Europe

The European Union has set itself the goal of creating a high level of employment, productivity and social cohesion in Europe through an intelligent, sustainable and inclusive economy. This is reflected in the Europe 2020 Strategy and the European Innovation Partnerships. With its transnational funding programmes, the EU supports development in the regions and creates numerous European cooperation areas.

In this context, atene KOM has an extensive network of European players from the fields of science, technology and business at its disposal, which we are happy to make available to you for your transnational projects. In the search for partners we support you with online applications, questionnaires for the evaluation of interests and a rich wealth of experience in the most diverse processes of project management.

Projects serve future orientation and problem solving within the framework of the above-mentioned overall European objectives. They are clearly defined and time-limited tasks with a clear goal. A clear communication and the solution of complex questions often go hand in hand with a high technical knowledge and complex administration. The employees of atene KOM have made it their task to professionalise European project work. We accompany you from project development through project control and project marketing to administrative support – a comprehensive package that helps you to concentrate on the essentials.

Europe 2020 strategy

“Europe 2020” is EU’s growth strategy for the coming decade. In a world that is evolving, we want a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy for Europe.These three mutually reinforcing priorities are designed to help the EU and Member States achieve high levels of employment, productivity and social cohesion.
This desire is reflected in the Commission’s ambitious targets for employment, innovation, education, social inclusion and climate/energy by 2020.:

1. Employment

  • 75% of the 20- to 64-year-olds are to be in work.

2. R & D and innovation

  • 3% of the EU GDP is to be spent on R & D and innovation (public and private investment).

3. Climate change and energy

  • Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 20% (or even by 30%, if the conditions are met) compared to 1990;
  • Increasing the share of renewable energies to 20%;
  • Increased energy efficiency by 20%.

4. Education

  • Reduction of the school drop-out rate to less than 10%;
  • Increase the proportion of 30- to 34-year-olds with completed higher education to at least 40%.

5. Poverty and social exclusion

  • The number of people affected or threatened by poverty and social exclusion is to be reduced by at least 20 million.
European Innovation Partnership (EIP)

European Innovation Partnerships (EIP) have been introduced within the framework of the “Innovation Initiative” flagship initiative of the Europe 2020 Strategy for Intelligent, Integrative and Sustainable Growth. EIPs are anchored at the highest political level and are to have an impact on the entire research and innovation chain by engaging stakeholders in supply and demand across all sectors and in the overall innovation system.

What are EIP?

“European innovation partnerships” are not a new funding programme or instrument. Rather, they are a platform for innovation that supports public and private actors in networking. Each network is demanded to develop strategic implementation plans in which the so-called action groups are an important element. The European Commission is expected to publish calls for expressions of interest twice a year, in which interested organisations can apply for participation in Action Groups.
The EIPs do not have EU funding, so they cannot financially support projects. However, the members of the Action Groups may participate in tendering within the individual funding programmes such as HORIZON 2020, the Structural Funds or national funding programmes.

What are the objectives of the EIP?

EIPs concentrate on specific challenges, with a focus on social benefits and the rapid modernisation of related industries and markets. EIPs cover the entire research and innovation chain by bringing together all relevant stakeholders at European, national and regional level. The following objectives are pursued:

  • Intensification of research and development work
  • Coordination of investment in demonstration and pilot projects
  • Early identification and accelerated implementation of possibly required regulation and standardisation
  • Mobilising demand, in particular through better coordinated public procurement, to ensure that important innovations are launched quickly
  • Simplify and adjust existing European instruments and initiatives and establish new measures

The EIPs are structures that serve the pooling of know-how and resources. The main objective is to make better use of existing coordination instruments such as Joint Technology Initiatives (JTI), European Technology Platforms (ETP), Joint Programming Initiatives (JPI), European Institute for Innovation and Technology / Knowledge Innovation Communities (EIT / KIC) as well as the coordination of EU funding through HORIZON 2020, the European Investment Bank and the Structural Funds.

How the EIP works

The EIP leaders keep in view the entire EU research and innovation system, and provide recommendations on HORIZON 2020 strategic programs and work programmes.
Each partnership is managed by a Steering Group consisting of a limited number of high-level representatives of the Member States (Ministers, MPs, industrialists, academics and other stakeholders). One or two EU Commissioners preside the steering committee. Working groups (Sherpa Groups) composed of experts from the public and private sectors support the committee. A Secretariat, which the Commission provides, supports the work of the EIP. In a multi-year strategic work plan (Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP)), specific goals, responsibilities and milestones on the way to success are to be defined.

Existing EIPs

EIPs are only established in areas where government intervention is clearly justified and the bundling of EU, national and regional research and development activities leads to a faster and more efficient target delivery. Currently, there are five EIPs:

  • Active and Healthy Aging (EIP-AHA)
  • Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI)
  • Smart Cities and Communities (EIP-SCC)
  • Water (EIP-Water)
  • Raw Materials (Raw Materials – EIP-RARE)

EIP-AHA

As a political goal, the Innovation Partnership “Active and Healthy Aging” has set itself to allow European citizens a longer life in independence and good health by 2020, and to increase the average number of healthy years of life by two (“two more healthy life years“). Furthermore, the sustainability and efficiency of the social care and health care systems are to be improved. Through the promotion of innovative products and services, new business opportunities and fields can arise for European companies.
In the EIP-AHA, stakeholders from the fields of care, prevention, health care are to be brought together with representatives of the public sector (social care, pension systems) and companies from the ICT and services sector.

EIP-AGRI

The EIP-AGRI considers the entire production chain, from the producer to the final consumer, so that sufficient food and energy sources can be made available.
As the two main targets for the EIP, agricultural productivity and sustainability have been identified: On the one hand, the increase in productivity and efficiency of the agricultural sector (reversing the trend of insufficient productivity growth) until 2020 and on the other hand increase in sustainability of agriculture (securing ecosystem functions of the soil at a satisfactory level) until 2020.
Contact

EIP-SCC

The European Commission would like to promote the development and implementation of intelligent urban technologies with the European Innovation Partnership for Smart Cities and Communities (SCC).
The EIP-SCC is primarily devoted to three areas: urban transport and mobility, urban energy generation and use, and urban information and communication technologies.

EIP-Water

The EIP Water brings together various stakeholders from the water sector to promote innovative developments for the global water challenges and create marketing opportunities within and outside Europe.
The main topics are:

  • Reuse and recycling of water,
  • Water and sewage treatment, uncovering resources
  • Water Power Nexus
  • Risk management for flood and drought
  • Ecosystem services

Contact

EIP-RARE

Regarding raw materials, the Commission’s clear objective is, jointly with the private and the science sector, to foster their exploration, production and processing within the EU and to secure their provision for Europe in the long term.
Amongst the measures stipulated by the EIP are promoting innovation along the entire value chain, as well as a ban for landfills and burning recyclable waste.
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How can I participate? How can EIP be useful for me?

The Commission is trying to motivate and involve the widest possible range of participants.
Participation in the Action Groups is, in principle, open to all relevant actors and the regular involvement of new members is envisaged. Interested stakeholders from the fields of research, development and innovation can express their interest in engaging with Action Groups in the context of public calls. The EU Commission is expected to publish appropriate calls twice a year.
As the EIPs continue to evolve, there are, in addition to these groups, other initiatives open to a wider range of participants. In addition to an annual meeting of the EIPs (i. e. Partner Conference), this includes a so-called “marketplace”, an online information and networking platform for the exchange of ideas.