Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme
Encyclopedia
The Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) of the European Commission
is meant to improve the competitiveness of European companies facing the challenges of globalization
. The programme is mainly aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which will receive support for innovation
activities, better access to finance and business support services. It will run from 2007 to 2013.
The programme wants to encourage the usage of information and communications technologies
(ICT) renewable energies
and to promote energy efficiency
.
and of the Council of 24 October 2006 establishing a Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (2007 to 2013).
All three programmes are managed by the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI), a EU government body established by the European Commission to operate and oversee the various activities of CIP.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP)
The European Commission indicates that EIP focuses to facilitate access to finance for the start-up and growth of SMEs
and encourage investment in innovation activities and to create an environment favourable to SME
cooperation, particularly in the field of cross-border cooperation, thereby promoting and assisting in all forms of innovation in enterprises.
The EIP will specifically support innovation efforts in the ecological
sector. It also has the broader ambition to promote an entrepreneurship and innovation culture and related economic and administrative reform.
To help achieve these objectives the Commission has funded a number of actions. One of these is the formation of the Enterprise Europe Network
, which started to form during January 2008. This new network has been established by integrating two former networks: the Euro Info Centres (EIC) and the Innovation Relay Centres (IRC). There are over 500 regional teams across Europe and beyond in 40 countries, making it the world's largest business and innovation support network. The objective of integrating the two networks is to offer businesses a one-stop-shop of integrated services under one roof to better assist companies in addressing their business and innovation need. The type of services offered by many of the regional teams comprises:
Each of the Enterprise Europe Network Centres also offer a channel for passing feedback from businesses to the Commission on policies. All the Centres are also required to help engage businesses in EU policy-making by promoting consultations opened by the EC. The Network is essentially the front line for business and innovation support offered by Directorate General Enterprise and Industry, one of the various divisions or Directorate Generals comprising the European Commission.
In addition to the new Network, DG Enterprise & Industry have established other initiatives such as the European Investment Fund (EIF), which provisions for venture capital aimed at SMEs - in particular high-tech early-stage companies.
Information Communication Technologies Policy support Programme
Intelligent Energy Europe
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
is meant to improve the competitiveness of European companies facing the challenges of globalization
Globalization
Globalization refers to the increasingly global relationships of culture, people and economic activity. Most often, it refers to economics: the global distribution of the production of goods and services, through reduction of barriers to international trade such as tariffs, export fees, and import...
. The programme is mainly aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which will receive support for innovation
Innovation
Innovation is the creation of better or more effective products, processes, technologies, or ideas that are accepted by markets, governments, and society...
activities, better access to finance and business support services. It will run from 2007 to 2013.
The programme wants to encourage the usage of information and communications technologies
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
(ICT) renewable energies
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
and to promote energy efficiency
Efficient energy use
Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain a comfortable temperature...
.
History
The CIP is based on Decision No 1639/2006/EC of the European ParliamentEuropean Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
and of the Council of 24 October 2006 establishing a Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (2007 to 2013).
Operational programmes
The CIP consists of three programmes:- Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP)
- Information Communication Technologies Policy support Programme (ICT PSP)
- Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE)
All three programmes are managed by the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI), a EU government body established by the European Commission to operate and oversee the various activities of CIP.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP)
The European Commission indicates that EIP focuses to facilitate access to finance for the start-up and growth of SMEs
Small and medium enterprise
Small and medium enterprises or small and medium-sized enterprises are companies whose headcount or turnover falls below certain limits.The abbreviation "SME" occurs commonly...
and encourage investment in innovation activities and to create an environment favourable to SME
Small and medium enterprise
Small and medium enterprises or small and medium-sized enterprises are companies whose headcount or turnover falls below certain limits.The abbreviation "SME" occurs commonly...
cooperation, particularly in the field of cross-border cooperation, thereby promoting and assisting in all forms of innovation in enterprises.
The EIP will specifically support innovation efforts in the ecological
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
sector. It also has the broader ambition to promote an entrepreneurship and innovation culture and related economic and administrative reform.
To help achieve these objectives the Commission has funded a number of actions. One of these is the formation of the Enterprise Europe Network
Enterprise Europe Network
Enterprise Europe Network is the largest information and consultancy network in Europe.. The aim of the network is to help small business to make the most of the European marketplace...
, which started to form during January 2008. This new network has been established by integrating two former networks: the Euro Info Centres (EIC) and the Innovation Relay Centres (IRC). There are over 500 regional teams across Europe and beyond in 40 countries, making it the world's largest business and innovation support network. The objective of integrating the two networks is to offer businesses a one-stop-shop of integrated services under one roof to better assist companies in addressing their business and innovation need. The type of services offered by many of the regional teams comprises:
- business partnering such as supplier, distribution and join venture partner searches
- Online tools for tracking European public sector tenders
- Online facilities for assistance in finance and grant searches
- Advise on IPR and legal matters
- Advice on finance including grants, debt and risk
- Assist businesses in accessing research programmes and apply for R&D grants
- Advice and assistance on accessing EU programmes and funds
- Access to information on EU policies, regulations and support programmes
- Technology and R&D partnering
- Assistance for accessing Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)
Each of the Enterprise Europe Network Centres also offer a channel for passing feedback from businesses to the Commission on policies. All the Centres are also required to help engage businesses in EU policy-making by promoting consultations opened by the EC. The Network is essentially the front line for business and innovation support offered by Directorate General Enterprise and Industry, one of the various divisions or Directorate Generals comprising the European Commission.
In addition to the new Network, DG Enterprise & Industry have established other initiatives such as the European Investment Fund (EIF), which provisions for venture capital aimed at SMEs - in particular high-tech early-stage companies.
Information Communication Technologies Policy support Programme
Intelligent Energy Europe