This project provides guidance to the European Commission and national authorities on the implementation of new state aid provisions to support eco-innovation. Ecologic contributed to the project by conducting a case study to analyse practices in Germany.

Background

An eco-innovation is any form of innovation aiming at significant and demonstrable progress towards the goal of sustainable development, through reducing impacts on the environment or achieving a more efficient and responsible use of resources, including energy.

Objectives of the project

• Propose a typology of eco-innovation investments, which could potentially benefit from the higher intensity of state aid;
• List the information needed from the investor to enable public authorities to assess whether the investment qualifies for a bonus; and
• Propose a logical and operational way to process the information and to overcome potential difficulties in applying the new provision.

Methodology

The project first reviewed existing policies and projects. Based on the typology of the EU’s Environmental Technology Action Plan (ETAP) several country case studies were conducted in order to examine and analyse current practices in the different EU Member States. A review of the case studies identified the extent to which the information is available to allow European and national authorities to appraise projects against certain criteria for the bonus. Finally, a detailed guidance for European and national authorities was developed.