EUR 31.5 million in Commission funding to bring environmental solutions to market

The European Commission has launched a call for proposals of EUR 31.5 million for the best 45 eco-innovation projects. Businesses throughout Europe have until 5 September 2013 to put in their proposals for bringing novel environmental solutions to the market in the following 5 areas:

1. material recycling

2. water

3. sustainable building products

4. green business

5. the food and drink sector

European Commissioner for the Environment Janez Potočnik said: “Eco-innovation is not just about a niche of green businesses. Europe’s competitiveness in the next decades will depend on its ability to overcome resource constraints. Eco-innovative businesses are the enablers of that transformation for the whole economy. I especially encourage Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises to apply for funding and help Europe to build on its lead in sectors such as water and waste management.”

45 projects to be covered by call

The call is primarily targeted at private businesses, mainly SMEs that have developed an innovative green product, process or service, but are experiencing difficulties in launching it on the market. The call offers co-financing to cover up to 50% of the project cost and should support about 45 new projects this year.

185 projects currently running

Almost 50 projects are set to launch from last year’s call and over 185 projects are already underway. Examples of current schemes include: optimising technology to re-use old bricks in the construction industry; producing leather shoes that are free from harmful chemicals; using CO2 to harness a natural source of Omega-3; and a new technique for carpet manufacturing.

Background

Eco-Innovation is funded via the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) and has a budget of about €220 million for the period 2008 to 2013. It supports technologically-proven products that help make better use of Europe’s natural resources. Eco-Innovation is a green strand of the CIP and contributes to the Eco-Innovation Action Plan (EcoAP). The programme is managed by the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI).

The 2013 call for proposals is open until 5 September. A European Eco-Innovation Info Day with detailed information about priorities and tips on how to apply for funding will take place on 27 May in the Charlemagne Building, in Brussels, Belgium.

Links:

CIP eco-innovation initiative: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eco-innovation/

Eco-innovation Call for Proposals 2013:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eco-innovation/apply-funds/call-proposal/index_en.htm

Follow us on Twitter: @EU_ecoinno

Project examples cited in the press release:

1. Optimising technology to re-use old bricks: REBRICK –http://www.gamlemursten.dk/uk

2. Producing leather shoes that are free from harmful chemicals: TiLeather project -http://www.tileather.eu/default.aspx

3. Using CO2 to harness a natural source of Omega-3: Phobior project – http://www.ecoduna.com/projects/demo-plant-austria-phobior/

4. A new technique for carpet manufacturing: EuroC2C Carpetchain Project – http://www.desso.com/Desso/EN/EN-Cradle_to_Cradle/EU_Eco-Innovation_Project.html

InterTradeIreland has 100% funding for SME’s

Elevate – Sales Development Programme for Small Business

If you’re a small company that needs to increase its sales, why not take your business up a level with InterTradeIreland Elevate

InterTradeIreland has already helped 90 small businesses kick-start their cross-border trading and get on the ladder to successful exporting through the Elevate programme and is now looking for 50 additional small businesses to participate in the next phase.

Elevate will provide financial assistance to help you identify cross-border markets/customers across the island and win new business.

All you have to do is complete a short application form and if approved for support you will then get to choose one of OVER 100 consultants from our approved list of Advisors who will work with you to develop a winning cross-border sales plan for your business, kick start your sales and get on the fast-track to crossborder trading!

You’ll benefit from free one-to-one advice and support from your very own expert within your industry or sector to develop your own sales development plan.

·                     Identification of Sales leads

·                     Sales Negotiations

·                     Market Research

·                     Advice on the Development of Marketing Materials – (excluding printing costs)

Benefits

·                     Work with a marketing expert to develop your winning sales plan

·                     Identify new customers and markets across the island

·                     Increase your sales

Interested?

All you have to do is complete a short application form and if approved for support you will then get to choose one of over 100 industry experts. To apply and for more information on the Elevate programme including eligibility criteria visit www.intertradeireland.com/elevate.

Date: 12th June 2013  Location: The Landmark Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim

Leitrim Development Company is a partner with UCD and Queens University in the delivery of an Interreg IVa funded project (co-funded by Department of Environment, Community and Local Government) called Social farming Across Borders (SoFAB). Full details of the project and the farmers taking part (see pilot farms) are available at  http://www.socialfarmingacrossborders.org 

This project is developing Social Farming as a means of delivering social care and day services on farms in the community for a wide range of potential users including people with disabilities. It is an innovative farm diversification project and also shows how social inclusion can be achieved using existing assets and people in the community in the innovative delivery of parson centred services to people with a variety of needs. The project is being delivered across the 6 counties of Northern Ireland and the six southern Border counties.

The project partners are hosting a Conference Called “Living an Ordinary Life” in the Landmark Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim on Wednesady 12th June.

The keynote address Connect – Community – Confidence will be given by Dr Tony Bates. There will also be an input by a farmer from Flanders (Belgium) and from the UK (Care farming West Midlands). 

The conference is for any and all interested parties including service users, people with disabilities, their advocates – family members, farmers, social care providers, service providers, HSE staff professionals and managers, Rural Development Professionals, farm advisors  among others.

View Conference Programme HERE

Those working on and assisting farm diversification and examining new and innovative rural development initiatives will be particularly interested so I would be grateful if you could circulate the information to your networks and those who may be interested.

