The LIFE programme funds nature conservation projects in the fields of biodiversity

13.04.2020. The Environment and Climate Action Programme (LIFE) is the European Union’s financial instrument dedicated to the environment for the period 2014-2020. Its overall objective is to contribute to sustainable development and the achievement of the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy and the EU’s environment and climate strategies. One of the sub-programmes of LIFE is the Environment, which represents 75% of the total funding.

Projects in Nature and Biodiversity priority area receive up to 60% EU co-financing (within the Environment sub-programme), but the co-financing rate can be up to 75%, if at least half of the total estimated project costs are used for actions to improve the conservation status of priority habitats. In this sense, nature conservation projects in the fields of biological diversity, habitats and species are financed. The European Union (EU) provides grants for action on best practice, pilot and demonstration projects that contribute to the implementation of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives, the EU Biodiversity Strategy until 2020, and the development, implementation and management of the Natura 2000 network.

In the framework of the LIFE Programme and the 2020 call, interesting opportunities are presented to give continuity to various actions of the Iberian Centre for Research and Fight against Forest Fires (CILIFO). The project could obtain alternative sources of funding for some lines of study, research and dissemination being carried out by the project’s different working groups. Furthermore, a proposal promoted by CILIFO within the framework of the LIFE Programme could exploit the good practices of CILIFO and the results obtained by the CILIFO Working Groups.

The CILIFO project, which is a European project focused on the prevention and extinction of forest fires, as well as on the adaptation and mitigation of climate change, is led by the Andalusian Regional Government (Spain). CILIFO has the first accelerator/incubator specialized in the prevention and extinction of forest fires and co-founded by an Interreg programme in Europe, «Firefighting Open Innovation Lab – CILIFO«, which can contribute with innovative solutions. This Open Innovation Lab welcomes entities (entrepreneurs, spin-offs, start-ups, SMEs…) working in the field of climate change adaptation and mitigation, including forest fire prevention and extinction.

Target: the programme is aimed at consortia between public and private organisations at local level, councils, town halls, universities, public or private companies (including SMEs) and associations. Startups and entrepreneurs can also apply for the aid, as innovation in low-cost technologies for easy application in different areas is particularly encouraged.

Procedure: the Environment Subprogramme is divided into two stages: first a 10-page «concept note» is presented. You can modify a concept note submitted as many times as you wish until the call for project proposals is closed. Then, if the concept reaches the second stage, it will be necessary to send the complete project proposal based on the comments of the LIFE programme. The average budget per project is EUR 1 to 2 million.

Deadline for concept notes for nature and biodiversity projects closes on 16 July 2020.

Example of a project: LIFE-SINK (Innovative substrates for NOx capture and recovery of burnt soils)

The project focuses on finding circular economy solutions (waste recovery) for the recovery of soils damaged by forest fires. Specifically, one of the components of the substrate to be used will be properly treated sewage sludge, so as to improve the condition of this forest habitat. Therefore, the objective of the project is based on the design, development and implementation to the market of «artificial substrates» created by means of non-hazardous waste for the capture of NOx, as well as to fertilize the land. The project demonstrates how the developed «artificial substrates» (also called technological, amendments or techno-soils), coming from the recovery of «Non-Hazardous Waste», by means of specific formulations studied, are capable of reducing the pollution of NOx (nitrogen oxide) in cities or areas with a high degree of pollution, and it is viable to market them for the reduction of atmospheric pollution and improvement of the properties of the soils where they are applied.

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic: Due to the COVID-19 health crisis, projects dedicated to the management of the COVID-19 pandemic have taken on special relevance for the European Commission, encouraging research into systems of contagion and control of pandemics. It is not only researching new drugs or vaccines that may be of special interest in the fight against the coronavirus but also looking for projects that have unique viability in this field so important at present.

EU applicants are encouraged to reflect on what elements of their project can help prevent, mitigate, manage the current crisis or recover from a similar health crisis in the future. The aim is that any project that has some element, however small, that can collaborate or add to a much larger and more coordinated response in the fight against the pandemic, can be investigated from a health approach in order to readapt it and turn it into a response that, coming from different projects, can become a solution greater than the sum of its parts.

