Malta Enterprise information session on European funding

Malta Enterprise is holding information sessions on upcoming calls for participation in the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme on November 29 and 30.

The sessions will inform stakeholders about the opportunities available through CIP to help them prepare their potential participation and start with searching for relevant partners.

The first call is expected to open in January targeted at projects eligible for support under the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme, like initiatives and best practices aimed at meeting the EU’s ambitious climate change and energy targets.

The IEE fosters energy efficiency and the rational use of energy sources, promotes new and renewable energy sources and energy diversification, and energy efficiency, the use of new as well as renewable energy sources in transport.

Another call will be issued later on for projects to be assisted through the CIP’s Information and Communication Technologies Policy Support Programme, which is aimed at stimulating a wider uptake of innovative ICT-based services and the exploitation of digital content across Europe by citizens, governments and small businesses.

The focus is placed on driving this uptake in areas of public interest while addressing EU challenges, such as moving towards a low carbon economy or coping with an ageing society. The programme contributes to a better environment for developing ICT-based services and helps overcome hurdles such as the lack of interoperability in the European Union and market fragmentation.

Later in the year, a call for funding through the European Union’s Eco-Innovation programme will be issued, addressed to organisations that have developed an environmental product, service, management practice or process which has a proven track record, yet is not fully marketed due to residual risks.

The eco-innovation initiative is intended to overcome barriers to further market penetration and turn these products and processes into Europe’s future eco-innovation successes. Applications from SMEs are particularly encouraged, with the European Commission funding up to 50 per cent of the approved projects’ eligible costs.

Managed by the European Commission, the CIP is one of the EU’s centralised competitive funding programmes. Any public and private entity can participate as long as it has the technical and financial capacity required to meet the call’s objectives.

Malta Enterprise hosts the CIP’s local National Contact Point, which provides all the information about the programme.

Participation in the information session is free but registration is essential. For information visit www.cipmalta.com or contact the CIP National Contact Point at info@cipmalta.com or on 2542 3214.