Traditional projects - Environment and Resource Efficiency

Date de clôture : 12 sept. 2017  
APPEL À PROJET CLÔTURÉ

LIFE is the European Programme for the Environment and Climate Action, for the period from 1 January 2014 until 31 December 2020. The legal basis for LIFE is Regulation (EU) No 1293/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 20131 (hereinafter "the LIFE Regulation").

The LIFE Programme is structured in two sub-programmes: the sub-programme for environment and the sub-programme for climate action.

The sub-programme for environment covers three priority areas:

•   LIFE Environment and Resource Efficiency

•   LIFE Nature and Biodiversity

•   LIFE Environmental Governance and Information

The thematic priorities for each priority area are further described in Annex III to the LIFE Regulation.

The sub-programme for climate action covers three priority areas:

•   LIFE Climate Change Mitigation

•   LIFE Climate Change Adaptation

•   LIFE Climate Governance and Information

The overall financial envelope for the implementation of the LIFE Programme is EUR 3.457 Billion, 75% of which is allocated to the sub-programme for environment (EUR 2,592,491,250).

According to Article 17(4) of the LIFE Regulation, at least 81% of the total budget shall be allocated to projects supported by way of action grants or, where appropriate, financial instruments. The first LIFE Multiannual Work Programme covering the period 2014-2017 foresees a budget of EUR 1,347.1 Million for the sub-programme for environment2.

During the period 2014-2020, the Contracting Authority will launch one call for LIFE project proposals per year.

 

1.2 "Traditional" Projects

Article 2 of the LIFE Regulation defines the various types of projects which may be supported by the LIFE 2014-2020 programme. While some of the project types (eg 'integrated projects' and 'capacity building projects') are new to LIFE, other project types are similar to those already supported by LIFE+ and previous LIFE programmes.

These "traditional" types of projects are:

•   "pilot projects" means projects that apply a technique or method that has not been applied or tested before, or elsewhere, and that offer potential environmental or climate advantages compared to current best practice and that can subsequently be applied on a larger scale to similar situations;

•   “demonstration projects” means projects that put into practice, test, evaluate and disseminate actions, methodologies or approaches that are new or unknown in the specific context of the project, such as the geographical, ecological, socio-economic context, and that could be applied elsewhere in similar circumstances;

•   “best practice projects” means projects that apply appropriate, cost-effective, state-of- the-art techniques, methods and approaches taking into account the specific context of the project;

•   "information, awareness and dissemination projects" means projects aimed at supporting communication, dissemination of information and awareness raising in the fields of the sub-programmes for Environment and Climate Action.

In order for a project to be considered pilot/demonstrative, the overall character of its core actions must be pilot/demonstrative. Although some best practice actions might be included in the project proposal, the overall approach must clearly have a pilot/demonstrative character and this should be justified in detail in the proposal.

The following table shows which type of project may be submitted to which priority area:

Sub-Programme

Priority Area

Types of Traditional Projects Eligible

Environment

Environment and Resource Efficiency

Demonstration and pilot projects

Environment

Nature and Biodiversity

Best practice, demonstration, and pilot projects

Environment

Environmental Governance and Information

Information, awareness and dissemination projects

Climate Action

Climate Change Mitigation

Best practice, demonstration, and pilot projects

Climate Action

Climate Change Adaptation

Best practice, demonstration, and pilot projects

Climate Action

Climate Governance and Information

Information, awareness and dissemination projects

The amount available for co-financing action grants for all types of "traditional" projects under the Environment sub-programme is indicatively set at EUR 207,880,100

Projects financed by the LIFE Programme under one priority area shall avoid undermining environmental or climate objectives in another priority area and, where possible, promote synergies between different objectives as well as the use of green procurement.

1.3 Role of project topics

The LIFE multiannual work programme for 2014-2017 defines project topics implementing the thematic priorities for the sub-programme for environment listed in Annex III to the LIFE Regulation for pilot, demonstration, best practice and information, awareness and dissemination projects ("traditional" projects). They reflect the priorities on which projects should focus during the relevant period. Eligible proposals that reach or pass the minimum pass scores (see section 5.1.1 of the LIFE multiannual work programme for 2014-2017) and target a project topic will be given priority over projects of comparable quality that do not fall under one of the project topics. See also the Guide for the evaluation of LIFE project proposals 2017 for further details on scoring of proposals.

Please note that, in order to be considered as matching one of the project topics, a project should comply with each of the elements of the given topic and the project actions should clearly focus on this topic. For example a project for a regional awareness raising campaign will not be considered as matching the topic "National campaigns to raise awareness ...". Similarly a demonstration project aimed at applying a method to improve the collection of municipal waste which is not considered new or unknown in the specific context of the project will not match the topic "Projects using innovative methods ....for waste prevention, reuse and separate collection of municipal waste"

1.4 How, where and when to submit a proposal?

Applicants for LIFE funding for "traditional" projects must submit their proposals using the web tool eProposal available via the LIFE web page.

The application tool contains all administrative (A), technical (B and C) and financial (F) forms required, and functionalities to attach relevant documents (maps, photos, diagrams, graphs, mandatory administrative and financial annexes). For complete details regarding the application forms, please refer to section 3 of this document. For complete details regarding the use of the eProposal tool, please refer to Annex 3 of this document.

Applicants must submit their proposals to the Contracting Authority via eProposal before 16:00 Brussels local time on 12 September 2017.

 

The proposal can be modified, validated and (re)submitted as many times as needed until 12 September 2017 (16:00 Brussels time). You are recommended to submit your draft(s) regularly during the entire submission period to avoid last minutes issues with your internet connection of other IT related failures. Each subsequent submission overwrites the previously submitted version (earlier versions are not archived and are therefore not available anymore).

For the proposals covered by these guidelines the Contracting Authority is the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME).

When preparing the proposal, the applicants may wish to consult the relevant LIFE National Contact Point; the complete list of the names and contact addresses of the national/regional authorities for LIFE in the Member States can be found on the LIFE website at

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/contact/nationalcontact/index.htm

1.5 How will LIFE projects be selected?

The technical methodology for the project selection procedure and the selection and award criteria are described in section 5 of the LIFE multiannual work programme for 2014-2017. For a detailed description of how this procedure will be implemented, please refer to the 'Guide for the evaluation of LIFE project proposals 2017'.

Very important: Please note that the e-mail address specified by the applicant as the contact person's e-mail address in form A2 will be used by the Contracting Authority as the single contact point for all correspondence with the applicant during the evaluation procedure. It should therefore correspond to an e-mail account which is valid, active and checked on a daily basis throughout the duration of the evaluation procedure.

The individual grant agreements are expected to be signed by the Contracting Authority in May-June 2018 (for a detailed timetable, see Annex 1).

The earliest possible starting date for projects is 1 July 2018.

1.6 General Guidance to Applicants

The current chapter replies to some frequently asked questions on how to conceive a LIFE project proposal. For specific guidelines, see section 2; for recommendation on how to fill in the technical and financial forms, please refer to section 3 of this document.

1.6.1 In which language may the proposal be submitted?

The Contracting Authority strongly recommends that applicants fill in the technical part and especially the financial part of the proposal in clear English only, although they may also be submitted in any of the official EU languages, except Irish or Maltese.

 

Note that the grant agreement, project management, formal reporting, key deliverables and all communication with the Contracting Authority will have to be in English.

The title of the proposal and form B1 ("Summary description of the project") must always be submitted in clear English. Form B1 may in addition also be submitted in the language of the proposal.

1.6.2 Who may submit a proposal?

A proposal may be submitted by any legal person registered in the European Union.

