OSEO extends the two calls for proposals supporting eco-innovation.

Paris, 26 April 2011  - Today, OSEO, the French innovation agency, extended the two calls for proposals supporting eco-innovation. The calls are aimed at French SMEs and target two essential branches of eco-innovation: services for sustainable building and recycling and resource efficiency in manufacturing. OSEO will support successful applicants with an “innovation voucher”, a novel tool designed for SMEs to gain swift and hassle-free access to support.

The innovation vouchers offer a new approach to public aid. Funding is relatively small, but the aid is easier and quicker to obtain. Once received SMEs can use the voucher to pay for external expertise supporting their eco-innovation activities on both technical and business related issues.

Nathalie Delorme, director of OSEO's Offer to Companies, insists on “the importance of French SMEs receiving an efficient and relevant support package to fulfil their eco-innovative potential”.

Innovation vouchers were first introduced by OSEO in 2009 to facilitate the development of innovative services for the renewable energy sector. Today’s first call will offer SMEs in the sustainable building sector the same possibility, whilst the second call will enable industrial SMEs to improve their environmental footprint by increasing resource efficiency and recycling processes.

Support per project is limited to EUR 15,000.

The two calls for proposals will be open continuously during the next 12 month. More information is available on the OSEO website and that of the Ministry of Research.

http://www.oseo.fr/a_la_une/agenda/appels_a_propositions/appel_a_projets_greenconserve  

http://www.oseo.fr/a_la_une/agenda/appels_a_propositions/appel_a_projets_remake

For further information, please contact:

Jaques GAUTRAY

Direction de l'International
27 - 31 avenue du Général Leclerc - 94700 - Maisons-Alfort
Tel : +331 41 79 88 92 - Mob : +336 73 19 80 93 - oseo.fr