The event is free and lunch will be provided.

To attend you must register at http://socialfarmingconference.eventbrite.ie/#    

Heritage & Tourism Development Newsletter Issue 2 Click the link below to view in full

STTC Newsletter no. 2 May 2013

Date: 30th May, Location: Belfast

How to engage your visitors through play?

How to use games and play in your museum to create a meaningful visitor experience.

University of Ulster, Belfast campus12:00 – 17:00#MCGPlayFollowed by #DrinkingaboutmuseumsThe Hudson Bar17:00 -19:00

A symposium showcasing local talent and international best practice. This event will provide delegates with a platform from which to explore how their museum could use games and play to create meaningful visitor engagement, and will provide game developers with an insight into emerging opportunities to work with museums and arts organisations both in Northern Ireland and internationally. Engaging Visitors Through Play builds on the #ArtsNI series of digital meet ups held in Belfast, during 2012 and seeks to foster exciting, relevant and challenging conversations, collaborations and professional development opportunities for those working in and with museums and arts organisations.

Programme

30/05/2013

For further details see http://www.arts.ulster.ac.uk/mcgplay/

• Baldwin’s Ice-Cream Still Going Strong
• NRN Forum on Rural Finance
• Organic Farmer Explores New Horizons
• Cork Farmer’s Home Made Fruit Compotes
• Study Shows Low Level of Women Farm Successors
• Kilkenny Selects Town of Food
• Anaerobic Digestion on Limerick Farm
• Navigating River Barrow
• New Footfall Monitoring Service
• Training for Jobs in Wind Energy
• Buildings Converted to Therapy Service
• Creating Jobs for People with Autism
• News Roundup

‘The Future of Rural Society: Opportunities for Rural Economic Development’

10th June 2013

National University of Ireland, Maynooth

The conference is being organised by The Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) to engage with rural stakeholders and establish their views on how to secure the future of rural society.

It will also help mark the 25^th Anniversary of the first EU Rural Development Strategy ‘The Future of Rural Society’.

The conference will have a range of national and international speakers, which will allow for comparisons between Irish and foreign rural policies. Topics in the agenda include; drivers for economic change and enterprise supports for rural economic development.

In addition to discussing rural economic development, the Commission will give feedback on the results from the public consultation phase. The delegates will have the opportunity to interact with the Commission and give their views on the results of the public consultation.

CEDRA was established to conduct a comprehensive research exercise and produce a detailed report that will inform the medium term economic development of rural areas for the period to 2025.

Established by the Department of Environment in October 2012, the Commission will summit a report that will advise the Government on the practical steps needed to ensure that rural Ireland contributes to and benefits from economic recovery.

CEDRA is supported by Teagasc, Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, Western Development Commission and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.

ORGANIC MARKET IN IRELAND THE UK 2013

How is the organic market faring in Ireland, the UK and elsewhere? Oliver Moore delves in.

The future is online, when it comes to organic sales in the UK. That’s according to the most recent organic market report 2013 from the UK’s Soil Association.

 

The majority of Irish organic produce exports still go to the UK. Despite increases in the EU and indeed tentative increases in the global markets, the UK is still both dominant and vital for Irish organic exports.
Incredibly, an online only retailer now has larger sales of organic produce that either Morrisons or even the Walmart-owned ASDA.

On line retailers Ocado are now the 4th largest organic retailer in the UK. In a noteworthy move within the on line category, Riverford and also Abel and Cole, primarily vegetable box schemes, also saw massive sales growth.
Combined, Ocado, Abel & Cole and Riverford saw a 10.3% increase in organic produce sales overall.
About 10% of organic produce is now sold through on-line retail outlets, nearly twice the rate of conventional sales.
Riverford are an innovative social franchise, where farmers sell with just one main intermediary. This Riverford franchisee (the intermediary), is employed by the mark up generated by the delivery system.
Supermarkets have, however, fallen out of love somewhat with organic. Taking a bottom line only approach, it seems they have failed to take account of potential loyalty to organic food those customers have. Thus, many lines have been discontinued by the UK’s multiple retailers in expectation of declines in sales.

 

Read Ollie’s blog in full: http://olivermoore.blogspot.ie/2013/04/organic-market-in-ireland-uk.html 

Location: Bantry, West Cork                Date: 1-2 June, 2013

The walks on offer during the festival will offer you spectacular views over Bantry Bay and across the three peninsulas for which Bantry provides the local hub. During the festival weekend, you’ll get unparalleled opportunities to see the best of the Sheep’s Head, Beara and Mizen peninsulas on routes mapped out by local guides. Some of the walks include Seefin, Coomkeen, The Lighthouse Walk, Hungry Hill Walk and Sugarloaf Walk.  Log on to www.bantrywalkingfestival.com for a complete list of walks.

Festival-goers will also have the opportunity to take a tour of the historic sites on Whiddy Island, one of West Cork’s many island gems and your guide will share the island’s stories with you while you explore its walking routes.

All walks will be led by expert local hikers, and each of them will share stories and local knowledge with you throughout the festival. Bantry’s famous bay is rich in history, as well as beauty, and biodiversity, and the Bantry Walking Festival offers visitors a great chance to try out the area’s many walking routes during an exhilarating and convivial weekend.  Activities for the whole family will include a treasure trail, and family walks.

Please register in advance by logging on to www.bantrywalkingfestival.com