What is the project's environmental or social impact?
When you apply to us for funding, we will ask you about 'The project's environmental and social impacts'. Where relevant, we want you to provide a thorough and precise account of the project's expected impacts. This is particularly important when applying for startup or innovation grants.
Please note that this is not a requirement for funding. Projects that have a neutral impact on environmental and societal challenges may also qualify. The exception is our green funding schemes, where a positive environmental impact is a requirement for grants.
Categories
We would like information about the project's positive impact on the environment and society, compared with the best available solutions on the market.*
*For development projects, the solution must be better or more cost-effective than the best available technology (BAT) in the field today. We focus on the product or production process covered by your application. You can select more than one category.
Where you believe the project will have a positive impact on environmental or societal challenges, provide further details under the relevant subcategories. We have ten environmental categories and four societal categories. These are described in more detail below, with guidance:
Environmental impact
This includes reductions that result directly or indirectly from the solution, compared with the best available technology on the market. Provide comparable figures in CO2 equivalents. Alternatively, state the percentage improvement compared with alternative solutions.
This includes, for example, NOx, particulate matter and other air pollutants. Try to state the percentage improvement compared with alternative solutions.
This includes developing solutions that enable increased renewable energy production. Where possible, compare your solution with the best available technology on the market and provide comparable figures in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
Where possible, compare with the best available technology on the market and provide comparable figures in kilowatt-hours (kWh)
This may include installing your own energy efficiency measures and developing solutions to reduce energy consumption. Where possible, compare your solution with the best available technology on the market and provide comparable figures in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
This includes solutions that reduce resource use, enable recycling, extend product lifespans and increase biodiversity, among other benefits. It also includes more environmentally friendly solutions for aquaculture, fisheries and agriculture. Where possible, compare your solution with the best available technology on the market and state the percentage improvement.
This also includes circular business models and design methods, 3D printing and other tools that reduce resource use, extend product lifespans and enable more efficient use of limited resources. Where possible, compare your solution with the best available technology on the market and state the improvement as a percentage.
This includes making better use of residual raw materials and facilitating reuse, recycling and a circular economy. Please note: Do not use this criterion for waste incineration (see the separate criterion). Where possible, compare your solution with the best available technology on the market and state the improvement as a percentage.
This includes reducing harmful discharges into water, water treatment and the environmentally friendly production of fresh water. In your documentation, you should compare your solution with the best available solution on the market. Use comparable metrics and state the improvement as a percentage.
Where possible, compare it with the best available technology on the market and state the improvement as a percentage.
Describe any other measures or solutions that have a positive impact on the external environment.
Societal impact*
This includes medtech, welfare technology, health-promoting services, food with positive health benefits, indoor environments, working environments and more.
This includes protecting people, assets and information across society, including infrastructure, cyber security, consumer safety, food security, water supply and more. (Please note: weapons production is not included.)
This includes measures in livestock farming, aquaculture, fishing and harvesting, as well as solutions related to natural resource management and ecosystems.
Please note that this applies to the project results, not to knowledge gained within your own company while carrying out the project. This includes, for example, learning platforms, digital teaching tools and other resources.
This may include solutions for fair trade, social equality, diversity and more.
*We focus on the project outcome, i.e. the impact of the product, production process or initiative for which you are seeking funding through the project