Entities participating in the proposal may fall into three types of beneficiaries: (1) public bodies, (2) private commercial organisations and (3) private non-commercial organisations (including NGOs).

The term "public bodies" is defined as referring to national public authorities, regardless of their form of organisation – central, regional or local structure – or the various bodies under their control, provided these operate on behalf of and under the responsibility of the national public authority concerned. In the case of entities registered as private law bodies wishing to be considered for the purpose of this call as equivalent to "public law bodies", they should provide evidence proving that they comply with all criteria applicable to bodies governed by public law and in the event the organisation stops its activities, its rights and obligations, liability and debts will be transferred to a public body. For a complete definition, please refer to the annex "Public body declaration", which must be completed by all beneficiaries which wish to be considered and treated as a 'public body'. The only exception concerns those central (e.g.: Ministry) and local administrations (e.g.: Provinces, Municipalities, Regions etc.) whose nature of 'public body' is clear.

Please note that so called 'Sole traders' (i.e. entities owned and run by one individual and where there is no legal distinction between the owner and the business) are considered natural persons and are therefore not eligible to participate as beneficiary or affiliate in this call.

Please refer to the 'Guide for the evaluation of LIFE project proposals 2017 of Environment Sub-programme' for full details regarding the compulsory administrative documents which are required with the proposal depending on the legal status of the coordinating beneficiary.

Once a proposal has been accepted for co-funding, the applicant will become the coordinating beneficiary who is responsible for ensuring the implementation of the project. The coordinating beneficiary will be the single point of contact for the Contracting Authority and will be the only beneficiary to report directly to the Contracting Authority on the project's technical and financial progress.

The coordinating beneficiary receives the EU financial contribution from the Contracting Authority and ensures its distribution as specified in the partnership agreements established with the associated beneficiaries (if there are any – see below). The coordinating beneficiary must be directly involved in the technical implementation of the project and in the dissemination of the project results.

 

The coordinating beneficiary must bear part of the project costs and must thus contribute financially to the project budget. It cannot therefore be reimbursed for 100% of the costs that it incurs.

The coordinating beneficiary must show its legal status (by completing application form A2) confirming legal registration in the EU

In addition to the coordinating beneficiary, a LIFE proposal may also involve one or more associated beneficiaries and/or one or more project co-financiers.

An associated beneficiary may be legally registered outside the European Union, provided that the coordinating beneficiary is based in the EU. In order to be considered as associated beneficiary the entity shall be responsible for carrying out actions outside the EU and those actions must be necessary to achieve EU environmental objectives and to ensure the effectiveness of interventions carried out in the Member State territories to which the Treaties apply. In other words, the participation of an entity established outside the EU that will only contribute with the know-how or will collaborate to implement actions in the EU will not be considered as sufficient. The associated beneficiary must always contribute technically to the proposal and hence be responsible for the implementation of one or several project actions. An associated beneficiary must also contribute financially to the project. Furthermore, it must provide the beneficiary with all the necessary documents required for the fulfilment of its reporting obligations to the Contracting Authority.

There is no pre-defined number of associated beneficiaries to be involved in a LIFE proposal. A proposal that is submitted without any participant other than the coordinating beneficiary itself is eligible. On the other hand, a beneficiary should not hesitate to associate other beneficiaries, if this would bring an added value to the project, such as when the partnership strengthens the feasibility or the demonstration character of the proposal, its European added value, its impact and/or the transferability of its results and lessons learnt.

Public undertakings whose capital is publicly owned and which are considered an instrument or a technical service of a public administration, and which are subject to the public administration's control, but are in effect separate legal entities, must become beneficiaries if a public administration intends to entrust the implementation of certain project actions to these undertakings3.

All associated beneficiaries must show their legal status (by completing application form A5), and provide full information on the Member State or third country in which they are registered. In addition all beneficiaries whether registered or not in the EU must declare that they are not in any of the situations foreseen under Article 106(1) and 107 of the EU Financial Regulation4 (by signing the application form A3 or A4 – see instructions in section 3 of this document).

 

For private beneficiaries, the Contracting Authority may accept that affiliated entities to a beneficiary participate in a project as long as all conditions listed in the Model Grant Agreement and its Annex X (Financial and Administrative Guidelines) are fulfilled. However, the association of entities as affiliates may complicate the project structure and thus have a negative impact on the technical and financial coherence of the project. It is therefore entirely in the Contracting Authority's administrative discretion to accept affiliates, and in no case will affiliated entities be accepted for public beneficiaries or entities that do not comply with the description of affiliated entities hereafter.

Affiliated entities need to comply with the eligibility and non-exclusion criteria applying to applicants and should have a structural link with the beneficiary concerned (i.e. a legal or capital link) that is neither limited to the project nor established for the sole purpose of the project implementation (so the link would exist independently of the award of the grant; it should exist before the call for proposals and remain valid after the end of the project).

As affiliated entities could be accepted those directly controlled by the beneficiary (i.e. daughter companies or first-tier subsidiaries), entities controlling the beneficiary (mother company) OR in case of Memberships, the beneficiary has to be legally defined as a network, federation, association in which the proposed affiliated entities participate. However, if several beneficiaries want to work with the same 'affiliate', the 'affiliate' should be proposed as 'beneficiary' instead.

A project co-financier only contributes to the project with financial resources, has no technical responsibilities, and cannot benefit from the EU financial contribution. Furthermore, it cannot act, in the context of the project, as a sub-contractor to any of the project's beneficiaries.

However, project proposals involving business-sector co-financing will be favourably considered during the evaluation process where this co-financing contributes to the probable sustainability of the project results.

For specific tasks of a fixed duration, a proposal may foresee the use of sub-contractors. Sub-contractors provide external services to the project beneficiaries who fully pay for the services provided. Beneficiaries (including their affiliated entities) may not act as sub- contractors. Sub-contractors should normally not be identified by name in the proposal; if they are, the General Conditions of the Model LIFE Grant Agreement must still be respected.

For a more detailed description of the respective rules related to the coordinating beneficiary, associated beneficiaries, affiliates, co-financiers and sub-contractors, please refer to the General Conditions of the Model LIFE Grant Agreement.

1.6.3 What is the optimal budget for a LIFE project?

There is no fixed minimum size for project budgets. While large ambitious projects (i.e. over 5,000,000 Euro total costs) have been financed several times in the past, small projects (i.e. below 500,000 Euro total costs) have seldom succeeded due to the limited output and consequently the low added value.

When preparing a project budget, applicants should also take into account the indicative national allocations per Member State for projects financed under the sub-programme for environment applicable for the period 2014-2017. A project proposal that requests an EU financial contribution higher than the total indicative national allocation5 for the applicant's Member State will have a reduced probability of being selected for LIFE co-funding. .

1.6.4 What is the maximum rate of EU co-financing under LIFE?

For the duration of the first LIFE multiannual work programme for 2014-2017, the maximum EU co-financing rate for "traditional" LIFE projects is 60% of the total eligible project costs.

1.6.5 How much should project beneficiaries contribute to the project budget?

The coordinating beneficiary and any associated beneficiaries are expected to provide a reasonable financial contribution to the project budget. A beneficiary's financial contribution is considered as a proof of its commitment to the implementation of the project objectives – a very low financial contribution may therefore be considered as an absence or lack of commitment.

A proposal cannot be submitted if the financial contribution of any of the beneficiaries to the proposal budget is EUR 0.

Moreover, where public bodies are involved as coordinating and/or associated beneficiaries in a project, the sum of their financial contributions to the project budget must exceed (by at least 2%) the sum of the salary costs charged to the project for personnel who are not considered 'additional'. For details, please refer to section 3.4 of this document.