For more information contact the Coordinator of the CILIFO project at the Finnova Foundation, José Manuel Requena (jrequena@finnova.eu) or visit the website: https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/section/life/calls-proposals#inline-nav-1

LIFE aid for Environment and resource efficiency traditional projects

08/04/2020. The Environment and Climate Action Programme (LIFE) is the European Union’s financial instrument dedicated to the environment for the period 2014-2020. Its overall objective is to contribute to sustainable development and the achievement of the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy and the EU’s environment and climate strategies. One of the sub-programmes of LIFE is the Environment, which represents 75% of the total funding.

LIFE co-finances up to 55% of projects in the priority area of Environment and Resource Efficiency (the Environment Sub-Programme) especially in the areas of air, chemicals, green and circular economy, industrial accidents, marine and coastal management, noise, soil, waste, water and urban environment. The programme provides grants for pilot and demonstration projects to develop, test and demonstrate policy or management approaches. It also covers the development and demonstration of innovative technologies, the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of EU environmental policy and law, as well as best practices and solutions. In particular, the European Commission seeks new technologies and solutions that are ready to be applied under near-market conditions, on an industrial or commercial scale, for the duration of the project.

In the framework of the LIFE Programme and the 2020 call, there are interesting opportunities to give continuity to several actions of the Iberian Centre for Research and Fight against Forest Fires (CILIFO). The project could obtain alternative sources of funding for some lines of study, research and dissemination being carried out by the project’s different Working Groups. Furthermore, a proposal promoted by CILIFO within the framework of the LIFE Programme could exploit the good practices of CILIFO and the results obtained by the CILIFO Working Groups.

The CILIFO project, which is a European project focused on the prevention and extinction of forest fires, as well as on the adaptation and mitigation of climate change, is led by the Andalusian Regional Government (Spain). CILIFO has the first accelerator/incubator specialized in the prevention and extinction of forest fires and co-founded by an Interreg programme in Europe, «Firefighting Open Innovation Lab – CILIFO», which can contribute with innovative solutions. This Open Innovation Lab welcomes entities (entrepreneurs, spin-offs, start-ups, SMEs…) working in the field of climate change adaptation and mitigation, including forest fire prevention and extinction.

Target: the programme is aimed at consortia between public and private organisations at local level, councils, town halls, universities, public or private companies (including SMEs) and associations. Startups and entrepreneurs can also apply for the aid, as innovation in low-cost technologies for easy application in different areas is particularly encouraged.

Procedure: the Environment Subprogramme is divided into two stages: first a 10-page «concept note» is presented. You can modify a concept note submitted as many times as you wish until the call for project proposals is closed. Then, if the concept reaches the second stage, it will be necessary to send the complete project proposal based on the comments of the LIFE programme. The average budget per project is EUR 1 to 2 million.

Deadline for concept notes for traditional environment and resource efficiency projects: 14 July 2020.

Project example: HyperIN
Hyper [IN] is a revolutionary thermal and acoustic insulation material with permanent fire resistance. It is an internationally patented material that is biodegradable, insulating and fireproof, manufactured mainly from recyclable materials, which is mainly applied in the construction sector. A characteristic of this product is that a large part of its components are obtained from recycled products following the principles of the circular economy. This project is characterized by applying the principles of the circular economy, since it is composed of recycled materials that are reused (such as rice straw), with the aim of providing solutions to various environmental problems using 100% recycled and natural materials.

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic: Due to the COVID-19 health crisis, projects dedicated to the management of the COVID-19 pandemic have taken on special relevance for the European Commission, encouraging research into systems of contagion and control of pandemics. It is not only researching new drugs or vaccines that may be of special interest in the fight against the coronavirus but also looking for projects that have unique viability in this field so important at present.

EU applicants are encouraged to reflect on what elements of their project can help prevent, mitigate, manage the current crisis or recover from a similar health crisis in the future. The aim is that any project that has some element, however small, that can collaborate or add to a much larger and more coordinated response in the fight against the pandemic, can be investigated from a health approach in order to readopt it and turn it into a response that, coming from different projects, can become a solution greater than the sum of its parts.

