2020 LIFE Call: Submission process and new measures
The submission process of proposals to the EU’s funding LIFE Programme for nature conservation, environmental protection and climate action was launched on the 2nd of April 2020. Please find below information on the news measures due to COVID-19 pandemic and the submission process of concept notes and proposals.
New measures:
EASME (Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) has already introduced a number of measures to lessen the impact of the COVID-19 restrictions.
-All submission deadlines are being extended by one month.
-Applicants may register for a one-to-one short discussion about their project concept with one of our project advisors (a registration system will be set up once the call is published).
-Private entities are no longer obliged to launch open tenders for contracts above 135 000 euros.
-All projects will be allowed to financially support local initiatives that may contribute to the project objective. This will take the form of grants that the beneficiary may give (within certain limits) to third parties responsible for such initiatives. In this way, we hope to also facilitate access to LIFE financing to very small local groups that do not have the capacity to act as an associated beneficiary in the project, but could play a role in reaching the project objectives.
-A special section on start-up companies has been integrated into the guidelines. In this section, we invite larger companies to consider their LIFE project as a potential incubator for start-ups. Normally start-ups don't qualify as a coordinating beneficiary due to their limited financial capacity. They could however be a key player (owner of know-how or knowledge) in partnership with a larger company. In this way, the start-up may be given the chance to move to a full market development, and the larger company would gain access to the knowledge, while limiting the risk thanks to the LIFE support.
Submission process and timetable:
For Environment sub-programme traditional projects, the application process will be done in two stages. In the first stage concept notes will be submitted and in the second stage full proposals will be submitted.
For Climate Action sub-programme traditional projects, the submission will be done in one stage (full proposal).
14 July 2020: concept note for Environment & Resource Efficiency
16 July 2020: concept note for Nature & Biodiversity
16 July 2020: concept note for Environment Governance and Information
6 October 2020: full proposal for Climate Action Mitigation
6 October 2020: full proposal for Climate Action Adaptation
6 October 2020: full proposal for Climate Governance and Information
For information, advice and support, please contact the Officers of our team Greek LIFE Task Force.
For more information:
https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/section/life/calls-proposals
http://www.lifetaskforce.gr/en/
http://www.ypeka.gr/el-gr/