European Commission
MEMO
Brussels, 7 February 2013
Investing in our future: Good examples of EU funded projects
The European Union budget is relatively small (around 1% of EU GNI), but it can make a big difference. Around 94% of the European Union budget supports researchers, businesses, farmers, regions, young people and many others.
Too little is known about the concrete projects on the ground and how they bring about concrete results and benefits for citizens and businesses as well as for the wider European economy. This non-exhaustive list of good EU projects gives you an idea. Did you know for example that the EU supports solutions to traffic and environmental problems in European cities, that it helps to preserve our environment, allows for energy savings and makes our economy more sustainable? That it supports reconciliation in Northern Ireland? That it brings together universities and researchers or helps local farmers? It spurs economic and social development in poorer regions and supports the unemployed. Progress in cancer research helps patients and creates new treatments. Top-class researchers are enabled to pool knowledge and save money in transnational research projects that benefit European competitiveness. Small and medium sized enterprises receive support to innovate. Risks stemming from climate change and natural disasters are mitigated. Young people get a chance to study, train and volunteer abroad. Children in conflict zones are supported, humanitarian aid is delivered and global food security is improved.
RESEARCH
Environment + Climate change research
1. To save 1 500 trillion litres water annually, EU-funded researchers developed a smart irrigation system – Funding: EUR 2.23 million
2. A team led by German researchers have uncovered first observed ozone hole in the Arctic region – Funding: EUR 3.5 million
3. A team led by British researchers is investigating how the melting of continental ice (glaciers, ice caps and ice sheets) will contribute to sea level rise over the next 2 centuries – Funding: almost EUR 10 million
4. EU-funded research team develops biofuel made of algae to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – Funding: EUR 1.43 million
5. By developing new desalination technology, EU researchers have made it possible to reduce freshwater use in cooling towers by 80%– Funding: EUR 9.65 million
6. EU project finding new solutions to make rivers and lakes cleaner, safer and more sustainable – Funding: EUR 6.98 million
7. Austrian paper recycling company has built new plant using sensor technologies developed in EU project to detect plastic impurities in waste paper – Funding: EUR 2.86 million
8. An Italian-led research group is finding ways to make historic buildings more energy efficient, helping protect our cultural heritage and climate – Funding: EUR 4.99 million
9. First pan-European database forocean monitoring is now available as a result of EU project involving 28 countries – Funding: EUR 33.8 million
Health research
10. The "Human Brain Project" will create the world'slargest experimental facility for developing the most detailed model of the brain, for studying how the human brain works and ultimately to develop personalised treatment of neurological and related diseases – Funding: EUR 54 million
11. EU-funded researchers developed world's first wearable fall detection device for elderly people – Funding: EUR 1.1 million
12. Multinational research team funded by EU designed and commercialised first portable X-ray machine – Funding: EUR 1.03 million
13. EU-funded researchers in Denmark, UK, Greece, Norway and Spain find links between diets during pregnancy and babies' health – Funding: EUR 13.6 million
14. EU-funded scientists developed cheaper and faster HIV detection method – Funding: EUR 1.6 million
15. EU invested EUR 1.1 million to develop T-ray scanners, a safer alternative to X-ray-based technologies – Funding: EUR 1.1 million
16. EU researchers examining potential for diamond particles to detect and help treat cancer – Funding: EUR 2.78 million
17. Multinational EU research project finds way to use plant proteins to produce vaccines for humans and livestock – Funding: EUR 2 million
18. EU researchers have found molecular markers in thyroid cancer which helps identify radiation-induced tumours and improve risk estimation after the exposure to low-dose radiation – Funding: EUR 2.76 million
19. EU funding the largest study in the world on potential brain cancer risks of mobile phone use by kids – Funding: EUR 3.5 million
20. EU-funded research has revealed that exposure to radiation from wireless devices is low except near wi-fi access points – Funding: EUR 3 million
21. Utrecht University, the Netherlands, has led EU research into the long-term health effects of exposure to air pollution in Europe – Funding: EUR 5.85 million