1.6.6 What is the optimal starting date and duration for a project?

When preparing the project's time planning, beneficiaries should be aware that the expected date of the signature of the grant agreements for the LIFE 2017 projects will be May-June 2018. The earliest possible starting date for these projects is 1 July 2018. Any costs incurred before the project's starting date will not be considered eligible and cannot be included in the project budget. There is no pre-determined project duration for a LIFE project. Generally speaking, the project duration must correspond to what is necessary to complete all of the project's actions and to reach all its objectives. Most projects last for 2–5 years.

Only under exceptional circumstances, the Contracting Authority may decide to grant an extension of the project duration. The experience of the previous LIFE Programmes has shown that many projects had difficulties completing all actions within the proposed project duration, mostly due to unforeseen delays and difficulties encountered during the project. Beneficiaries are therefore strongly advised to build an appropriate safety margin (e.g. 6 months) into the timetable of their proposal.

Beneficiaries should also be aware that a project that has completed all of its actions prior to the expected end date can submit its final report ahead of schedule and receive its final payment before the official project end date mentioned in the grant agreement.

1.6.7 Where can a LIFE project take place?

LIFE projects shall take place in the territory of the European Union Member States. The LIFE Programme may also finance activities outside the EU and in overseas countries and

5 The national allocations can be found in section 5 of the LIFE multiannual work-programme for 2014-2017 and in the 'Guide for the evaluation LIFE of project proposals 2017' territories (OCTs), provided that the coordinating beneficiary is based in the EU and strong evidence is provided that the activities to be carried out outside the EU are necessary to achieve EU environmental objectives and to ensure the effectiveness of interventions carried out in the Member State territories to which the Treaties apply (e.g. actions aimed at the conservation of migratory birds in wintering areas or actions implemented on a trans boundary river). Please note that this is clearly an exception as normally actions should be carried out in the EU. However, when the problem at stake cannot be addressed successfully or efficiently unless actions are carried out also in non-EU countries, this will be possible. Qualitative and quantitative evidence to justify the need for those actions outside the EU must be given in the description of each of these actions in the relevant forms.

For example, a project targeting a migratory bird species that has conservation actions in one of the Member States as well as conservation actions in an overseas country and/or an OCT could be eligible. A project that takes place entirely outside the Member State territories to which the Treaties apply, ie entirely in overseas countries and/or OCTs, will not be eligible.

The eligibility criteria formulated in European Commission notice Nr.2013/C-205/05 (OJEU C-205 of 19/07/2013, pp. 9-11), concerning the eligibility of Israeli entities and their activities in the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967 for grants, prizes and financial instruments funded by the EU from 2014 onwards, shall apply for all actions under this call for proposals, including with respect to third parties referred to in Article 137 of the EU's Financial Regulation.

1.6.8 Who should manage a LIFE project?

It is expected that the project management is carried out by the staff of the coordinating beneficiary. However, on the basis of an appropriate justification it may be carried out by a sub-contractor under the coordinating beneficiary's direct control. Any other arrangements for the project management would have to be adequately explained and justified. It is also strongly advised that each project has a full-time project manager.

The proposal should clearly describe who will be in charge of the project management, how much personnel and time will be devoted to this task and how and by whom decisions on the project will be made during the project period (i.e. how and by whom the project management will be controlled).

1.6.9 Outsourcing of project activities

The beneficiaries should have the technical and financial capacity and competency to carry out the proposed project activities. It is therefore expected that the share of the project budget allocated to external assistance should remain below 35%. Higher shares may only be accepted if an adequate justification for this is provided in the project proposal.

The General Conditions of the Model LIFE Grant Agreement must be respected for any external assistance.

In line with Article 19 of the Regulation, beneficiaries (public and private) are strongly advised to use "green" procurement. The European Commission has established a toolkit for this purpose. More information can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/gpp/toolkit_en.htm

1.6.10 Under which conditions does LIFE favour transnational projects?

The LIFE Regulation indicates that, while selecting the projects to be co-funded, the Contracting Authority shall have special regard to transnational projects, when transnational cooperation is essential to guarantee environmental or nature protection. On the basis of award criterion 7, additional points will be given to a proposal if there is sufficient evidence for an added value of the transnational approach. If such evidence can be provided, the proposal will be considered for a higher scoring in the project selection process and will therefore have a higher chance of being selected for co-funding.

N.B. The meaning of "transnational" as foreseen in the LIFE Regulation only covers cooperation among Member States as well as cooperation among Member States and third countries participating in the LIFE Programme under article 5 of the LIFE Regulation. Activities outside the Union or in overseas countries and territories, while possible as foreseen under article 6 of the LIFE Regulation, will not entail additional points under award criterion 7.

1.6.11 How voluminous should a LIFE proposal be?

A proposal should be as concise and clear as possible. Applicants should avoid voluminous proposals and should not provide excessively detailed descriptions of project areas, environmental technologies, lists of species, etc.

Clear and detailed descriptions should, however, be provided for all project actions. Maps should be annexed wherever this would be useful to clarify the location of the proposed actions (note that they are obligatory in some cases).

Brochures, CVs and similar documents should not be submitted and will be ignored if provided.

1.6.12 Ongoing activities

Actions already ongoing before the start of the project are not eligible.

Where actions to be undertaken in the project are significantly different from previous or ongoing activities in terms of frequency or intensity they are not considered ongoing. The applicant must provide adequate information in the proposal that allows to assess this aspect.

Exceptionally, in case of actions that were undertaken and completed in the past and that are proposed to be repeated at a similar frequency or intensity during the project, the applicant must provide evidence that such actions would not have been carried out in the absence of the LIFE project.

1.6.13 Long term sustainability of the project and its actions

LIFE projects represent a considerable investment, and the European Union attaches great importance to the long term sustainability of these investments. It is obligatory that throughout the duration of the project, the beneficiaries consider how these investments will be secured, maintained, developed and made use of or replicated after the end of the project. This should be built into the proposal. This aspect will be carefully checked during the evaluation process, particularly under Award criterion 1.

More advice and instructions specific for each priority area are available in section 2.

1.6.14 Replicability and transferability

Replicability and transferability is the potential of the project to be replicated and transferred during and after its implementation. Successful replicability and transferability require a strategy including tasks to multiply the impacts of the projects' solutions and mobilise a wider uptake, reaching a critical mass during the project and/or in a short and medium term perspective after the end of the LIFE project. This goes beyond transfer of knowledge and networking, and involves putting the techniques, methods or strategies developed or applied in the project into practice elsewhere.

Replicability and transferability go beyond dissemination and concern activities and approaches, integrated in all relevant project actions, which aim to facilitate the replication and/or transfer of the project's results and experiences beyond the project, including in other sectors, entities, regions or countries.

More advice and instructions specific for each priority area are available in section 2.

1.6.15 Research activities and large infrastructure

Whereas EU funding for research activities is provided under Horizon 2020 – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014–2020)6, limited research aimed to improve and enhance the knowledge data underpinning the project may be carried out within a LIFE project. Research must be strictly limited and intrinsically related to the project's objectives and the applicant shall explain in detail how the proper implementation of the project relies on these research activities, showing that the existing scientific basis is insufficient, and how the additional knowledge will be used to implement the project actions. In such a case, scientific publications are considered important deliverables of the project.

Projects dedicated to the construction of large infrastructure do not fall within the scope of the LIFE Programme and are therefore not eligible. A project is considered to be dedicated to the construction of large infrastructure if the actual cost7 of a "single item of infrastructure" exceeds € 500,000. A "single item of infrastructure" means all elements as described in form F4a that are physically bound to ensure the functionality of the infrastructural investment (e.g. for an eco-duct the bridge, barriers, signposting, etc.). Such amount may be exceptionally exceeded if full technical justification is provided in the proposal demonstrating the necessity of the infrastructure for ensuring an effective contribution to the objectives of Articles 10, 11 or 12 of the LIFE Regulation.

