Call for proposals The European Investment Bank Institute proposes a new EIBURS sponsorship under its Knowledge Programme 2021/C 383/06
Date: 2021-09-21
Institutions: European Investment Bank
Subjects: EU programme, EU sponsorship, carbon neutrality, clean technology, education grant, green economy, invitation to tender, small and medium-sized enterprises, university research








C_2021383EN.01000601.xml










21.9.2021   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 383/6






Call for proposals
The European Investment Bank Institute proposes a new EIBURS sponsorship under its Knowledge Programme
(2021/C 383/06)
The Knowledge Programme of the European Investment Bank Institute channels its research grants through different schemes, one of which is:






—



EIBURS, the EIB
University Research Sponsorship Programme





EIBURS provides grants to university departments or research centres associated with universities in the European Union, candidate or potential candidate countries working on research topics of major interest to the Bank. EIBURS sponsorships – of up to €100 000 per year for a period of three years – are awarded through a competitive process to interested university departments or research centres with recognised expertise in the selected area. Successful proposals entail the delivery of a variety of outputs that will be the subject of a contractual agreement with the European Investment Bank.
For the academic year 2021/2022, the EIBURS programme is seeking proposals on a new research theme:

‘The European Cleantech industry, the EU Green Deal and SME equity demand’

1.   Background

By endorsing the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, the European Union has pledged to transition its economy towards a zero-carbon future, targeting full climate neutrality by 2050 (EU Climate Target Plan), as part of the European Green Deal. In 2020, the Green Deal was endorsed by the European Parliament and the Council, thereby confirming the intermediate reduction target of 55%, to be reached by 2030 (European Commission, 2020). The burning of fossil fuels for the production of energy is the root cause of global warming. Therefore, a complete overhaul of the European energy system is an essential part of the Green Deal. Energy investments needed to reach the 55% emission reduction target are estimated at €400 billion per year, over the period 2021-2030.

Greenhouse gas emissions and the Green Deal reduction targets in the EU-27




The role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in facilitating Europe’s transition to carbon neutrality is multi-faceted: On the one hand, small and medium-sized enterprises, as other consumers of energy, are expected to invest heavily in energy efficiency improvements, and small-scale production of renewable energy. These investments will relate to, among other things, the modernisation of the corporate building stock, or to an increased rate of replacement of capital stock, which will serve to improve the energy efficiency of the industrial production process.
On the other hand, small and medium-sized enterprises, being drivers of innovation, will play an important role in the development of enabling technologies that will facilitate the European transition towards climate neutrality. For example, developments in mitigation technologies play an important role in driving down marginal abatement costs, and accelerate Europe’s climate transition. Cleantech companies can play a crucial role in delivering innovative solutions to achieve the European Union’s ambition to reach climate neutrality by 2050.
2.   Objectives

This research project aims to improve our understanding of the EU Cleantech sector. It seeks to provide an answer to the question of how Cleantech companies contribute to the achievement of EU policy goals, and what policymakers can do to promote a healthy ecosystem. Lastly, it looks into the implications of the EU Green Deal on equity demand from small and medium-sized enterprises.
3.   Methodology

Researchers are invited to submit a proposal that contains a strategy to address the following research pillars:






A.



A comprehensive mapping of the EU Cleantech sector, with a particular focus on the mitigation objective that is central to the Green Deal. In constructing such a mapping, researchers are strongly encouraged to give prominence to innovative visualisation techniques. Essential elements to be covered:






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The construction of a typology of Cleantech companies, in which researchers are invited to go beyond the climate objective, and cover all aspects of the EU Green Deal.










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Discussion of shortcomings of existing classification methods, such as the NACE industrial classification method and the EU taxonomy of sustainable investments, as a basis to identify companies that are active in Cleantech technology development.










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An overview of the historic development and current size of the EU Cleantech sector.










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An analysis of the geographical distribution of EU Cleantech companies, focusing, among other things, on the dynamics of the sector’s geographical development over time.










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A particular focus on the role of small and medium-sized enterprises.














B.



A causal analysis of the environmental impact of entrepreneurial activity by small and medium-sized enterprises in the sphere of Cleantech technology, in which researchers are invited to propose a methodology that seeks to establish a causal relationship between EU small and medium-sized enterprises’ Cleantech entrepreneurial activity (for example, patenting of Cleantech innovations, Cleantech venture capital investments, Cleantech start-ups, etc.) and environmental Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that are central to the EU Green Deal.










C.



A causal analysis that seeks to identify the enabling factors of the development of a Cleantech ecosystem, with a focus on the aspect of equity financing. Taking into consideration the conclusions emerging from research pillar 1, researchers are invited to propose an empirical methodology that seeks to identify the policy tools that play a crucial role in developing local Cleantech ecosystems. Particular attention should be given to the aspect of equity financing.










D.



An investigation into the implications of the EU Green Deal on SME equity demand in the decade 2020-2030. Building on the conclusions that emerged from research pillars 1, 2 and 3, the final pillar of the project seeks to identify those Cleantech fields and geographies in which the pending regulatory changes associated with the EU Green Deal are likely to result in increased equity demand. Researchers are further invited to propose a methodology that seeks to quantify the implied equity demand.




4.   Deliverables

Deliverables expected






A.


A report/article containing a typology of EU Clean Tech companies and a mapping of the EU Cleantech sector










B.


A report/article that outlines the methodology and the results of the analysis that seeks to quantify the relationship between Cleantech entrepreneurial activity and environmental Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that are central to the Green Deal










C.


A report/article that outlines the methodology and the results of the analysis that seeks to identify the determinants of the development of local Cleantech ecosystems.










D.


A report/article that outlines the methodology and the results of the analysis that quantifies green equity demand from small and medium-sized enterprises in the decade 2020-2030.




If deemed optimal, the merger of two (or more) deliverables into a single report/article can be discussed.
Proposals should be submitted in English by 15 November 2021 at 24:00 (CET). Proposals submitted after this date will not be considered. Proposals should be sent by email to:
Events.EIBInstitute@eib.org

For more exhaustive information on the EIBURS selection process and on the EIB Institute, please visit: http://institute.eib.org/