22. Spanish company supported by EU research funds designed smart hospital beds that help patients & nurses – Funding: EUR 1.46 million
23. International research team funded by EU works on efficient drug-delivery solutions against cancer – Funding: EUR 2.07 million
24.Thought-controlled prosthetic limbs can become reality thanks to EU research funds – Funding: EUR 1.6 million
25. EU-funded researchers found new evidence which helps to develop innovative heart disease prevention methods – Funding: EUR 0.24 million
Bioeconomy research
26. Austrian-led project finds way to turn slaughterhouse waste into bioplastics with help of EU funding – Funding: EUR 2.9 million
27. EU research project aims to turn woodchips and sawdust into bio-composites for car seats and dashboards– Funding: EUR 4.3 million
28. EU helping Norwegian researchers create "vegetarian" diet for fish to aid sustainable aquaculture and consumers' health– Funding: EUR 10.5 million
29. EU-funded consortium developed technology to protect fish hatcheries from bacteria and improve fish farming– Funding: EUR 791117
30. Irish-led research project is helping scientists assess human impact on cold water corals and fish in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean– Funding: EUR 6.5 million
Industry research
31. The Graphene project will investigate and exploit the unique properties of a revolutionary carbon-based material. Graphene is an extraordinary combination of physical and chemical properties: it is the thinnest material, it conducts electricity much better than copper, it is 100-300 times stronger than steel and it has unique optical properties – Funding: EUR 54 million
32. Investing in complex, long term research, development and innovation projects can be risky. EU research funding has made it possible for companies to sign more than EUR 8.5 billion in EIB loans for 86 innovation projects, through its Risk Sharing Finance Facility
33. EU funded research project developed new glass engraving technique to fight counterfeit drugs– Funding: EUR 990797
34. EU funds 16 researchers from 12 countries worldwide to develop smaller & more powerful 'organic' electronics– Funding: EUR 3.8 million
35. Up to EUR 1.2 billion a year can be now saved by food industry thanks to a new EU-funded technology for chocolate preservation– Funding: EUR 2.75 million
36. Polish researchers funded by the EU discovered how to extract valuable chemicals from polluted water– Funding: EUR 100000
Disasters research
37. A detector for earthquake victims trapped under rubble has been developed and is now tested by EU-funded team– Funding: EUR 4.9 million
38. EU-funded researchers developed a method to detect explosives inside a container over distances of 100 m– Funding: EUR 2.49 million
39. A team of Belgian-led researchers is investigating how to make societies more resilient to disasters– Funding: EUR 3.24 million
40. Emergency tool developed through EU funding can prevent environmental disasters such as oil spills– Funding: EUR 1.13 million
41. AnUnmanned robot designed by EU researchers can save lives and fight a fire where standard fire trucks can't intervene– Funding: EUR 803315
Energy research
42. Partners from EU-funded project ADDRESS have developed a unique Energy Box which will allow consumers to programme energy usage during non-peak periods, saving money– Funding: EUR 8.99 million
43. Potential of next generation biofuels being looked at in EU-funded research project BABETHANOL by engineers from Latin America & Europe– Funding: EUR 3.16 million
44. EU supporting demonstration of zero emission buses using hydrogen fuel cell technology in circulation in several European cities– Funding: EUR 25.87 million
45. European researchers demonstrate that 70% of today’s polymers can be derived from biomass, massively reducing our dependence on petroleum-based plastic production– Funding: EUR 13.9 million
46. EU project develops small solar power systems which will allow homes and workplaces to generate their own electricity and meet their heating and cooling requirements– Funding: EUR 3.27 million
47. Engineers in EU MARINA PLATFORM project have exploited the possibility to combine wind with waves, tides and currents in order to maximize the output of an offshore platform and to reduce costs– Funding: EUR 8.7 million
Transport research
48. EU-funded researchers in Sweden have proven that cars can be electronically linked so that drivers are not needed on long journeys and can sit back and let technology take the strain– Funding: EUR 3.83 million
49. A team led by Tuscany-based researchers has developed a system for monitoring oil-spills in the Mediterranean Sea to help disaster planning and emergency interventions– Funding: EUR 3.27 million
50. European researchers developed a new approach for building cars which shaves 40% off their weight, meaning less fuel consumption and less CO2emissions– Funding: EUR 10.4 million