1.6.16 Complementarity with other EU funding programmes

According to Article 8 of the LIFE Regulation, activities supported from the LIFE Programme must ensure consistency and synergies, and avoid overlap with other funding programmes of the Union. In particular, the Contracting Authority and the Member States must ensure coordination with the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and Horizon 2020.

It is thus essential that, prior to submitting their proposal to the Contracting Authority, beneficiaries check thoroughly whether the actions proposed under their project in practice could be, or are, funded through other EU funds.

The beneficiaries must inform the Contracting Authority about any related funding they have received from the EU budget, as well as any related ongoing applications for funding from the EU budget. The beneficiaries must also check that they are not receiving on-going operating grants from LIFE (or other EU programmes) that would lead to double financing.

Failure to signal this in the appropriate form A7 might lead to rejection of the proposal.

Please note that this is an area of growing concern, evidence shows that an increasing number of similar or same proposals are submitted to various programmes. Increasingly severe checks and cross-checks are carried out by the contracting authorities. Failure to declare that the same or a similar proposal has been submitted to another programme (or worst, already even partly financed) may have serious consequences.

In addition, at the project revision stage, the national authority may also be required to indicate the steps taken to ensure the coordination and complementarity of LIFE funding with other EU funding programmes.

1.6.17 Proposals following or based on previous LIFE projects

If the applicant is proposing a continuation of a previous LIFE project, he should clearly describe in form A7 why a further project phase is needed and how this will complement the results achieved with the previous project. The applicant should also explain when discussing sustainability (form B6), how a further continuation would be ensured with resources other than the LIFE programme. Last, but not least, in the description of every key action (C-forms) the applicant should provide precise information on how this action builds upon and complements the similar action carried out in the previous project phase.

Applicants should also show that they have taken into consideration other LIFE projects financed that addressed a similar issue. They will need to explain how their proposal builds upon or differs from the others and how it will coordinate with them if those projects are still on-going.

During the evaluation process these aspects will be carefully checked. Failure to provide full details on these aspects will have a negative impact on the final score.

 

1.6.18 Quantification of environmental benefits

The improved performances/advantages introduced by the proposed solution must be quantified in terms of the expected environmental benefits. This must be done by clearly indicating what the chosen baseline is. Environmental benefits must be presented in a life- cycle approach where relevant and shall be clear, substantial, ambitious, as well as credible. In this regard, consistency shall be ensured between environmental benefits described in the relevant forms of the proposal and values reported in the table on Performance Indicators.

More advice and instructions are available in section 2.

1.6.19 Coordination requirements for multiple proposals aimed at the same/similar issue

Evidence shows that an increasing number of proposals aimed at the same or at a similar issue are submitted, often in the same Member State. This happens more frequently in the Nature and Biodiversity priority area.

To avoid such situations applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with National Contact Points (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/contact/nationalcontact/) to check whether the topic they are addressing is being addressed also by other applicants. If this is the case, applicants are encouraged to seek cooperation to avoid possible overlaps and increase synergies.

1.7 Reducing project's "carbon footprint" and Green Procurement

Efforts for reducing the project's "carbon footprint": You must explain how you intend to ensure that the "carbon footprint" of your project remains as low as it is reasonably possible. Details of efforts to be made to reduce CO2 emissions during a project's life shall be included in the description of the project. However, you should be aware that expenses for offsetting greenhouse gas emissions will not be considered as eligible costs.

All LIFE projects are expected to apply "Green Procurement" when outsourcing services and supplies. Proposals including a clear and detailed mechanism for an extensive use of Green Procurement by most or all the beneficiaries will be granted an extra bonus under award criterion 7.

1.8 Personal Data Protection Clause

The personal data supplied with your proposal, notably the name, address and other contact information of the beneficiaries and co-financiers, will be placed in a database named ESAP that will be made available to the EU Institutions and agencies, as well as to a team of external evaluators who are bound by a confidentiality agreement. ESAP is used exclusively to manage the evaluation of LIFE proposals.

The same personal data of successful projects will be transferred to another database called BUTLER, which will be made available to the EU Institutions and agencies and to an external monitoring team who are bound by a confidentiality agreement. BUTLER is used exclusively to manage LIFE projects.

A summary of each project, including the name and contact information of the coordinating beneficiary, will be placed on the LIFE website and made available to the general public. At a certain point the coordinating beneficiary will be invited to check the accuracy of this summary.

The list of successful beneficiaries and the relative amounts awarded to the projects selected will also be published in a public database called the Financial Transparency System8.

The Contracting Authority, or its contractors, may also use the personal data of unsuccessful applicants for follow up actions in connection with future applications.

Throughout this process, Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data will be respected by the Contracting Authority and its sub-contractors. You will notably have the right to access data concerning you in our possession and to request corrections.

Submission of a proposal implies that you accept that the personal data contained in your proposal is made available as described above. It will not be used in any other way or for any other purposes than those described above.

 

2. LIFE Environment and Resource Efficiency
2.1 What is LIFE Environment and Resource Efficiency?

These guidelines concern uniquely LIFE Environment and Resource Efficiency.

LIFE Environment and Resource Efficiency aims specifically at contributing to the implementation, updating and development of European Union environmental policy and legislation, including the integration of the environment into other policies, thereby contributing to sustainable development. Furthermore, actions financed must have a European added value and be complementary to those actions that can be financed under other European Union funds during the period 2014-20.

The priority area Environment and Resource Efficiency focuses on:

- developing, testing and demonstrating policy or management approaches, best practices and solutions to environmental challenges, and in support of resource efficiency- related policy and legislation, including the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe.

- improving the knowledge base for the development, implementation, assessment, monitoring and evaluation of Union environmental policy and legislation, and for the assessment and monitoring of the factors, pressures and responses that impact on the environment within and outside the Union.

Annex III of the LIFE Regulation describes the thematic priorities for each of the following five sectors:

•   Thematic priorities for Water, including the marine environment

•   Thematic priorities for Waste

•   Thematic priorities for Resource Efficiency, including soil and forests, and green and circular economy

•   Thematic priorities for Environment and Health, including chemicals and noise

•   Thematic priorities for Air quality and emissions, including urban environment

LIFE Environment and Resource Efficiency support will be allocated to the best proposals in terms of innovative solutions for important environmental issues, leading to viable as well as qualitatively and quantitatively measurable concrete results. Proposals must be highly visible and technically and financially sound. They should incorporate the dissemination of knowledge. The demonstration character is particularly important; projects must be implemented on a technical scale that allows evaluation of technical and economic viability of large scale introduction. LIFE Environment and Resource Efficiency is not directed at research or at investment in existing technology. LIFE aims to bridge the gap between research, policy and development results and widespread implementation, and to improve innovative solutions.

 

2.2 Thematic priorities and project topics for LIFE Environment and Resource Efficiency

In this section applicants will find the thematic priorities and project topics to which priority will be given. This does not exclude the possibility of submitting proposals addressing issues that are not covered by project topics or thematic priorities, in accordance with Annex III of the LIFE Regulation. In this regard, please note that points under award criterion 4 'Contribution to the project topics' will be awarded only to proposals that clearly and fully comply with the project topics listed below (for further details on criterion 4, please see the Guide for the evaluation of LIFE project proposals 2017). Applicants must choose maximum two project topics in eProposal and must clearly explain whether and why their proposal falls under the selected project topics. Only compliance with topics indicated by the applicant will be examined. By not choosing a project topic, the applicant declares that the proposal does not fulfil any of the project topics and acknowledges that no points can be awarded to the project under criterion 4.

2.2.1 Thematic priorities for Water, including the marine environment

Activities for the implementation of the specific objectives for water set out in the Roadmap for a Resource-Efficient Europe and the 7th Environment Action Programme, in particular:

(i) integrated approaches for the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive9;

(ii) Floods Directive10;

(iii) Marine Strategy Framework Directive11;

(iv) activities to ensure safe and efficient use of water resources, improving quantitative water management, preserving a high level of water quality and avoiding misuse and deterioration of water resources.

Project topics

Addressing water quality, floods and drought management in a cost efficient way is a serious challenge within the EU. Responding to the challenges and opportunities in the water sector requires a holistic approach across a number of actors. In line with the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the Flood Directive and the priorities of the European Innovation Partnership on Water, projects should focus on developing and particularly implementing actions which can help Member States move to genuinely integrated water resource management, promoting ecosystem-based approaches where relevant. In the context of actions targeted at the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), particular emphasis should be placed on emerging pressures and impacts, as well 

as fostering better integrated coastal management and maritime spatial planning. With respect to the water industry, the technologies and processes used to ensure the provision of water services (production of drinking water or waste water treatment) are reaching maturity. In line with the priority areas of the European Innovation Partnership on Water, the current challenge is twofold: (i) ensuring proper implementation in a way which yields cost-effective, resource efficient and legally compliant results, and (ii) ensuring an ability to deal with emerging issues in this field.

Priority will be therefore given to the following projects:

Water, floods and drought - Annex III, section A points (a)(i)-(ii)

1. Planning and establishment in urban and rural areas of natural water retention measures that increase infiltration, storage of water and remove pollutants through natural, or "natural-like" processes and thereby contribute to the achievement of the WFD and the Floods Directive (FD) objectives and to drought management in water scarce regions.

2. Projects promoting flood and drought risk management through (a) extreme event prevention and protection tools for support of policy, land use planning and emergency management and (b) integrated risk assessment and management approaches based on resilience and social vulnerability, and ensuring social acceptance.

3. Projects to allow the achievement of WFD objectives by addressing hydro morphological pressures identified in River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) and originating from land use or in-river use,

4. Projects that address integrated management of nutrients and organic pollution of human and agricultural origin in a way that clarifies the measures needed on a river basin or catchment scale to allow for the achievement of the WFD and MSFD requirements, including the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, Nitrates Directive, Bathing waters Directive and Groundwater Directive requirements.

5. Projects addressing pressures from chemical pollutants in the water environment and aimed at reducing emissions of priority substances at source, through the use of appropriate substitutes or alternative technologies.

6. Projects re-naturalising river, lake, estuary and coastal morphology and/or re-creating associated habitats including flood- and marsh plains, to allow the achievement of WFD and FD objectives.

7. Projects that implement water saving measures to reduce the quantitative and qualitative pressures on water bodies in water stressed basins on the basis of hydro- economic models.

Marine and coastal management - Annex III, section A point (a)(iii)

1. Projects developing tools, technologies and practices to ensure the sustainability of economic activities related to the marine environment, including where relevant by reducing the pressure of economic activities on the marine environment, and to mainstream marine resource sustainability into maritime economic sectors with a focus on underwater noise, physical disturbance of the sea floor, and the impacts of deep sea mining and aquaculture. Projects are expected to include the development of management plans which reduce the environmental impacts of economic activities.

2. Projects aiming at preventing and reducing marine litter or microbial contaminants, addressing the sources of marine litter and microbial contaminants.

3. Projects promoting synergies between integrated coastal management and maritime spatial planning, demonstrating the added value of coordinating integrated coastal management and maritime spatial planning in new marine contexts, supporting the concrete implementation of sea basin strategies including implementation of relevant Union law, or connecting integrated coastal management and maritime spatial planning with the procedures for designating and managing Marine Protected Areas or Natura 2000 sites.

Water Industry (Annex III, section A point (a)(iv))

1. Projects aiming at developing technologies for drinking water and urban waste water treatment systems, through the use of resource efficient processes for the provision of water services (e.g. aiming to reduce energy consumption for the treatment and management of water, and water losses) and onsite procedures and control processes to diminish or eliminate discharges of emerging pollutants and pathogens as part of wastewater treatment effluents.

2. Projects implementing tools (e.g. planning, decentralised systems, risk-based approaches) to ensure the efficient provision of water services that are compliant with the Drinking Water Directive and the Urban Waste Water Directive in areas of low population density.

3. Projects aiming at more efficient and effective, innovative solutions and/or treatment

options regarding recycled/reclaimed water, developing and demonstrating:

•   Innovative concepts for (alternative) water supply, wastewater treatment, reuse and recovery of resources;

•   Source control methods and cost-effective on-site technologies for discharges of emerging pollutants and pathogens into the wastewater treatment system;

•   Water treatment innovation hubs, in regions that currently lack of appropriate sewer systems and treatment and sanitation facilities, applying smart technologies and decentralized systems with a focus on alternative water sources.

•   Systematic approaches to avoid loss of water, energy and resources in industrial production and water and wastewater infrastructure.

2.2.2 Thematic priorities for Waste

Activities for the implementation of the specific objectives for waste set out in the Roadmap for a Resource-Efficient Europe and the 7th Environment Action Programme, in particular:

(i) the implementation and development of Union waste legislation, with particular emphasis on the first steps of the Union waste hierarchy (prevention, re-use and recycling);

(ii) resource efficiency and lifecycle impact of products, consumption patterns and dematerialisation of the economy.

Project topics

With respect to waste, the Roadmap for a Resource-Efficient Europe and the 7th EAP aim at reaching the following overall goals by 2020:

 to reduce waste generated;
 to maximise recycling and re-use;
 to limit incineration to non-recyclable materials; and
 to limit landfilling to non-recyclable and non-recoverable waste.

 

Priority will be therefore given to the following projects:

Implementation of waste legislation - Annex III, section A points (b)(i)-(ii)

1. Projects using innovative methods, technologies, and actions primarily at the waste source for waste prevention, reuse, and separate collection of municipal waste.

2. Projects using innovative methods, technologies, and actions primarily at the waste source for the prevention, preparation for reuse /reuse, recycling and separate collection of the following waste streams:

   • -  waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE), batteries and accumulators, end of life vehicles (ELV's), packaging, construction, demolition, and medical waste;

   • -  bio-waste, including food waste throughout the food chain.

3. Integrated plastic management projects that are set up to lead to increased recyclability, sorting and high quality recycling, eco-design, management of non- packaging plastics, prevention of single-use plastic items, or reduction and remediation of littering;

4. Projects that are set up to improve household hazardous waste management.

Waste and Resource efficiency – Annex III, section A point (b)(iii)

1. Projects implementing the use of economic instruments at local, regional or national level in support of waste management and resource efficiency policies.

2.2.3 Thematic priorities for Resource Efficiency, including soil and forests, and green and circular economy

Activities for the implementation of the Roadmap for a Resource-Efficient Europe and of the 7th Environment Action Programme that are not covered by other thematic priorities referred to in this Annex, in particular:

(i) industrial symbiosis and knowledge transfer, and development of new models for the shift towards a circular and green economy;

(ii) Soil Thematic Strategy (Commission Communication of 22 September 2006 entitled "Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection") with special emphasis on mitigation and compensation of soil sealing, and improved land use12;

(iii) forest monitoring and information systems, and to prevent forest fires.

Project topics

Projects under the thematic priorities for Resource Efficiency, including soil and forests, and green and circular economy will focus on the implementation of the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe, the Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection and the new EU Forest Strategy. With respect to industrial symbiosis, knowledge transfer and the shift towards a circular and green economy, particular attention should be given to resource efficient, environmentally sound performance of businesses, including the value chains, and on the harmonisation of

the methodology for measuring their ecological footprint. With regard to soil protection, there is a need to improve soil management and, in particular, to limit and mitigate soil sealing. Forest monitoring and information systems and forest fire prevention have advanced well over the past years, but there is a need to implement the new EU Forest Strategy and to further enhance the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS)13.

Priority will be therefore given to the following projects:

Resource Efficiency, green and circular economy - Annex III, section A, point (c)(i)

1. Projects implementing the circular economy concept through actions spanning the value chain or ensuring the use of secondary resources / scrap materials / wastes in other industries or value chains (eco-design, cascading use of materials, repair, remanufacture, reuse, recycling, new circular business concepts, and innovative take- back and collection systems).

2. Projects implementing new business models for resource efficiency, including establishing resource efficiency practices in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), focussing on the environmental impact, durability, reuse, repair and recycling of their products and processes – including sharing or leasing products rather than selling them. This should involve one of the industrial sectors considered as a priority in the Roadmap for a Resource Efficient Europe; the new business model should result in a reduction in material use and/or energy and water use.

3. Projects promoting the implementation of the European environmental footprint methodology14 through consumer and stakeholder communication, data availability, quality and traceability along the value chain, calculation simplification, and verification.

4. Projects linking regulatory, financial or reputational incentives to environmental performance by using EMAS or other robust, reliable (i.e. third-party verified) Union environmental management instruments.

5. Projects that promote Green Public Procurement through the development, in collaboration with companies, and application of common tender specifications of public authorities with similar purchasing needs (including market consultation and actual procurement activities) and of schemes that allow procurers an easy and reliable verification of green requirements, and the application of such schemes.

Soil - Annex III, section A, point (c)(ii)

1. Projects that limit, mitigate or propose innovative methods for compensating for soil sealing at regional, provincial or municipal level, in line with the Soil Sealing Guidelines (SWD(2012) 101 final/2)15, particularly those involving a re-thinking of planning and budgetary approaches with a view to achieving regional or municipal development without further land take or soil sealing.

2. Projects designed to achieve better soil management (decreasing erosion, maintaining soil organic matter, avoiding compaction and contamination, conserving/restoring carbon rich soil, etc.) at the local, regional or national level. The methods used can include monitoring tools and practices or the improvement of administrative and legal frameworks. Of particular interest will be projects providing cost-effective solutions improving existing tools or methodologies, or supporting soil functions as part of the wider ecosystem, e.g. for water retention.

3. Projects that develop and implement cost-effective support tools and schemes for the identification of contaminated sites at regional or national level.

Forests - Annex III, section A, point (c)(iii)

Projects under this heading can only be given priority if they foresee that all forest related quantitative and qualitative data resulting from the projects will be incorporated into the European Forest Data Centre (EFDAC) and later on into the Forest Information System for Europe (FISE) of the European Commission.

1. Projects that contribute to deriving fully harmonized information from data collected by National Forest Inventories (NFI) and/or other forest information networks, and that implement advanced methodologies to demonstrate sustainable forest management at regional, national or supra-national level according to agreed (Forest Europe16) criteria and indicators (e.g. Forest health and vitality, Forest Ecosystem Services, Forests and Socio Economic functions linked to EU Bioeconomy and forest within a changing climate) following the objectives of the new EU Forest Strategy17 and the EU Biodiversity Strategy 202018.

2. Projects that build on the information collected by existing national/regional forest information networks and develop and implement new methods for the collection and reporting of sustainable forest management criteria and indicators19 at national or regional level and according to the EEA classification of European Forest Types (EFT)20 in 14 categories as reported to Forest Europe. These projects should include specific demonstrative actions showing how the information and new methods may be used to improve the protection of forest ecosystems.

3. Projects that contribute towards the enhancement of the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). These projects should include specific demonstrative actions showing how the information and new methods may be applied towards reaching the targets set in the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020 insofar as forest and forest ecosystems management is concerned.

4. Projects that use new information about forests to increase their resilience to threats arising from population changes related to urbanisation, land abandonment or loss of traditional land management skills.

2.2.4 Thematic priorities for Environment and Health, including chemicals and noise

Activities for the implementation of the specific objectives for environment and health set out in the 7th Environment Action Programme, in particular:

(i) Regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)21;

(ii) Environmental Noise Directive22;

(iii) Seveso III Directive23.

Project topics

With regard to environment and health, new methods to reduce the impact of chemicals, noise and industrial accidents on the environment and human health should be explored.

Priority will be therefore given to the following projects:

Chemicals – Annex III, section A, point (d)(i)

1. Projects reducing the impact of chemicals (including nanomaterials and biocidal products) on the environment or human health by a safer or more sustainable use of chemicals or by the minimisation of exposure to toxic chemicals in products or in the environment, through their substitution with safer substances or with non-chemical solutions.

2. Projects improving the use of chemical monitoring data (e.g. environmental monitoring, human bio-monitoring, product monitoring, indoor air monitoring) in the protection of human health and the environment, by making the chemical monitoring data available, accessible, comparable and interoperable, and allowing for linking them with monitoring of human and environmental health and for assessment of exposures from chemical mixtures via various routes of exposure.

Noise - Annex III, section A, point (d)(ii)

Under this heading, priority will be given to projects in urban areas in order to improve the situation for a maximum number of persons.

1. Projects aimed at the introduction of permanent noise Low Emission Zones (LEZ) schemes in urban areas, by allowing only electrically powered vehicles or applying other equally effective noise LEZ approaches.

2. Projects inside densely populated urban areas aimed at reducing noise from roads and other transport infrastructures by means of using low noise surfaces having life cycle costs comparable to those of standard surfaces while achieving a substantial noise reduction.

Industrial accidents - Annex III, section A, point (e)(iii)

1. Projects aimed at facilitating the implementation of the Seveso III Directive (Directive 2012/18/EU) on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances through development of methodological tools for carrying out risk mapping, including environmental risk mapping, and for addressing domino effects.

2.2.5 Thematic priorities for Air quality and emissions, including urban environment

Activities for the implementation of the specific objectives for air and emissions in the Roadmap for a Resource-Efficient Europe and the 7th Environment Action Programme, in particular:

(i) integrated approaches to the implementation of Air quality legislation;

(ii) facilitate compliance with Union air quality and related air emissions standards including the National Emissions Ceilings Directive24;

(iii) enhanced implementation of the Industrial Emissions Directive25, with a special emphasis on improving BAT definition and implementation process, ensuring easy public access to information and enhancing the contribution of the IED to innovation.

Project topics

The thematic priority “air quality and emissions including urban environment” focusses on the implementation of air quality legislation and a comprehensive approach to urban environmental problems. Air pollution remains the most serious environmental health problem in Europe, with a mortality rate more than ten times that from traffic accidents, and also having a significant impact on ecosystems (e.g. 70% of the EU's Natura 2000 sites suffer from eutrophication as a result of air pollution). It should be addressed in line with the forthcoming EU Air Quality Strategy for the period up to 2030.

The Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) is a key instrument for pollution prevention and control from large point sources. Experience with implementation of the IED (and its predecessor IPPC) has allowed for identifying additional needs in terms of public information and the introduction of emerging techniques

Priority will be therefore given to the following projects:

Air quality legislation and the NEC Directive - Annex III, section A, points (e)(i)-(ii)

Where not explicitly stated otherwise, air quality projects should generally focus on urban areas in order to cover as many people as possible.

1. Local and regional energy projects addressing air quality and emission reductions in atmospheric particulate matter (PM) hotspots in areas with continued high use of coal and biomass burning heating applications.

