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Amsterdam Smart City, Connector of opportunities at Amsterdam Smart City, posted

A shout out to all Circular Economy Innovators

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You can now make an Innovation Deal with the EU! bla

You can now make an Innovation Deal with the EU!

European 1st Vice-President Frans Timmermans and EU Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas launch an initiative to reduce barriers to innovation in the circular economy. How does it work?

The Innovation Deals, [<https://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-deals/index.cfm>\] aim to help circular economy innovators with promising solutions to overcome regulatory challenges to bringing their ideas to market.

Partnerships can now express their interest to contribute to the EU's Circular Economy Action Plan and - if selected, benefit from access to a close cooperation framework bringing together national, local and EU regulatory bodies to help navigate regulatory requirements. Especially in the Circular Economy, legislation and rules form obstacles for solutions: for example, once output is classified as waste, it is legally not allowed to re-use it as input for an other industrial process. The Innovation Deals build on evidence from Member States that almost two-thirds of the perceived regulatory barriers currently preventing innovators from bringing their ideas to the market can be overcome through explanations or clearer interpretation of specific regulations by public authorities. By looking at concrete cases we can focus on unintended obstacles that may be generated by EU legislation or through its implementation by national governments. The scheme takes the form of voluntary guidance and cooperation between innovators, stakeholders, regulatory authorities and the Commission and does not provide project funding.

Frans Timmermans said: "Today's launch of the Innovation Deals shows a new way of working which brings together our circular economy and better regulation goals. We are testing a new way of giving practical and pragmatic support to a small number of innovators who want to bring valuable projects to market in Europe for the benefit of our citizens and our environment. Addressing regulatory barriers and providing regulatory certainty is essential to keep Europe at the cutting edge of the green economy."

Carlos Moedas said: "Europe has a wealth of innovators with brilliant solutions to societal and environmental challenges. It is important to help innovators to work with us to pin-point what they perceive to be regulatory barriers to innovation. Then we can collaborate at all levels, national, local and EU, to find solutions and ensure European innovation succeeds."

The call for expressions of interest will be open until 15 September 2016. Any innovator or group of innovators seeking to introduce a circular economy-related product or service to the market can apply to participate in an Innovation Deal by setting out the regulatory obstacles they are struggling to overcome. The Commission has established criteria to rank the proposals, applicants will be asked to outline their innovations and identify where they think EU regulatory frameworks are causing a blockage in getting their innovation to market. Up to 5 expressions of interest will be selected, and up to 10 other projects coming from Horizon 2020 Circular Economy funding can be added to that number. The implementation of the selected deals will start in January 2017. The Commission does not provide any funding for the implementation of these projects, which are based on a practical cooperation model. Further information is available online.

Author: Audrie van Veen is expert in Europe & Innovation. As European Strategist, Audrie advises the Amsterdam Economic Board about innovative regional development. Find more of her blogs (in Dutch and English) on www.europeanology.eu.

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Amsterdam Smart City, Connector of opportunities at Amsterdam Smart City, posted

E-Harbours - ReloadIT

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ReloadIT Functional & Technical Design

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Amsterdam Smart City, Connector of opportunities at Amsterdam Smart City, posted

E-harbours - Zaanstad

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The Municipality of Zaanstad has negotiated a new energy contract, that saves energy, stimulates the local production of renewables, and reduces energy costs substantially.

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Amsterdam Smart City, Connector of opportunities at Amsterdam Smart City, posted

Event tip: Kickstart Smart

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Monday, May 30, 11am at Pakhuis de Zwijger

When is the best time to take a swim in the canals? Whichroute is the healthiest to take to work? What’s the real level of noisepollution in your neighborhood? What can you do when you worry about the effectof the traffic jam in front of your house? These are all examples of questionsthat activate smart citizens to do their own research and start to takeactions.

In this second edition of the Smart Citizens Talks, we’llexplore a wide range of those actions; bottom-up and grassroots initiatives,initiated by people that care about their city. What issues do they deal with?What strategies proof to be effective? What impact can be expected? You can read more information and make a reservation here (free admission).

Smart Citizens Talks #2 aims to inspire and activatepeople to join smart citizen initiatives, or start their own.

Source: dezwijger.nl
​Photo: dezwijger.nl

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Amsterdam Smart City, Connector of opportunities at Amsterdam Smart City, posted

How a biobased living concept saves you money on your energy bill

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The living concept has been developed with environmentally friendly materials like straw.

The Dutch company Strotec has developed aliving concept with environmentally friendly materials like straw. Houses canbe delivered fast and inexpensive by prefabricating the parts. Strotecuses the so-called Ecococon-concept of the eponymous company from Lithuania.This concept has been further developed and applied to the Columbus ResidenceStrotec, where a combination of straw and clay are incorporated in theprefabricated walls. Residents can benefit from a healthy indoor climate,because these vapor-open facades create an optimum moisture and CO2 regulation.

Energy-neutral The Columbus House has a higher isolation than a traditional house, according to the construction company. Therefore the biobased house has a lower energy requirement. The house can be delivered energy-neutral by providing the Columbus House with solar panels, a heat pump and a heater that is heated with wooden pallets. Besides this there is no need for a gas connection and generates as much electricity as is used during the year.

Building with straw
A remaining question is will the construction sector pick up this sustainable living concept. "There is a lot of demand, but nothing really happened yet," says Jan Walrecht, partner at Strotec, to Cobouw. "The building industry is traditional in this regard. Unknown makes unloved. However, it is a matter of time, with more stringent CO2 regulations, the market will come by itself, and building with straw will be a necessity ". The prefabricated straw panels of Ecococon are certified in Lithuania according to the standards of the Passive House.

See below how the concept of Ecococon works:

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Source: Duurzaambedrijfsleven.nl
Photo: Duurzaambedrijsleven.nl

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