51. A EU-funded project has developed a fleet of remote-controlled robots that crawl through cargo ships in search for cracks, corrosion and other defects– Funding: EUR 2.1 million
Frontier research
52. EU funded 30 scientists in team behind the Higgs Boson discovery at CERN– Funding: EUR 6.5 million
53. Researchers from 12 leading institutes work on a robot prototype that will be used for a space mission to Mars– Funding: EUR 1.9 million
International research
54. The outcome of the EU-PEARLS alternative rubber project(called "a tyre revolution" by the press) in cooperation with European researchers and tyre manufacturers, has the potential to create new natural rubber industry in Kazakhstan– Funding: EUR 5.86 million
COHESION POLICY
55. Promoting high tec start ups and new jobs in North Portugal: UPTEC - Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia da Universidade do Porto" – Funding: EUR 15.4 million (ERDF)
This is a project that has brought together research and business in order to create new jobs and new businesses in knowledge based sectors from film and TV to energy efficiency and marine technology. In the first 5 years its target of employing 300 people has been far exceeded. It now employs around 900 specialists. It is also a key asset to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for the region.
56. Three new metro lines for Bulgaria's capital – Funding: EUR 441 million/140 million European Investment Bank loan
These projects in Sofia's metro system represent a focused and well-planned EU investment solving significant transport problems. There are huge benefits for Sofia's residents from this project which was endorsed recently in the WWF/Friends of the Earth "Well Spent " list of sustainable projects under EU Cohesion Policy. The impact of the new metro lines has been an 18% reduction of traffic accidents, 905000 tons/year reduction of noxious gases (incl. GHG), 15-20% noise reduction. Direct and indirect economic effects are estimated at 35 million euros per year.
57. Hi tech industry fostered in Attica and Western Greece– "Corallia Clusters" – Funding: EUR 40 million since 2006
The "Corallia Clusters Inititative" connects representatives of industry, suppliers, buyers, researchers, infrastructure providers, financial institutions, public sector organisations and the media. The project is pushing the concept “Innovation Made in Greece”. One of its key actions has been to link up the Greek nano-microelectronics, space industries and gaming technologies industry to academic and research institutions, supporting start-ups . Since the creation of the "Corallia" initiative in 2006, members of the cluster have grown from 13to 132. For 2008-2010, companies belonging to the cluster had a turnover of growth rate of 266%, an employment growth rate of 63% and an export growth rate of 119%.
58.Making business more competitive and safeguarding jobs with green advice:North West England – The ENWORKS Resource Efficiency project – EU Funding : EUR 7.38 million (ERDF)
ENWORKS is a flagship environmental advice service. Through specialist on-site support, online tools and knowledge and skills transfer, ENWORKS helps small businesses to save money and be more competitive by increasing their resource efficiency and reducing their exposure to environmental risks such as resource price volatility. This in turn has helped to protect jobs. In 2011, ENWORKS won NGO of the Year at the BusinessGreen Leaders Awards. Impact: Thousands of businesses have been helped to become more energy efficient, sustainable and profitable. In its last two projects alone, ENWORKS has provided intensive support to over 4 000 SMEs, resulting in annual cost savings of GBP 85million being identified as well as the creation of GBP 158 million in sales and the protection of 1 110 jobs. In terms of environmental benefits, 75 800 tonnes of CO2 emissions, 646 000 m3 of water and 10 700 tonnes of materials have been saved to date.
"ENWORKS is one hell of a story! This is the sort of stuff that makes me feel amazingly inspired." – Sir Jonathon Porritt (2010)
"What impresses me most about projects such as ENWORKS is they truly are becoming the change that's needed in the world." – Al Gore, former US Vice President (2007)
59. Partnering university and business to boost the local economy in Spain's Castilla y Leon region: University-Business Knowledge Transfer (T-CUE) projects – Funding: EUR 12300 (ERDF)
Launched in 2008, the project has worked to strengthen the roles of Knowledge Transfer Offices (KTOs) of the region’s top universities. It has aimed to facilitate university-business links and specifically to match business needs with university technology supply. The project has resulted in several spinoffs, such as for nanobiotechnology and renewableenergy, plus prototypes and projects based on emerging technologies.
