Brussels, 29 February – With the intention of encouraging research into more sustainable and efficient use of raw materials and agriculture, the European Commission has launched two European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs), which it believes can deliver results within three years.
EIPs were first introduced in 2010, as part of the Innovation Union strategy which intended to boost growth and jobs in the EU. EIPs include member states, companies and researchers, all of whom have been goals for 2020.
Raw material targets established in the EIP include establishing at least 10 pilot actions (such as demonstration plants), finding substitutes for at least three uses of scarce resources, creating a network of research, education and training centres on sustainable mining and material management, and establishing a pro-active EU strategy in multi and bi-lateral relations.
The EIP on Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability covers the next CAP period (2014-2020) and aims to promote productivity and efficiency of the agricultural sector, particularly in productivity of grains and soil functionality. This is to be achieved through the encouragement of interactions between agriculture, bio-economy and science sectors at EU, national and regional levels.
To read more about EIP Agriculture, click here, or for EIP Raw Materials, click here.