Green technology programmes- the experience so far

by Karl Ulrich Voss, Brussels, 1.3.2002

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Overview

German framework programme 1997 Green technology in sec. 423

integrated environmental protection in industry, agriculture, forestry and the framework elements of an innovative sustainable economy

identifying of topics and attracting actors the overwhelming success wild theses for discussion

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BMBF/BMU Programme 1997

Framework Programme: Research for the Environment

– Main Objectives:• Achieve sustainable local and global use of natural resources

by a better understanding of natural systems• Increase resource efficiency of economic activities, incl.

consumption pattern• integrate the environment into the education system

– Main Areas• local and global organization of the environment• sustainability oriented management• environmental education

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agriculture, food processing, packaging

forestry, wood-processing

textile and leather

chemicals and plastics

metal production and processing, foundry

electronics

construction and ceramics

Implementation Fields

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Implemention Approaches

production processes

products, functions

management instruments

consumption pattern

framework conditions

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Budget 2002

68,5 M Euro totally 31,5 M Euro for integrated environmental

protection in special branches of industry 13 M Euro agriculture and food-processing 10 M Euro sustainable wood/forestry technology,

wood research, ecosystem research rel. to forestry

5,5 M Euro general topics (e.g. environmental management in industry)

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Food processing

03.06.1998Integrated environmental protection in food processing

Goals: reducing undesirable substances, reducing water consumption and pollution, reducing waste, optimizing package, reducing energy consumption, esp. in food drying facilities

Timespan: 2000-200342 appl. / 11 M Eurobow wave: 3 appl. / 0,6 M Euro

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Textile industry

06.10.1998Integrated environmental protection in the textile industry

Goals: reducing environmental impacts by avoidance, reduction and substitution of assisting materials and recovery of process substances, reducing of water consumption and pollution, developing of recyclable textile, assessing and expanding of life cycle; specific textiles for environmental technologies reducing waste

Timespan: 1999-2001104 appl. / 39 M Eurobow wave for special branch „Textiles in medicine“47 appl. / 7,1 M Euro

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Ceramics

13.8.1999Integrated environmental protection in the ceramics industry

Goals: reducing / avoidance of organic-chemical emissions in the burning process and process water; avoidance of emissions of fluorine, chlorine, sulphur dioxide; energy saving; circulatory processing of water, recovery of product remains and product waste

Timespan: 2000 - 200537 appl. / 28 M Euro(no bow wave)

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Agrarian technology

10.11.1999Integrated environmental protection in agriculture

Goals:development / test of sensors for precision farming; development of soil protective drive technology and sensors to assist; automatisation with the aim of more effective and environmental friendly cultivation; sensors for animal husbandry and herd management; improvement of barn climate and outgoing air; storage and processing of agricultural goods; sensors

Timespan: 2000 - 200537 appl. / 28 M Euro(no bow wave)

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Management instruments

16.11.1999Integrated environmental protection - management instruments

Goals: IT-instruments for a sustainable industry; monetary and non-monetary controlling instruments; planning/communication instruments accompanying the chain of products and production and on the different organisational levels as construction, work planning, production planning, finance

Timespan: 2000 - 200419 appl. / 15,4 M Eurobow wave: 5 appl. / 1,5 M Euro

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and on it went:

24.11.1999Integrated environmental protection - rubber172 / 51 M; bow wave: 98 / 30,6 M

20.12.1999Framework conditions for sustainable management12 / 4,5 M; bow wave: 1 M

22.12.1999Integrated environmental protection - foundries42 / 7,5 M

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until it came to an end:

04.05.2000Integrated environmental protection - metal producing industry65 / 19,7 M; bow wave: 41 / 13,8 M

07.06.2000Strategies for product useonly bow wave: 10 / 4,3 M

29.06.2000Integrated environmental protection - packaging industry123 / 35,8 M; bow wave: 120 / 35 M

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From programme design to funding

framework programme (BMBF/BMU) cooperation/coordination with industry, associations, research institutions, administration/politics

Design of the call for tenders– dialogue with research and industry

„Where is the actual edge of development?“– Expert tables with researchers and

representatives of industry„Are the specific questions appropriate and complete? Are the demands being met?“

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From programme design to funding (2)

Formulation and publishing of the calls with the request for abridged project sketches (6 pages)

Sketches shall show:– innovative approach– integrating SME (no project without industrial

partner!)– project and project idea are economically stable

(incl. cost-benefit-calculation)– project idea contributes a positive economic effect

in the business field

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From programme design to funding (3)

Experts recruited from the expert tables (sketch worth to be completed?)

Monitoring in the run of the project– goals/components met/fulfilled?– new: exploitation plan („drawer projects“)

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No problem?

„pig cycle“ – complaints over „commonly known suspects“– massive calls for tenders– „Minderabfluss“ or money not spent– frustration with those, whose creativity is needed

discriminating SME?– length and complexity of funding procedure– costs

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No problem? (2)

patents – public funding - private results?– conflicting goals as to dissemination– privacy decisive in project administration– patents (F) may hamper standards being adjusted

to the state of art (D)

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Theses

- In sustainability concepts we have to

accept and clearly adress conflicting

goals in respect of sustainability and

important and well established interests

in the society/economy.

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Theses (2)

- Only if sustainability pays to the actors

(producers, distributers, consumers) it

pays for you. This includes a

progressive and demanding definition

of standards of technology.

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Theses (3)

- As a general concept ("sustainability

mainstreaming") the idea of

sustainability may turn somewhat grey

and boring.

- I would recommend to set priorities and

to tackle problems one after another.

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Theses (4)

- If we sucessfully adress the fields with

the best potential and the best

measurable effect we have achieved a

lot. Even better would be to have

instruments to judge and compare the

environmental friendly effects of specific

innovations extrapolated for the broad

use in the economy ("ecological

currency").

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Theses (5)

- Best results in single projects do not

mean much, if we do not succeed in

writing strategies for broad

dissemination, which includes

education, vocational training and

professional underwise.

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last theses

- At the end of a good project comes a ... new

project - or another friendly chap funding the

same project for a next period.

- All the good programmes have been written.

- If you nevertheless cannot resist to write a new

programme, please stay well under 50 pages,

at least with your management summary.

- Budgets should be attributed to specific

programmes, not to fiscal years.