CILIFO – Firefighting Open Innovation Lab

Thinkforest webinar: Science Insights to the European Green Deal and Forests-

28/04/2020. Insights to the European Green Deal and Forests-webinar. Organised by the European Forest Institute (EFI), this webinar aims to discuss the following questions: What are the main objectives of the EU Green Agreement and how do they relate to the forest sector? How does the forest sector in general view the Green Deal? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed Green Deal with respect to the forestry sector from the perspectives of ecological, economic and social sustainability? How could the Green Deal be developed to better exploit the capacity of the EU sector to contribute to the main objectives of the Agreement? ThinkForest is a high-level science policy forum that brings together policy makers, the scientific community and stakeholders to build bridges on pan-European forest and bio-economic issues. Date: Wednesday, 20 May 2020 Time: 10:00 – 12:30 CEST Location: Webinar Register here The webinar will be conducted using Zoom.us. A link to the webinar will be sent to you by e-mail the night before the webinar, May 19. Download the program at the following link More information on the following website  

New Call B-SOLUTIONS

28.04.2020. B-solutions is a call to support local and regional authorities in European border regions in solving legal and administrative obstacles to cross-border cooperation. It aims to find alternative, tangible and replicable solutions to the many legal and administrative obstacles that still hamper cooperation along the internal land borders of the European Union. Cross-border authorities and entities receive legal advice from experts with proven expertise in cross-border matters that will help to find possible solutions to existing obstacles. Authorities of border administrations have the opportunity to present information on a legal or administrative obstacle they face when implementing projects in a border area. Successful applicants are assigned the support of the European Commission to remove the difficulties that cooperation with the neighbouring country is hampering. B-solutions consists of four calls for proposals, one open in early 2018 and one in early 2019. Two more calls will be opened in 2020 to identify new obstacles to cross-border cooperation. When? A call is foreseen in 2020, date to be confirmed. By whom? Managed by the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) and promoted by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO). More information:  www.b-solutionsproject.com 

European Union launches new EUR 50 million pilot project to develop skills and education across Europe

27.04.2020. The initiative is implemented by the Europe<an Investment Fund on behalf of the European Commission, and therefore benefits from EU budget support under the European Strategic Investment Fund (ESSF). The EU is launching a new pilot project, the Skills & Education Guarantee Pilot (S&E Pilot), worth EUR 50 million, to develop skills and education across Europe. The initiative will encourage investment in education, training, and skills, and support European students, businesses and organisations in the field of education. The initiative will support businesses and students during and after the coronavirus pandemic crisis to ensure that Europe can innovate and stay at the forefront of global technological developments, boost the knowledge economy and accelerate economic recovery. The European Investment Fund (EIF) and the European Commission are launching a new pilot guarantee scheme to improve access to finance for individuals and organisations wishing to invest in skills and education Skills & Education Guarantee Pilot (S&E Pilot). The initiative will be piloted in 2020 with the aim of making it a conventional European financial instrument after that year, in the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (2021-2027). Beneficiaries: Individuals (students and trainees) – who wish to continue studying and improving their skills through academia, vocational training, lifelong learning and other forms of education. European companies – who contribute and facilitate skills transformation efforts; thus helping to increase the competitiveness and productivity of the company,. European organisations – which are active in the field of skills, training and education or which develop projects in the field of education with the aim of significantly improving the ecosystem of supply of education, training and related skills services Organisation: European Investment Found (EIF) Application deadline: 17 May – 30 September 2020 Budget: In its pilot phase, this pilot project will provide an EU guarantee of up to EUR 50 million. Contact: Alberto Navarro (navarro@finnova.eu) More information; https://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/skills-and-education-guarantee-pilot/index.htm

Call: EIC Fast Track to Innovation (FTI)

