Member Article

EU sets out green innovation plan

The European Commission has launched its new Eco-Innovation Action Plan, aimed at driving innovation in environmentally sound projects.

EcoAP will be implemented to reduce pressure on the environment, and bridge the gap between innovation and the market.

It is one of the commitments of the Innovation Union Flagship Initiative, building on the 2004 Environmental Technologies Action Plan, and targeting opportunities for achieving environmental objectives through innovation.

As a plan, it stresses the importance of research and bringing innovations to market, and better coordination of policies with international partners.

Janez Potocnik, Environment Commissioner, said: “The innovation challenge for this Century will be making our resources go further, doing more with less, and reducing the impact of our activities.

“Europe must be in the lead in meeting that challenge if we want to be competitive in a world of increasing resource constraints.

“Worldwide demand for environmental technologies, products and services is growing rapidly even in these difficult times, and it’s an area where Europe has much to offer.

“This is a plan for green jobs, and green growth.”

To help create stronger and more stable market demand for eco-innovation, it will take measures in the areas of regulatory incentives, private and public procurement and standards and it will mobilise support for SMEs to improve investment readiness and networking opportunities.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .