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Finnova da a conocer sus programas de apoyo a emprendedores a la Junta de Extremadura / Finnova presented its programsfor entrepreneurs to the Junta de Extremadura

fileFinnova presentó ayer en la Oficina de la Junta de Extremadura en Bruselas sus diferentes programas de apoyo a emprendedores y los programas estrella en financiación Europea a empresarios de Badajoz y Cáceres.

“El gran problema de muchos emprendedores con ideas innovadoras es superar las barreras a la innovación. Afortunadamente Unión Europea tiene las herramientas necesarias”, explicó Raquel Castán, responsable de comunicación medioambiental de Finnova.

El equipo de Finnova presentó algunos de los programas de financiación europeos más importantes tales como; LIFE, Horizonte 2020 e Instrumento Pyme. Así como, ejemplos de algunos proyectos en los que participan y están financiados por los mismos, como el proyecto Nobel Grid sobre redes eléctrcas inteligentes.

De igual modo, se presentaron  algunos programas de apoyo al emprendimiento de Finnova como los premios europeos StartUp Europe Awards y la aceleradora de segundo nivel StartUp Europe Accelerator.

StartUp Europe Accelerator, ayuda a startups y jóvenes emprendedores a superar las barreras a la innovación a través de una plataforma de mentorización para participar en proyectos europeos, además ofrece la posibilidad de realizar un proceso de aceleración en Bruselas. Desde 2012 Finnova ha ayudado a más de 150 emprendedores a la aceleración de su empresa.

Una de las jóvenes emprendedoras que se beneficia de este programa es Sara Coterón, quien contó su experinecia en esta joranda. Gracias al programa de movilidad Global Training del Gobierno Vasco, Sara Coterón está disfrutando de un periodo de formación integral de alto rendimiento en el departamento de comunicación de Finnova en Bruselas, a la vez que se beneficia del proceso de aceleración de StartUp Europe Accelerator.

“Formar parte del programa StartUp Europe Accelerator permite que mi empresa forme parte de una red de contactos europeos que nos aportan visibilidad y captación de nuevos clientes”, explicó la joven emprendedora.

 


 

Finnova presented its programs to support entrepreneurs to the Junta de Extremadura

fileFinnova presented yesterday in the Office of Extremadura in Brussels its different programmes for entrepreneurs and the most important ongoing European Funding Programmes to entrepreneurs of Badajoz and Cáceres.

“A certain issue which all entrepreneurs with innovative ideas need to deal with is: overcoming barriers to innovation. Fortunately, the European Union has the necessary tools,” said Raquel Castán, head of environmental communication at Finnova.

Finnova presented some of the most important European funding programs such as; LIFE, Horizon 2020 and SME Instrument. As well as examples of some Eu funding projects in which they are participating, such as the Nobel Grid project on smart grids.

Besides, some programs to support entrepreneurship were presented, such as the European StartUp Europe Awards and the second-level accelerator StartUp Europe Accelerator.

 

 

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Adapting water in response to climate change

img_0928The MEP Water Group organised a public session on “The role of water in adaptation to climate change” at the European Parliament in Brussels, in which Finnova attended. The open session aimed to explain the importance of water resources in response to this issue, as well as, the European Union roadmap and some best practices implemented.

The session, opened by Esther de Lange Chairwoman of the MEP Water Group and Vice-Chair of the European People’s Party (EPP) in the European Parliament, gathered together experts from European institutions like Yvon Slingenberg (DG CLIMA), Mario Nova (DG Environment of the Lombardy Region), Jakob Moller Nielsen (City of Copenhagen) or Jean-Pierre Maugendre (SUEZ).

“Adaptation is getting a momentum within the climate change. Both Mitigation and adaptation are key… Then, by 2021 member states will be asked to report on their climate adaptation plan”, explained Yvon Slingenberg, Director of International and Mainstreaming of DG CLIMA.

Concerning the European Water Policy, its implementation is slowly. Because of that, Slingenberg stressed, “Member states have to accelerate the implementation of this policy, which contains adaptation to climate change”.

Slingenberg also pointed out the particular challenge cities have in this regarding, “cities are particular crucial in adaptation and mitigation to climate change”. In consequence she emphasised the European initiative “Covenant of Mayors” launched in 2008 with the ambition to gather local governments voluntarily committed to achieving and exceeding the EU climate and energy targets.

The initiative now gathers 7,000+ local and regional authorities across 57 countries drawing on the strengths of a worldwide multi-stakeholder movement and the technical and methodological support offered by dedicated offices.

In 2017 the Global Covenant of Mayors will be launched and will capitalise on the experience gained over the past eight years in Europe and beyond, and build upon the key success factors of the initiative: its bottom-up governance, its multi-level cooperation model and its context-driven framework for action.

Mario Nova, Director General of DG Environment, Energy and Sustainable Development of Lombardy Region, also agreed to create networks between regions and joins efforts between local and regional administrations.

Nova mentioned LIFE programme (the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action) as an “integrated tool where define and create synergies” between regions, public and private sector and innovative ideas and projects. All in all to develop and put in practice solutions towards clima action.

Another funding instrument highlighted was the Horizon 2020 programme, which funds researchers and innovators on adaptation to climate change, among other topics.

Jean-Pierre Maugendre, Deputy Director for Sustainable Development (SUEZ), reminded “circular economy concerns also water”, so methodologies must be implemented to close the loop.

Jakob Moller Nielsen, Director for Urban Development of the City of Copenhagen, presented the best practices of the Nordic city in adaptation to climate change.

The MEP Water Group plays a key role in making sure that Europe’s water resources are managed in a sustainable and equitable way to the benefit of the European economy and society as a whole.

Water in a geopolitical context, water and energy, irrigation, the importance of water in safeguarding sufficient resources, raw materials and food production, and the role of water in city planning, are only some of the dossiers the MEP Water Group aims to cover. The MEP Water Group is here to place water higher on the European political agenda and contribute to shaping the future EU water policy.

 

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Three National finals Awards close the first year of the StartUp Europe Awards initiative

coming-national-seua2016-2

  • Italy, Poland and Finland organise their national awards between December 6 and 9 of 2016
  • More than 57 startups in up to 10 categories from 12 European countries have been recognised by their National Awards.

On December 6 with more than 50 startups participating, X23 will celebrate the Italian national final in Milan; Startup Poland will choose the best young talent in the country next December 7 in Warsaw and the Estonian Business Angels Network will celebrate the “Startup Day” in Tartu on Friday 9.

Ireland, Slovenia, Spain, Belgium, Slovakia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Croatia, Finland and Greece have already chosen their best startups that will compete to be awarded in each of the 10 categories at the European final of StartUp Europe Awards to be held first quarter of 2107 in Brussels. “The Eurovision for Startups”.

After an intense autumn of local and regional events celebrated throughout Italy, the startups absolute finalists of each regional stage will compete in the national final, in an innovative event with the presence of Marco Zanni, Member of the EU Parliament; Isidro Laso – Head of StartUp Europe, DG Connect, EU Commission and Vanessa Ricci – from the Agency for Small and Medium Enterprises (EASME), EU Commission.

On the other hand, Startup Poland has partnered with the Polish branch of Citi Bank and created the Startup Poland Global program. The goal is to help Polish startups increase their business potential by going global. The best startups will be choosing to join the Startup Europe Awards in Brussels and meet with companies and investors from 16 countries.

Finally, from the “TOP 20 Startups in Estonia” chosen from a wider selection of applicants, the Country Manager Estonian Bussines Angels Network will select the best 10 Estonian startups during the Startup Day in Tartu.

All these countries besides Bulgaria, Luxembourg and UK are members of the SEUA Alliance, an international network that seeks to strengthen and support enterprise award organizers by sharing best practices that can replicate for the benefit of their entrepreneurial ecosystems.

To Juan Manuel Revuelta, SEUA director, “SEUA will be crucial to enhance public – private collaboration giving solutions to the local challenges, identifying innovation and improving the use of European funds”.

StartUp Europe Awards is promoted by the European Commission and supported by the President of the Committee of the Regions, several members of the European Parliament as Ambassadors and it is implemented by Finnova Foundation in collaboration with Startup Europe.

 

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“Clean Energy for All Europeans”: new step towards the clean energy transition / “Energía limpia para todos”: un nuevo paso a la transicion energética EU

new-eu-clean-energy-package-02The European Commission (EC) presented yesterday in Brussels a package of measures to keep the European Union competitive as the clean energy transition is changing the global energy markets, which will ensure “clean energy for all Europeans”.

The Clean Energy for All Europeans package, which contains several legislative proposals, has three main goals: putting energy efficiency first, achieving global leadership in renewable energies and providing a fair deal for consumers.

The Commission wants the EU to lead the clean energy transition, for this reason the EU has committed to cut CO2 emissions by at least 40% by 2030 while modernising the EU’s economy and delivering on jobs and growth for all European citizens.

“The future is clean” and consumers are active and central players on the energy markets of the future, explained The Vice-President for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič in a press conference at the European Commission.

“We are ensuring the rights of everyone to produce renewable energy, self-consume, store or sell it into the grid” added Maroš Šefčovič.

The package also increased transparency and better regulation give more opportunities for civil society to become more involved in the energy system and respond to price signals.

In this regarding the Vice-President for Energy Union explained the new package “boots energy cooperatives in an unprecedented way. Also, it empowers energy consumers, encourage them to take advantage of the new power offering them right to request smart meters, electronic billing, electricity contract…”

The proposals provide “a strong market pull for new technologies, set the right conditions for investors, empower consumers, make energy markets work better and help us meet our climate targets”, said Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete.

“I’m particularly proud of the binding 30% energy efficiency target, as it will reduce our dependency on energy imports, create jobs and cut more emissions. Europe is on the brink of a clean energy revolution”, added Energy Miguel Arias Cañete.

But also, several measures to protect the most vulnerable consumers like the issue of energy poverty, in which “EC cannot be silent on it”, pointed Maroš Šefčovič.

The proposals are designed to show that the clean energy transition is the growth sector of the future, since clean energies in 2015 attracted global investment of over 300 billion euros, as the Commission explained.

As well, the EU is well placed to use its research, development and innovation policies to turn this transition into a concrete industrial opportunity. By mobilising up to 177 billion euros of public and private investment per year from 2021, this package can generate up to 1% increase in GDP over the next decade and create 900,000 new jobs.

The legislative proposals presented yesterday cover energy efficiency, renewable energy, the design of the electricity market, security of electricity supply and governance rules for the Energy Union. In addition, the Commission proposes a new way forward for Ecodesign as well as a strategy for connected and automated mobility.

Now the Commission counts on European Parliament and the Member States to make it a reality.

 


 

“Energía limpia para todos”: un nuevo paso a la transicion energética EU

La Comisión presentó ayer un paquete de medidas para preservar la competitividad de la Unión Europea, ya que la transición hacia una energía limpia está cambiando los mercados mundiales de la energía.

 Las propuestas de que ayer se presentaron tienen tres objetivos fundamentales: dar prioridad a la eficiencia energética, convertirnos en líder mundial de energías renovables y ofrecer un trato justo a los consumidores.

Con ello, la Comisión pretende que la UE no solo se adapte a esta transición, para ello,  la UE se ha comprometido a reducir las emisiones de CO2 en al menos un 40 % de aquí a 2030 y, al mismo tiempo, modernizar la economía de la UE y crear crecimiento y empleo para todos los ciudadanos europeos.

“El futuro es limpio” y los consumidores son agentes activos y centrales en los mercados de la energía del futuro” explicó el vicepresidente de la Unión de la Energía, Maroš Šefčovič.

 “Con este nuevo paquete de medidas estamos garantizando los derechos de todos los cuidadanos europeos a producir energía renovable, autoconsumo, almacenarla o venderla a la red”, agregó Maroš Šefčovič.

El paquete también supondrá un aumento en transparencia y reglamentación mejorada, que dará más oportunidades a la sociedad civil para involucrarse más en el sistema energético y responder a las señales de precios.

En este sentido, el Vicepresidente de la Unión de Energía explicó que el nuevo paquete “apoya a las cooperativas energéticas de una manera sin precedentes. Además, da poder a los consumidores de energía, les anima beneficiarse de sus derechos y empoderarse de su consumo, como pueda ser  solicitar contadores inteligentes, facturación electrónica, contrato de electricidad… ”

Además, contempla varias medidas para proteger a los consumidores más vulnerables como es la lucha contra la pobreza energética, en la que “la Comisión no puede quedarse en silencio”, señaló Maroš Šefčovič.

Las propuestas proporcionan una fuerte demanda de mercado para las nuevas tecnologías, establecen las condiciones adecuadas para los inversores, confieren poder a los consumidores, mejoran el funcionamiento de los mercados de la energía y nos ayudan a alcanzar nuestros objetivos climáticos”, dijo el Comisario de Acción Climática y Energía Miguel Arias Cañete.

“Estoy especialmente orgulloso del objetivo vinculante de un 30 % de eficiencia energética, ya que con él disminuirá nuestra dependencia de las importaciones de energía, se creará empleo y se reducirán más las emisiones. Europa se encuentra a las puertas de una revolución en el ámbito de las energías limpias”, añadió.

Las propuestas de la Comisión relativas a una Energía limpia para todos los europeostienen por objeto demostrar que la transición hacia una energía limpia es el sector de crecimiento del futuro, y ahí es precisamente donde está el dinero inteligente.

Las energías limpias atrajeron en 2015 una inversión global superior a los 300 000 millones de euros. La UE está bien situada para utilizar sus políticas de investigación, desarrollo e innovación a fin de convertir esta transición en una oportunidad industrial concreta.  Al movilizar hasta 177 000 millones de euros de inversión pública y privada al año a partir de 2021, este paquete de medidas puede generar un aumento de hasta un 1 % del PIB durante la próxima década y crear 900 000 empleos nuevos.

Las propuestas legislativas de energía limpia para todos los europeos abarcan la eficiencia energética, las energías renovables, el diseño del mercado de la electricidad, la seguridad del abastecimiento de electricidad y las normas de gobernanza de la Unión de la Energía. La Comisión propone además nuevas perspectivas de diseño ecológico y una estrategia para una movilidad conectada y automatizada.

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