EU environment ministers have approved the creation of two European Innovation Partnerships on water and raw materials.
At a Council meeting held in Luxembourg on 11 June, ministers said they endorse the launch of these partnerships to “break down barriers to innovation and facilitate the development of innovative solutions in the fields of water management and of sustainable supply, use, recycling and substitution of raw materials”.
European Innovation Partnerships were proposed as part of the Commission’s Innovation Union initiative in 2010 to speed up innovation in a number of areas by aligning the efforts of public authorities, academia, business, and non-governmental organisations. These programmes do not come with fresh money but bring together existing funding sources from both public and private bodies, at the national and EU level.
The Commission detailed its plan for the water EIP in a written communication last month.