23/04/2020. Projects that also help to prevent or combat epidemics such as Covid19 are particularly welcome. OBJECTIVE: Fast Track to Innovation finances «Bottom-Up» projects whose innovation activities are close to the market, regardless of their technological area and/or application. It is a financing tool designed to promote interdisciplinary cooperation between companies from different sectors and countries. The objectives of this initiative are to stimulate the participation of new companies in European public funding programmes and to increase private sector investment in R&D&I. DETAILS: Proposals for funding must be submitted as a consortium including between three and five legal entities established in at least three EU member countries or associated countries. In each consortium at least 60% of the budget must be allocated to industry participants, or the consortium must include at least two industry participants who are in a consortium with three or four partners. Another option is to have three industry participants in a consortium with five partners. BENEFICIARIES: This is a call open to any area, sector or theme with pillars of industrial leadership and social challenges (industries, universities, research centres, industrial associations, incubators, public sector) whose projects can be interdisciplinary and preferably oriented towards generating an impact on sustainability, climate change or any of the transversal objectives of Horizon 2020. BUDGET: The maximum budget amounts to 3 million euros per proposal (funding rate of 70% for for-profit entities and 100% for non-profit entities). DEADLINE: The deadline for submitting projects is 5 p.m. on 9 June 2020. (Brussels). Contact: Adrian Noheda: adrian.noheda@finnova.eu

Calls for R+D+I projects (EUREKA)

 21.04.2020. EUREKA facilitates access to finance for companies involved in its projects; and promotes and supports the generation of market-oriented international R&D&I projects. In this sense, the accelerator/incubator Firefighting Opan Innovation Lab – CILIFO reports that there are several calls for projects open:   Call for joint R&D&I projects between France and Spain Bpifrance (French Bank for Public Investment) from France and CDTI, EPE from Spain announce this call for proposals for joint R&D projects, focusing on the development of innovative products and applications in all technological and market areas. Applicants are expected to develop solutions or ready-to-market projects that have a strong market potential for France and Spain. Call for joint R&D&I projects between France and Spain Deadline for international applications: 10 – June -2020 Eligibility feedback to applicants: 17 – June -2020 EUREKA Label (estimated): November -2020 Although this call invites projects in ALL thematic areas or application domains, special attention is given to the following domains: Transport (including automotive and aeronautics) Agri-food technology Energy Environment More information: https://www.eurekanetwork.org/Call-project-France-Spain-2020   Joint call for projects from Argentina and Spain The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MINCyT) of Argentina, and the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology, EPE (CDTI) of Spain, announce this call for proposals for joint R&D projects, focusing on the development of innovative products and applications in all technological and market areas. Applicants are expected to develop commercially-ready solutions or projects that have strong market potential for Argentina and Spain. This call invites projects in ALL thematic areas, reflecting the bottom-up approach of the Eureka Network projects. Launch of the call: March 2020 Deadline for international applications: June 18, 2020 Eligibility comments for applicants: September 1, 2020 Eureka Label (estimated): February 2021 More information: https://www.eurekanetwork.org/argetina-spain-call-projects-2020 Canada and Spain call for projects: The National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program of Canada (NRC IRAP) and the Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial, EPE (CDTI), national funding authorities for Canada and Spain respectively, announce this call for proposals for collaborative R&D research and development) with the objective of delivering innovative, near-market products, processes and services in any technological and market area for a civilian purpose. Call for Proposals Opening – March 1, 2020 Registration (Canada) – May 1, 2020 Expression of Interest (Canada) – 8 May 2020 Deadline for Eureka applications – 1 June 2020 Evaluation results, project start – November-December 2020 Although this call invites proposals in ALL thematic areas or domains of application, special attention is given to the following areas: Electronics, Information and Communication Technologies Industrial manufacturing, machinery, materials and transport Agro-food technologies Biotechnologies, medical devices Environment, energy, marine technologies More information: https://www.eurekanetwork.org/content/canada-spain-call-projects-2020 Multilateral call for solutions for the eco COVID-19 period: life without vaccination This call for solutions for COVID-19’s Eco Period is addressed to organisations in the following countries (based on mutual consent between participating national funding bodies): Austria (Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft – FFG) Canada (National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program – NRC IRAP) Denmark (Danish Innovation Fund – DFI) France (Bpifrance) The Netherlands (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland – RVO) Spain (Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology – CDTI) Turkey (Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu – TÜBİTAK) Important dates: Opening of the call – 15 April 2020 Eureka application deadline – 15 May 2020 Eureka label and funding decision – 30 June 2020 (latest) Signing of the Consortium Agreement – July 28, 2020 (most recent) Project start – August 3, 2020 (latest) Project duration: up to 12 months. Participants are invited to submit proposals for research and innovation projects with the aim of providing short and medium-term responses to the specific needs of COVID-19 MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CALLS: Adrian Noheda (adrian.noheda@finnova.eu)

