In order to achieve sustainability, public funding cannot be omitted. The State Environmental Fund thus announces new calls of the Modernisation Fund aimed at the Modernisation of the Heat Supply System (HEAT), New Renewable Energy Resources (RES+), Energy Efficiency Enhancement and Reduction in the Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the EU Industry (ENERG ETS). At the same time, the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade has changed the schedule of calls for 2021 and plans to announce calls in the Application, Innovation and Potential Programmes. These calls make it possible to green the traffic and to invest in innovation and research. However, the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic does not lag behind. A public tender has been announced that is focused on the support of applied research, experimental development and innovation called THETA with the aim to establish high-quality management in the areas of energy and use of new technologies and system elements.
Take a look at other topics that we address in our EnviLaw newsletter #5:
- Court of Justice of the EU: Authorities have to disclose internal environmental communications if public interest prevails
- To repair or to throw away? The new EU legislation should ensure longer life of electrical home appliances
- Climate change has a global impact on the environment and economy. The EU has prepared a new adaptation strategy
- Sustainable investments are more profitable than traditional funds and more resilient to the impacts of the pandemic
- The UN introduced a new concept of ecosystem accounting that considers the value of natural capital
If you do not want to miss any important news, subscribe to the EnviLaw newsletter!
The Modernisation Fund: programmes, terms and upcoming projects
The pre-registration calls of the Modernisation Fund have brought about relevant information not only on the upcoming projects and their stage but also on the interest in such technologies. These findings now serve as a basis for the Modernisation Fund’s setting and distribution of grants. The State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic identified interest in the three following programmes: Modernisation of the Heat Supply System (HEAT), New Renewable Energy Resources (RES+) and Energy Efficiency Enhancement and Reduction in the Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the EU Industry (ENERG ETS).
According to the findings, the projects from the area of new energy sources with a focus on the construction of photovoltaic power plants prevail (90%), with the majority of applicants planning to place the panel on buildings and choosing natural gas as their fuel base. The projects are assessed by the Fund, which evaluates their relevance and feasibility from the perspective of costs, readiness and investment plan. At the same time, the final programme terms are being prepared and the whole agenda is consulted with the European Commission and the European Investment Bank. The applications will be accepted in July and the remaining programmes shall be introduced by the end of the year. At the moment, the so-called sharp calls are under preparation.
Change of the schedule of calls for 2021
On 19 March 2021, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic changed the current schedule of calls for 2021. A fundamental change is the planned announcement of calls in the Application, Innovation and Potential Programmes. This is the last opportunity in this programme period to draw funds from the OP PIC Programme. Within these calls, applicants can draw subsidies for individual projects in the amount of up to tens of millions of CZK. In total, CZK 4.5 billion should be distributed among entrepreneurs within these calls.
The Application Programme supports projects aimed at implementing industrial research and experimental development activities leading to specific outputs. The grant that can be used, among other things, for personnel expenses, expenditure on tools or contract research can be requested by small, medium-sized and large enterprises. The Innovation Programme is aimed at supporting projects placing innovated products, technologies or services into production and on the market. In this case, the grant can be used for construction expenditure, software and data expenses or product certification expenses and can be applied for by small, medium-sized and large enterprises. The Potential Programme supports projects aimed at building industrial research, development and innovation centres. The grant is provided for building expenditure and can be applied for by all types of enterprise sizes. You can find a list of all current calls in the timetable for receiving applications for new autumn calls.
Furthermore, the Technological Agency of the Czech Republic has announced a public tender called THETA focusing on the support of applied research, experimental development and innovation in the area of the energy sector. Its aim is to enhance the management of the energy sector, use of new technologies and system elements. Project proposals are received until 12 May.
These programmes and calls offer enterprises the opportunity to acquire funds to shift their operations towards greater sustainability, as well as develop new, sustainable technologies.
Seminars, webcasts, business breakfasts and other events organized by Deloitte.
