Wednesday 17 October 2012

Eco-Innovation: An opportunity for Scotland



European Funding can be scary for small businesses. The idea of undertaking a collaborative project with someone normally out with their own supply chain and under the framework of a EU scheme puts many off. In this blog piece, Anis Mourad tells us a bit about why the Eco-Innovation programme is one that SMEs should consider.

The Enterprise Europe Network is here to make that process easier for local businesses by helping them through the often complex mechanics and dynamics of programmes, offer their expert insight into some of the dos and don't of EU funding and by enabling access to National and EU Project Officers that would otherwise be very difficult.

Anis Mourad
Over the last year, EEN Scotland has been working flat out to increase the engagement of Scottish businesses in the Eco-Innovation programme... and with some positive results!

Eco-Innovation is open to all forms of innovation looking to reduce environmental impact or optimise the use of resources. By supporting these innovative ideas, the programme aims to help small businesses turn these into marketable green products and services which have the potential for replication across Europe.

One big appeal to small business is that the programme is post Research and Development - it aims to bridge the gap between R&D and commercialisation. The SME friendly nature of the programme can be evidenced by the fact that more than 65% of all applicants are small businesses!

All you need is a good idea that matches one of the broad call objectives, a project idea that is innovative, can achieve signifcant environmental impact and has the potential for wider market replication.

What are these priority areas?

Materials Recycling, Sustainable building products, Food & Drink, Water and Greening Business.

Project examples include a new type of milk bottle made from paper with a thin plastic lining which uses approximately 2 million tonnes of recycled paper or the Glassplus project which turns old TVs into beautiful ceramic that can be used to tile your house!

Thanks to the close work between the EEN in Scotland and the simply wonderful Ewa Bloch - the UK's National Contact Point for the Eco-Innovation programme - a number of Scottish applications were submitted into the September 2012 call.

I'm anxiously awaiting the results while planning ahead for 2013's Eco-Innovation fun!

The next call for proposals will open in April/May 2013. Keep your eyes peeled on this blog and on the Enterprise Europe Network Scotland website for more information!

In the meantime, if you'd like to know more about Eco-Innovation feel free to get in touch and have a chat! You can never start too early when it comes to EU funding!

Contact Anis Mourad on Anis.Mourad@scotent.co.uk