LIFE grants for innovative projects in adaptation to Climate Change

16.04.2020. 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 Climate Action, which represents 25% of the total funding. The European Union (EU) co-finances up to 55% of projects in the priority area of Adaptation to Climate Change (within the Climate Action sub-programme) especially projects related to resistance to water scarcity, droughts, forest fires or floods, adaptation technologies for economic sectors and the safeguarding of natural resources. The programme provides action grants for best practices, pilot and demonstration projects that contribute to building resilience to climate change. In particular, the European Commission seeks technologies and solutions that are ready to be applied in proximity to the market, on an industrial or commercial scale, for the duration of the project. In addition, the Climate Action Sub-Programme promotes the development and implementation of EU policy on climate change adaptation, best practices and solutions for climate change adaptation, including ecosystem approaches and knowledge sharing. Under 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 that are being carried out by the different Working Groups of the project. 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 a 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 Climate Action Sub-Programme follows a one-step application procedure, which means that you are asked to submit complete project proposals from the beginning. Deadline for concept notes for traditional climate change mitigation projects on 6 October 2020. The Director of European Funds of the Finnova Foundation talks about the LIFE 2020 call:   Project example: Drone-Hopper (intelligent fire extinguishing systems) DRONE-HOPPER works on the design and manufacture of high load capacity drones for fire fighting and precision agriculture. With a load of 300 litres of water and ecological retardant, these drones can create a firebreak of up to 600 metres. This entity has already won the 1st Edition of the CILIFO Firefighting Start-up Europe Awards, held on 12.12.2019, within the framework of COP25 in Madrid. Likewise, this technology has been presented in a project and approved by the European Commission within the framework of the SME Instrument – Horizon 2020, phases 1 and 2. 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.   DOWNLOAD HERE THE GUIDE TO THE LIFE CALL FOR ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE ACTION PROJECTS CILIFO_Guideline_Finnova_LIFE_en_v1    

106 million to deploy the Green Revolution in forest areas

14.04.2020. Sustainable development aid will facilitate investment in rural Andalusia and protect its natural heritage. The Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Sustainable Development is allocating 106 million euros in forestry aid, one of the pillars of the Green Revolution that is being promoted in the face of climate change and the protection of Andalusia’s natural heritage. This aid makes it possible to develop investments in the most rural areas of the region. 780 entities will benefit and, consequently, will become a source of employment in municipalities and regions that are urging for new opportunities to combat depopulation. The call established a minimum amount of aid of 1,000 euros and a maximum of 250,000 euros. These grants, which are part of the Rural Development Program of Andalusia 2014-2020, will facilitate the implementation of investments aimed at developing forest areas, improving the viability of forests or increasing the adaptability and environmental value of forest ecosystems. Green Revolution: to turn Andalusia into a world reference in the fight against climate change, through a battery of investments and initiatives, such as doubling the funds allocated to forestry aid. Organisation: Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Sustainable Development Beneficiaries: Natural and legal persons Communities of property Economic or wealthy units City councils that own this type of land. More information in the following link 

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

ICO Covid-19 Guarantee Line

13.04.2020. ICO Covid-19 Guarantee Line is a line of state guarantees to mitigate the economic effects of COVID-19, in order to maintain productive activity and employment. It can be used to guarantee loans and operations signed with self-employed workers and companies that have been formalised or renewed from 18 March 2020 until 30 September 2020. BENEFICIARIES Self-employed and companies, which carry out their business activity in Spain. ORGANISATION: Official Credit Institute PURPOSE OF THIS LINE Wage payments Outstanding A/P Invoices Rentals of premises, offices and facilities Supply costs Need for working capital Other liquidity needs, including those arising from maturities of financial or tax obligations. MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF LOANS THAT CAN BE GUARANTEED BY THIS LINE. Loans or renewals of up to a maximum of 1,500,000 euros. For loans over 1.5 million euros or for lower amounts when the de minimis regime is not applicable, up to the maximum established in the European Commission’s Temporary Framework for State Aid. TERM OF THE GUARANTEE The term of the guarantee issued will coincide with the term of the operation, up to a maximum of 5 years Contact: Adrian Noheda (adrian.noheda@finnova.eu)