For more information contact the Coordinator of the CILIFO project at the Finnova Foundation, José Manuel Requena (jrequena@finnova.eu) or visit the website

 

DOWNLOAD HERE THE GUIDE TO THE LIFE CALL FOR ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE ACTION PROJECTS

CILIFO_Guideline_Finnova_LIFE_en_v1

The good practices of the CILIFO project in the Segovia Business Market

18.03.2020. On March 6th, 2020, the «Segovia Business Market» was held with the objective of attracting investment agents to the city of Segovia through a participative, dynamic and open forum in which companies, investors and entrepreneurs interact.

As part of the international positioning of the CILIFO brand and the CILIFO project, the FINNOVA Foundation participated in the «Segovia Business Market» to exhibit and publicize the good practices of the CILIFO project. This took place within the framework of the conference entitled «Investment alternatives and support for business and entrepreneurial development», given by the General Director of FINNOVA, Juan Manuel Revuelta, where he was able to present the CILIFO project, as well as to present the case of good practices of the «Firefighting Open Innovation Lab – CILIFO» incubator/accelerator, as an initiative for business development and entrepreneurship in the sector of forest fire prevention and extinction, adaptation and mitigation to climate change.

Within this framework, the CILIFO project was present in order to develop three of its main functions, contained in Activities 1 and 6, and entrusted to the FINNOVA Foundation, as a beneficiary partner of the project;

  1. Attracting entrepreneurs, start-ups and companies, as well as other agents of interest such as investors, collaborating entities, etc., in order to create sufficient mechanisms to promote open innovation in the sector of forest fire prevention and extinction, adaptation and mitigation to climate change;
  2. establish a networking network and a network of entrepreneurs, start-ups and companies interested in participating and taking advantage of the «Firefighting Open Innovation Lab» CILIFO incubator-accelerator; and
  3. provide the knowledge, exchange of good practices and technologies that will facilitate the development of the «CILIFO Technology Catalogue».

EIC Accelerator call for green companies – Green Deal

This specific EIC Accelerator call contributes to the implementation of the Green Deal objectives. It aims to encourage impact investment by supporting the development and market implementation of innovations that can put our socioeconomic systems on a more sustainable path. Projects must support the implementation of the Green Deal by contributing significantly (and proposals must quantitatively estimate that contribution) to at least one of the following sustainability objectives:

  1. Clean energy
  2. A sustainable industry
  3. Build and Renovate
  4. Sustainable mobility
  5. Biodiversity
  6. From the farm to the table
  7. Removing contamination

It is a call for proposals from 0.5 to 2.5M euros and is aimed at SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs established in European Union member countries or associated countries.

Type of aid: Non-refundable grant

Equipment available: 303.000.000 €

For more information: contact Finnova Foundation (adrian.noheda@finnova.eu)

Wex Global 2020 provides innovative ideas for a more sustainable world

The Wex Global Water & Energy Exchance was held at the Palace Hotel in Valencia last Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020. The General Director of the Finnova Foundation, Juan Manuel Revuelta, took part in this congress to present the work that the foundation is promoting from the project («Firefighting Open Innovation Lab Cilifo»).

This congress is one of the international reference events in the water and energy sectors that allows the creation of contacts and relationships with other business people. The objective of Wex Global is to provide innovative solutions to the challenges and needs of companies in the integral water cycle.

In addition, this event allowed for the enrichment of the «Catalogue of Innovative Technologies» shared by the Iberian Centre for Research and Fight against Forest Fires (CILIFO) in its forest fire prevention and extinguishing activities. In this type of event, CILIFO is presented with a consortium image and where all partners are represented through the communication materials that have been designed in CILIFO.

The next EU LIFE Information and Networking day will be online, as a precaution, due to Coronavirus

19.03.2020. The European Commission is organising a Virtual Information Day on the LIFE 2020 call for project proposals. Due to the outbreak of coronavirus, as a precautionary measure, this event will now be a virtual conference, on 30 April 2020.

The event is open to potential applicants submitting project proposals on green technology, nature protection and climate action.

Centro Ibérico para la Investigación y Lucha contra Incendios Forestales (CILIFO) will be present, through the Finnova Foundation, at the next LIFE event as a project proposal on green technology, nature protection and climate action.

According to information on the website, the information session on the 2020 LIFE call will cover significant changes in the programme compared to previous years.

Main topics: Environmental technologies and solutions including water, waste, air quality, soil, forest, health, climate change adaptation; climate change mitigation; nature conservation and biodiversity; climate and environmental governance and information initiatives.

To participate in the event: https://www.sli.do/