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European Action Plan:

From the Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP) to the Eco-Innovation Action Plan
CIP Eco-Innovation Programme
European Forum on Eco-Innovation
Federal Government/Länder Network Eco-Innovation

From the Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP) to the Eco-Innovation Action Plan

The European Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP) (PDF, 363 KByte) [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2004/com2004_0038en01.pdf] shows ways to achieve more effective environmental protection and at the same time greater competitiveness via eco-innovations. It constitutes the environmental policy element of the Lisbon strategy for growth and employment [http://ec.europa.eu/archives/growthandjobs_2009/], which in the meantime has been followed up by the strategy Europe 2020: a strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth [http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/index_en.htm]. One key aspect of the Action Plan is the networking of research, environmental and economic strategies to promote and support environmental innovations, especially in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME). To implement ETAP comprehensive action was initiated at both the European and the national level (contact: Rolf Bräuer, Federal Environment Ministry, BMU Division ZG III 3) aiming at mobilising stakeholders, coordinating strategies and introducing specific measures to promote eco-innovations. The EU's ETAP website provides information on the latest status of ETAP implementation [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap/index_en.html].

In 2009 ETAP was thoroughly reviewed and assessed. In spring 2010, the European Competitiveness Council requested in number 19 of its Conclusions on the need for a new industrial policy (PDF, 103 KByte) [http://ec.europa.eu/research/era/docs/en/comp-council-eu-4.pdf] the elaboration of a follow-up to ETAP. Based on this, the European Commission plans to further develop ETAP into an Eco-Innovation Action Plan. Stakeholder consultations were initiated to draw up a first strategy paper. The EU Commission plans to adopt the Eco-Innovation Action Plan (PDF, 450 KByte) [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap/published_files/07042010_newsletter_etap_issue_18.pdf] during the second half of 2011.

On 6 October 2010 the Flagship Initiative Innovation Union COM(2010) 546 final (PDF, 202 KB) [http://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/pdf/innovation-union-communication_en.pdf] was published.

In this paper the European Commission announces that it will present an eco-innovation action plan. This implements the European Competitiveness Council's request under number 19 in its Conclusions on the need for a new industrial policy (PDF, 103 KByte) [http://ec.europa.eu/research/era/docs/en/comp-council-eu-4.pdf] of spring 2010.

The Eco-Innovation Action Plan will be in line with the guidelines of the follow-up to the Lisbon Strategy, the Strategy Europe 2020 [http://ec.europa.eu/eu2020/index_en.htm].

The EU's ETAP website [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap/index_en.html] provides information on the latest status of ETAP implementation.

Financing the implementation of the Environmental Technologies Action Plan

The key EU instruments for financing the implementation of the Environmental Technologies Action Plan include

the 7th EU Research Framework Programme [http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/environment/home_en.html]
the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) [http://ec.europa.eu/cip/index_en.htm]
the LIFE+ [/english/nature/life_plus/background/doc/print/41110.php] programme
leverage effects of cohesion policy [http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/structural_cohesion_fund_en.htm]

CIP Eco-Innovation Programme

The CIP Eco-Innovation Programme [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eco-innovation/index_en.htm] is part of the EU Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme for the funding period 2007-2013. It will provide funding of around 200 million euro for the period 2008-2013 for trigger applications and market introduction projects of innovative processes and products that reduce environmental pollution or contribute to more efficient use of natural resources.

Comprehensive information on the CIP Eco-Innovation programme is available at CIP Eco-Innovation website [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eco-innovation/call_en.htm].

The contact for applicants is the European Commission, represented by theExecutive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI) in Brussels [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eco-innovation/contact_en.htm]. The Executive Agency has been responsible for administrating the programme since the start of 2008; it also manages the projects and events funded under this programme and disseminates the resulting knowledge.

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) [http://www.enterprise-europe-network.ec.europa.eu/info/about_network_en.htm], which has over 50 partner organisations [http://www.enterprise-europe-network.ec.europa.eu/countries/germany_en.htm] in Germany, supports the implementation of the programme. Its task is to advise small- and medium-sized enterprises regarding their application and to assist them in the search for cooperation partners.

At present Zenit GmbH, Mülheim a.d.R. acts as coordinating German national contact [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eco-innovation/contactncp_en.htm#germany].

European Forum on Eco-Innovation

The establishment of a Forum on Eco-innovation [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap/events/forum_en.html] is a major element of the EU Environmental Technologies Action Plan. The European Forum on Eco-Innovation brings together participants from business, politics, finance and academia to exchange views on the perspectives and opportunities of eco-technologies and communicate best practices from the individual member states with the aim of advancing ETAP. The Forum convenes twice a year as a thematic conference on specific aspects of ETAP and serves as a stakeholder information and mobilisation platform.

The 1st European Forum on Eco-Innovation (PDF, 62 KByte) [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap/pdfs/financing_ecoinnovation_21nov2006.pdf] took place in Poznan, Poland on 21/22 November 2006 on the fringes of the POLEKO ecological trade fair. The topic was "Financing Eco-Innovation".

The 2nd European Forum on Eco-Innovation [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoinnovation2007/index.htm] took place in Brussels, Belgium, on 11/12 June 2007 within the framework of the European Green Week. The topic was "Markets for Sustainable Construction".

The 3rd European Forum on Eco-Innovation [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoinnovation2007/2nd_forum/index_en.htm] took place in Paris, France, on 26/27 November 2007 on the fringes of the environmental trade fair POLLUTEC. The topic was "Boosting Eco-Technologies through Verification".

The 4th European Forum on Eco-Innovation [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoinnovation2008/1st_forum/index_en.htm] took place in Vienna, Austria, on 30 January/1 February 2008 on the fringes of the environmental trade fair ENVie Tech 2008. The topic was "Unlocking Global Market Opportunities".

The 5th European Forum on Eco-Innovation [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoinnovation2008/2nd_forum/index_en.htm] took place in Budapest, Hungary, on 15/16 October 2008. The topic was "Emerging Technologies for Eco-Innovation: Opportunities and Risks."

The 6th European Forum on Eco-Innovation [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoinnovation2009/1st_forum/index_en.htm] took place in Berlin, Germany, on 2/3 April 2009. The topic was "Creating Partnerships for Stimulating Economic Renewal (PDF, 1.300 KByte) [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoinnovation2009/1st_forum/pdf/agenda_draft.pdf]".

The 7th European Forum on Eco-Innovation [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoinnovation2009/2nd_forum/] took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 23/24 November 2009. The topic was "Adapting to Climate Change through Eco-Innovation".

The 8th European Forum on Eco-Innovation [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoinnovation2010/1st_forum/index_en.htm] will take place in Bilbao, Spain, on 20/21 April 2010. The topic will be"Making Eco-innovation happen in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises". However, it had to be cancelled due to travel disruptions in Europe.

Federal Government/Länder Network Eco-Innovation

In 2006 an ETAP Government/Länder network was set up for the implementation of the ETAP at national level. It is the core of the open national network for the promotion of eco-innovations, now comprising over 70 environmental, economic and scientific experts from public and private institutions. The national ETAP network elaborates recommendations for action in order to achieve greater interlinking of research, economy and environment and to gear this towards environmental innovations.