60. Making Styria (Austria) a global centre for clean-tech companies with 5000 new jobs: Eco World Styria project - Funding: EUR 444 000 (ERDF)
Eco World Styria was founded in 2005 with the support of EU fundsto increase the concentration of successful clean technology (clean-tech) companies in the Austrian region of Styria and to make this a top location worldwide – a "Green Tech Valley". Impact: The region of Styria is now home to more than 180 clean-tech companies and has one of the highest concentrations worldwide of top class clean technology firms. Since the beginning of the project, eco-innovation has generated 5000 new jobs, increasing company staff on average by over 10% per year.
61. Leverage loans for local business to create and safeguard jobs – Finance for Business North East Funds – Funding: GBP 44.25 million (ERDF)/GBP 62.5 million(ECB).
This project Finance for Business North East Funds demonstrates the huge benefits for local regeneration and growth. Impact: Since 2010, GBP 125 million of loans and equity investments have been made available to local business in the North East of England – GBP 44.25 million from the European Regional Development Fund, another GPB 18,25 million in match funding , and of GBP 62.5 million from the European Central Bank. This in turn has so far attracted another GBP 59 million in private investments. For local people that has meant 532 new jobs so far, with another 1180 safeguarded.
62. Finance for small and medium sized business in Wales: JEREMIE (Joint European Resources for Micro to Medium Enterprises) – Funding since 2009: GBP 96 million (ERDF/EIB)
This scheme, the first of its kind in the UK, provides debt and equity investments to growing companies in Wales. Since 2009 it has provided GBP 96 million finance to help over 430 businesses to grow, creating 1500 jobs in the process. EU regional funds are a big success story In Wales. Up to December 2012, EU projects in Wales have created more than 16000 jobs and almost 4500 enterprises, helped 45000 people into work and 120000 to gain qualifications.
63.Developing smart energy technology in amsterdam for growth and fighting climate change – "Amsterdam, Smart City" – Funding: EUR 1.56 million (ERDF)
The ‘Amsterdam, Smart City’ project’s aim is to test new technologies that save energy and then make them available to people and businesses in the Amsterdam region. ‘Amsterdam, Smart City’ acted as a catalyst for new innovations in the field of smart energy technologies. Within the project over 50 private firms (multinationals and SMEs) worked together with TNO (Dutch Knowledge Institute, a public independent research institute), Housing Cooperations and the Municipality.
64. Sparsely populated Swedish regions mobilise for jobs and development: Project SLIM III (north-mid Sweden)– Funding: EUR 1.45 million (ERDF)
SLIM (Systematic Leadership and Innovative Management) includes the Dalarna and Gävleborg Regions, 15 "clusters" of companies,four universities and national authorities. SLIM’s model has been cited as a best practice case for developing innovation and growth strategies by Sweden’s government and the OECD. Around 700 companies, with 60 000 employees, are taking part in the project to develop new products and services and increase employment. The sectors involved include everything from IT and services to traditional industries such as pulp, paper, steel and engineering. The four participating universities are home to 55 000 students and 3 000 researchers.
65. Estonia: Competence centre for cancer research (CCCR) helping patients and creating jobs – Funding: EUR 1.2 million (ERDF)
The ambition of the CCCR is to establish a strong long-term private-public partnership in top-level cancer research, based on the common vision of SME entrepreneurs and scientists. New jobs have been provided for top-level scientific staff – CCCR staff increased from 30 in 2005 to 71 in 2010; 5 top-level researchers repatriated from other countries. New expertise has been developed that was missing in Estonia; new start-ups were created in biotechnology and in certain high-tech services needed for the CCCR projects with more graduate students specialised in applied cancer research.
66.Belgium Wallonia: bringing sophisticated solutions to aeronautical research – Funding: EUR 4.13 million (ERDF)