2. Projects contributing to high quality biomass burning applications and their proper use, including in mountainous regions (such as using ultra low dust technologies, high efficiency and clean combustion and control technologies, heat storage).

 

3. Sustainable mobility projects for those components that are essential for meeting air quality standards focussing on cleaner real world driving, the use of electric or super low emission vehicles26 as referred to in the Horizon 2020 Working Program, the use of clean alternative fuels, innovative retrofit programmes for public service vehicles, alternative drive train technology like electro-mobility and hydrogen-based mobility, development and implementation of high-impact LEZ and road pricing schemes through advanced access criteria and consumer product labels27 (Major Metropolitan Areas), and the use of innovative logistic platforms for last mile delivery of goods.

4. Projects to reduce ammonia and PM emissions from agriculture in support for the implementation of the upgraded UNECE Code of Good Practice for reducing ammonia and PM emissions from agriculture.

Industrial Emissions Directive - Annex III, section A, points (e)(iii)
1. Projects developing and testing pollution prevention and abatement techniques

referred to in IED as emerging techniques.

Urban environment - Annex III, section A, point (e)

1. Projects implementing integrated and comprehensive policies for sustainable urban planning and design through innovative approaches regarding urban public transport and mobility, sustainable buildings, energy efficiency or urban biodiversity conservation.

2.3 LIFE Environment and Resource Efficiency projects
According to the LIFE Regulation, LIFE Environment and Resource Efficiency projects must

be demonstration or pilot projects, which are defined as follows:

•   "pilot projects" means projects that apply a technique or method that has not been applied or tested before, or elsewhere, and that offer potential environmental or climate advantages compared to current best practice and that can subsequently be applied on a larger scale to similar situations;

•   “demonstration projects” means projects that put into practice, test, evaluate and disseminate actions, methodologies or approaches that are new or unknown in the project's specific context, such as geographical, ecological, socio-economic, and that could be applied elsewhere in similar circumstances;

What is a "pilot" project?
A "pilot" project applies a technique or method that has not been applied or tested before, or

elsewhere, and therefore it is innovative.
For a "pilot" project, the level of innovation can be evaluated from different perspectives:

a) relative to the technologies applied by the project (technological innovation) and,

b) regarding the way technologies are implemented (innovation in processes or methods).

 

Note that the application of an established environmental solution action/methodology in a particular geographical region where it has not been applied before is not considered to be a "pilot" activity but a "demonstration" activity.

What is a "demonstration" project?

A "demonstration" project puts into practice, tests, evaluates and disseminates actions/methodologies that are to some degree new or unfamiliar in the project's specific context (geographical, environmental, socio-economical ...), and that should be more widely applied elsewhere similar circumstances. The project must therefore be designed right from the start to demonstrate whether the techniques and methods used work or not in the project's context. Demonstration projects may have a higher EU added value, if they take place on a national or transnational level, rather than on a local scale.

2.3.1 Does LIFE finance "close-to-market" projects?

YES, those projects are indeed welcome.

LIFE has financed Eco-Innovation and Circular Economy related projects since its start in 1992. Many of those projects were carried out by SMEs and large industries and were aimed at testing and demonstrating a new product, a technology or a production process that could potentially end up on the market. Many of those are today best available technologies or normal products available for producers and consumers.

In view of contributing to sustainable development and quality of environment, today's key priorities of the LIFE Programme and many of the project topics confirm its special attention to promoting close-to-market projects delivering improved environmental solutions capable of being widely taken up by the society in general and the economy in particular.

There is a lot of appetite among investors and the financing community to support innovative environmental projects. These projects have very special features that do not necessarily apply to other LIFE projects. Applicants for this type of projects are invited to include in their proposal a thorough description of the following key features:

1. Technical readiness: the previous technical preparatory work should be clearly described and results of previous research and development activities and tests should credibly show the technical feasibility of the solution. The scale at which such results have been obtained shall be clearly specified. If prototypes have been already developed and tested, their scale/dimension and relevant results and conclusions have to be clearly presented in the proposal specifying if and how such prototype will be used. Such information will have to be included under Form B.2;

2. Technical process and state of the art: the technical description of the solution proposed (process, material, product etc.) must be clear and concise, must elaborate on the description of the processes or methods proposed, on the new elements and on improvements and must follow the logical scheme of a flowchart including, where possible, the general mass and energy balance. Applicants must show knowledge of the available best practices in the relevant sector and must clearly and concisely explain the environmental, technical and economical improved performances/advantages introduced by the proposed solution. Such information will have to be included under Form B.2;

 

c. Scale and output of the project: the scale (e.g.: production capacity) and output of the project (e.g.: quantity produced/sold during the project) should be always clearly specified. The chosen technical scale should be one that allows the evaluation of the technical and economic viability of the proposed solution in close-to-market conditions (i.e.: industrial, commercial scale) already during the project. The chosen scale and output should also enable the project to deliver clear, substantial, ambitious and credible environmental benefits already during the implementation of the project and further 3/5 years after it. Such information will have to be included under Form B2;

d. Quantification of environmental benefits: the improved performances/advantages introduced by the proposed solution must be quantified in terms of the expected environmental benefits. This must be done by clearly indicating what the chosen baseline is. Environmental benefits must be presented in a life-cycle approach where relevant and shall be clear, substantial, ambitious, as well as credible. In this regard, consistency shall be ensured between environmental benefits described in the relevant forms of the proposal and values reported in the table on Performance Indicators. Where relevant, applicants may implement a full Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and include it as a project deliverable. Such information will have to be included under Form B3;

e. Market positioning, supply chain, competitors and economic feasibility: applicants must show knowledge of the reference market (i.e.: actual and potential market size, features of prospective customers and of their demand, market and regulatory barriers, etc.), of the requirements related to the establishment of a supply chain for the proposed solution and of their competitors (i.e.: who they are, their market shares, their competitive advantages etc.). Applicants should clearly position themselves with respect to these elements explaining the economic feasibility of the proposed solution, and its positioning in terms of cost, price or other economic investment variables (e.g.: payback period, net present value etc.) when more appropriate. Such information will have to be included under Form B3;

f. Sustainability and project continuation: in the context of this type of projects, a clear strategy for maintaining project results through commercialization and industrialization of the proposed solutions after the end of the project shall be included. Project activities should show such commitment and already prepare for project continuation during the project timeframe. Contrary to what foreseen in previous LIFE programmes the possible generation of revenues and the inclusion of close to market activities are welcome and considered as a strong indicator of project sustainability. Please note that commercialization and industrialization can start already during the project duration. Such information will have to be included under Form B6. Examples of typical activities that would have to be included in light of such continuation during the project are:

1. Full definition of the proposed business model as well as of the organizational, ownership and partnership structure for market launch of the proposed solution

2. Investment analysis/studies/activities related to full industrial/commercial scale up of the proposed solution and of its economic feasibility

3. Market/competitor analysis in light of market launch

4. Marketing plan, distribution channels, commercial and business development activities/studies

5. Studies/activities regarding the access to financing sources as well as the physical identification of sites for full commercialization/industrialization

6. Verification carried out though the Environmental Technology Verification (ETV)28

7. Development of a credible business plan (compulsory)

Such type of activities will have to be translated into actions or sub-actions

in C Forms.

g. Replicability and transferability: in the context of this type of projects, a strategy to ensure replication and transferability of project results to other contexts shall be included. This means going further than simply committing to project continuation through commercialization and industrialization, but entails a clear and sound plan supported by project activities that would allow market replication to other sectors, entities, regions or countries such as, for example, the launch of the proposed solution in a geographical market different than the one being the main focus of the project, its extension to a different industrial/commercial application or its transfer to other companies through licensing or other types of agreements. Such information will have to be included under Form B.3. Examples of typical activities that would have to be included to support a credible replicability and transferability strategy are:

1. Analysis aimed at identifying strategic partners required for replicability and transferability of the proposed solution to another context and activities linked to negotiating with them;

2. Market/competitor analysis in light of market launch in a different context (i.e.: sectors, entities, regions or countries) ;

3. Marketing, commercial and business development activities/studies linked to the replication elsewhere (i.e.: sectors, entities, regions or countries);

4. Technical and business activities aimed at validating the possible extension of the proposed solution to other industrial/commercial applications;

5. Preparing business cases so that the proposed techniques or methods can be easily taken up in sectors different from the one addressed in the project;

6. Studies/activities regarding the access to financing sources as well as the physical identification of sites for replicability and transferability ;

7. Negotiating licensing agreements for transfer of the proposed solution into other contexts:

8. Development of a credible replicability and transferability plan (compulsory).

Such type of activities will have to be translated into actions or sub-actions in C Forms.

