Dear Colleague,
We are in the heart of Summer, some of us already on holidays while some others planning them, and the Covid-19 pandemic is still among us. At global level there are worrying infection rates in the U.S., Brazil and South America, India to mention the most (tragically) popular. In Europe there are swinging peaks in some countries, recently in Spain that has made the UK to re-introduce 14-day quarantine...Read more
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An official entity: European Innovation Council Equity Fund for high-impact innovation
The EIC Fund, which will provide equity from €0.5m to €15m to breakthrough innovation companies selected for EIC Accelerator blended finance support (grant and equity), has become an official entity. This is the
first time the European Commission will make such direct equity investments in companies, with ownership stakes expected to be in general from 10% to 25% in start-up companies. The European Investment Bank, as advisors of the EIC Fund on behalf of the European Commission, will manage the ownership stakes of the European Commission. Read more
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Amazon Buys Zoox: Why Self-Driving Technology Is Existential
Last month Amazon agreed to pay roughly $1.2 billion for Zoox, which is a developer of autonomous vehicles. Keep in mind
that the startup had raised $1 billion from venture capitalists. In other words, the deal was not accretive. Over the years, Amazon has invested in a variety of self-driving auto startups, such as Aurora Innovation and Rivian Automotive. But this is the company’s first acquisition in the space. So then, what is the rationale for buying Zoox? Read more
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Boosting the EU’s green recovery: the EC invests €1 billion in innovative clean technology projects
The Commission launched the first call for proposals under the Innovation Fund, one of the world’s largest programmes for the demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies, financed by revenues from the auction of emission
allowances from the EU’s Emissions Trading System. The Innovation Fund will finance breakthrough technologies for renewable energy, energy-intensive industries, energy storage, and carbon capture, use and storage. Read more
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Eurostar will launch direct Amsterdam-London service this year
Eurostar's non-stop service from Amsterdam to London will launch later this year after Britain reached a deal with France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Eurostar currently runs a direct London to Amsterdam service but people
travelling in the opposite direction must disembark in Brussels for immigration checks which lengthens journey time. No date has yet been given for when non-stop service will start. Read more
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Fiat Chrysler and Waymo sign exclusive deal on self-driving commercial vehicles
Fiat Chrysler and Waymo have agreed on an exclusive deal to develop self-driving commercial vehicles, an area some believe could be the first widespread utilisation of autonomous technology. Waymo, a unit of Alphabet, will work
with the Italian-American automaker to integrate its autonomous driving system, which it calls the “Waymo Driver" into the Ram ProMaster full-size van from Fiat Chrysler. Read more
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Sweden’s night train to Brussels to debut in 2022
The Swedish government announced on 23 July 2020 night train routes that will link the cities of Stockholm and Malmö with Hamburg and Brussels, in the latest indication that sleeper services are on the cusp of a renaissance in
Europe. Read more
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The Website of the Month: CITIES IN MOTION Index 2020
IESE Cities in Motion Strategies is a research platform that was launched by the IESE Business School Center for Globalization and Strategy and the IESE Department of Strategy.
The mission of the platform is to promote the Cities in Motion Model, that includes an innovative approach to city management, and a new urban model for the 21st century, based on 4 main drivers: sustainable ecosystems, innovative activities, equitability among citiziens and connected territory. Read
more
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Join the EPN Consulting Network
EPN Consulting Members receive a number of exclusive services including - but not limited to - priority invitations to join bidding teams and European projects consortia as well as specific news relevant to their business. Choose
among BRONZE, SILVER and GOLD Membership packages. Read more
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Upcoming Professional Events
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27 Aug 2020 – Deadline to submit proposals to No.13 H2020 calls on Security
01 Sept 2020 – Deadline to submit proposals to No.12 H2020 calls on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Sources (RES)
08 Sept 2020 – Deadline to submit proposals to No.6 H2020 calls on Transport
09 Sept 2020 – Deadline to submit proposals to the H2020 [MSCA-IF-2020] call (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships)
10 Sept 2020 – Deadline to submit proposals to the 2020 LIFE+ sub-programmes for environment and climate action calls (Preparatory projects)
10 Sept 2020 – Deadline to submit proposals to No.7 H2020 calls on Smart Buildings
10 Sept 2020 – Deadline to submit proposals to No.3 H2020 calls on Energy Efficiency in Buildings
22 Sept 2020 – EXTENDED Deadline to submit proposals to the H2020 [INNOSUP-01-2018-2020] call (IA – Cluster facilitated projects for new industrial value chains – Stage 2)
| 24-26 Aug 2020 – Skiathos (GR) – ESSC 2020 – 7th International Conference on Energy, Sustainability and Climate Change
01-02 Sept 2020 – Rotterdam (NL) – The European EV Charging Summit 2020
03-05 Sept 2020 – WEB ONLY! – FT WEEKEND FESTIVAL 2020
09-10 Sept 2020 – WEB ONLY! – 8th ICSD 2020 – International Conference on Sustainable Development
09-11 Sept 2020 – WEB ONLY! – 2020 European Transport Conference (ETC)
09-11 Sept 2020 – Salamanca (ES) – Startup Olé 2020
14 Sept 2020 – Bologna (IT) – SmartSys 2020 – Fifth IEEE Workshop on Smart Service Systems
15-18 Sept 2020 – Aachen (DE) – REAL CORP 2020 Conference: SHAPING URBAN CHANGE – LIVABLE CITY REGIONS FOR THE 21st CENTURY
15-18 Sept 2020 – Ljubljana (SLO) – VELO-CITY 2020
Please note that many conferences are being cancelled, postponed or converted in Virtual events due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Visit our Events section for updated information.
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EPN CONSULTING
Based in London. Engaged with Europe
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