European Commission announce 2020 LIFE call for project

Today on 2 April, 2020 the European Commission announce LIFE call for project proposals. In connection with the COVID – 19 pandemic the following changes have been made:

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.

Scope and types of projects for 2020 LIFE call for proposals:

Environment sub-programme:

• Traditional projects – Environment and resource efficiency, nature and biodiversity, environmental governance and information;
• Integrated projects;
• Technical Assistance projects.

Climate action sub-programme:

• Traditional projects – mitigation, adaptation, climate governance and information;
• Integrated projects;
• Technical assistance projects.

The 2020 LIFE call for project proposals is open on 2 April, 2020 and the schedule for the different type of projects is as follow:

Eligible Applicants:

• Legal Entities registered in EC :
• Public Bodies,
• Private organizations:
• Private commercial organizations (Sole traders are not eligible);
• Private Non- commercial organizations (including non-government organizations).

More information about the call is available here: https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/section/life/calls-proposals