2.3.2 What other types of projects does LIFE Environment and Resource Efficiency finance?

Further to "close-to-market" projects, LIFE finances many different types of projects that focus on the implementation of specific requirements of the EU environmental policy.

These are projects mostly lead by public authorities, non-profit organisation and research and development agencies.

They target the development and application of new processes and procedures like introducing Green Public Procurement in a given sector, managing municipal waste in a new way, novel or demonstrative ways to plan the use of space, new ways applied to urban planning to minimize soil sealing and much more.

This is a rather heterogeneous group of projects, but not less important for the implementation of many challenging environmental policies.

While many of the features described above for "close-to-market" projects apply also to this group, some are obviously too specific.

Applicants for this type of projects are invited to ensure that their proposal includes a thorough description of the following key features:

a. Technical readiness: the previous technical preparatory work should be clearly described and results of previous research and development activities and tests should credibly show the technical feasibility and appropriateness of the solution in the project context described by the applicant. The scale at which such results have been obtained shall be clearly specified. If prototypes have been already developed and tested, their scale/dimension and relevant results and conclusions have to be clearly presented in the proposal specifying if and how such prototype will be used. Such information will have to be included under Form B.2;

b. Technical process and state of the art: the technical description of the solution proposed (process, material, product etc.) must be clear and concise, must elaborate on the description of the processes or methods proposed, on the new elements and on improvements and must follow the logical scheme of a flowchart including, where possible, the general mass and energy balance. Applicants must show knowledge of the available best practices in the relevant sector and must clearly and concisely explain the environmental, technical and economical improved performances/advantages introduced by the proposed solution. Such information will have to be included under Form B2;

c. Scale and output of the project: the scale (e.g.: production capacity when relevant or other similar measures when more relevant) and output of the project (e.g.: quantity processed during the project or other similar measures when more relevant) should be always clearly specified. The chosen technical scale and foreseen output should clearly allow the implementation and/or continuation of the proposed solution in order to deliver clear, substantial, ambitious and credible environmental benefits already during the implementation of the project and further 3/5 years after it.

Such information will have to be included under Form B2; Examples:

 a project implementing tools and techniques to detect, monitor or collect data on a specific harmful air pollutant generated by vehicles' combustion engines should be implemented at real world conditions such a urban or metropolitan scale and not geographically limited to marginal areas. The

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project should also clearly show and quantify how such 'data gathering' would produce a clear, substantial, ambitious and credible reduction in the levels of the air pollutant during the project duration, making sure that concrete actions aimed at this are included in the proposal;

•   a project using specific tools and models to detect water losses in a public water distribution network should be implemented at a scale that covers the entire network, making sure that actions leading to the repair of the water leakages are included in the proposal and are able to generate the environmental benefits described above. In such situation the scale would be, for example, the length of the entire network that is monitored (and/or the volume of water processed by such system) and the output would be the amount of water savings provided during the project by the repairs of the leakages;

•   a project using monitoring tools to achieve better soil management, and particularly targeting the decrease of erosion, should be implemented on a soil surface (i.e.: scale) able to generate a clear, substantial, ambitious and credible reduction of such erosion (i.e.: output). In such case the only use of monitoring tools would not be enough, but concrete actions, able to reduce such erosion as a consequence of the monitoring, would have to be part of the project.

•   projects that focus on the development of administrative and regulatory means to protect or improve environment, such as territorial planning, budgetary approaches, green procurement, legal frameworks, environmental management instruments (es. EMAS), pricing or access schemes, etc., should be implemented at a proper scale, according to the examples above, and with a timing that allows the means developed to be applied and proved during the project duration. In this regard, relevant actions have to be developed as part of the project to enable the practical application of the administrative and regulatory means developed.

  d. Quantification of environmental benefits: the improved performances/advantages introduced by the proposed solution must be quantified in terms of the expected environmental benefits in a life-cycle approach, where relevant. This must be done by clearly indicating what the chosen baseline is. Environmental benefits must be presented in a life-cycle approach where relevant and shall be clear, substantial, ambitious, as well as credible. In this regard, consistency shall be ensured between environmental benefits described in the relevant forms of the proposal and values reported in the table on Performance Indicators. Where relevant, applicants may implement a full Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and include it as a project deliverable. Such information will have to be included under Form B.3;

e. Sustainability and project continuation: in the context of this type of projects, a clear strategy for maintaining project results of the proposed solutions after the end of the project shall be included. Public authorities or bodies involved in the usage of proposed solution must clearly declare and demonstrate their commitment in keeping them active after the end of the project. Such information will have to be included under Form B.6. Project activities should show such commitment and already prepare for project continuation during the project timeframe. Some examples of typical activities that would have to be included in light of such continuation during the project are:

1. Clear ddefinition of the technical and human resources needed. In case of public authorities, definition of the necessary administrative and legislative acts;

2. Clear definition of the necessary financial resources and identification of the relevant financial sources:

3. Building up of a comprehensive exploitation plan, which could include the previous points and would basically detail and present the planned activities, resources (technical and financial) through which the project results will be maintained and exploited (compulsory and to be included as part of the After-LIFE Plan):

4. Analysis/studies/activities on the full scale up of the proposed solution to the targeted "real scale" and of its economic feasibility (e.g.: from a substantial part of a city to the entire city, from a substantial part of the public transport fleet to the entire public transport fleet, etc.)

Such type of activities will have to be translated into actions or sub-actions in C Forms.

f. Replicability and transferability: in the context of this type of projects, a strategy to ensure replicability and transferability of project results to other contexts shall be included. This means going further than simply committing to project continuation, but entails a clear and sound plan supported by project activities that would allow replication and transfer of the implemented solution to other sectors, entities, regions or countries. For this type of projects the most likely dimension governing this process is the geographical one. So in the examples given under point c above, the project dealing with the monitoring of the air pollutant would have to show how the solution will be implemented in another city, while the 'water' and 'soil erosion' projects would have to ensure that their solution is replicated, respectively, in a different public water distribution network and in a different soil surface presenting similar soil erosion threats. Such information will have to be included under Form B.3.

Examples of typical activities that would have to be included to support a credible replicability and transferability strategy are:

1. Analysis aimed at identifying strategic partners required for replicability and transferability of the proposed solution to another context and activities linked to negotiating with them;

2. Technical and business activities aimed at validating the possible extension of the proposed solution to other industrial/commercial applications;

3. Studies/activities regarding the access to financing sources as well as the physical identification of sites for replicability and transferability ;

4. Negotiating and planning for transfer of the proposed solution into other contexts:

5. Development of a credible replicability and transferability plan (compulsory).

Such type of activities will have to be translated into actions or sub-actions in C Forms.

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