberian Centre for Research and the Fight against Forest Fires (CILIFO) celebrates it by committing to a cross-border cooperation area in the Euroregion Alentejo-Algarve-Andalusia with a commitment to measures to prevent and extinguish forest fires in the cooperation area.

With a duration of three years (2019 to 2021), CILIFO aims, through the results of its activities, to become a permanent centre for the promotion and development of training, awareness, development and innovation, and interregional cooperation in the fight against forest fires.

Its objectives are:

1. To strengthen and unite cooperation, working procedures and training between the Forest Fire Prevention and Extinction mechanisms in the area of cooperation.

2. To promote the creation of lasting and quality employment in the area; to reduce the economic cost of fires by creating a rural economy linked to the landscape.

3. To improve the response capacity to forest fires of the administrations and authorities involved in fighting them in the three participating regions.

CILIFO is being developed thanks to the collaboration of a public-private partnership composed of public research bodies, non-profit-making public interest entities and public administrations, all with the common objective of fighting forest fires.