The Urban Innovative Actions (UIA) Initiative holds a one-day event in Brussels on the 13th of January in order to support applicants wishing to apply to its 1st Call for Proposals.

The European Commission initiative will provides urban areas throughout Europe with resources to test new and unproven solutions to address urban challenges. Based on article 8 of ERDF, the Initiative has a total ERDF budget of EUR 372 million for 2014-2020.
This programme suports (80% cofinancing) innovative actions in “Energy transition” as:

- Increasing the production of renewable energy at local level and improving its distribution

- Energy efficient retrofitting of buildings – buildings consume some 40% of final energy in the EU and this is the largest and most cost-effective area for improvement.

- Energy efficiency measures with the aim of minimising the risk of fuel poverty and its consequences (e.g. poor health, child poverty, educational under-achievement etc.)
Increasing the adoption of low carbon technologies.

- Supporting energy efficiency and smart energy management in public infrastructure and the housing sector.

- Moderating the demand for heating and cooling and deploying innovative, nature-based solutions to heat/cool buildings and neighbourhoods.

- Addressing non-technological barriers i.e. promoting behavioural change towards more sustainable choices and reducing demand for energy.

Visit the website to register and to check the programme. Follow them on Twitter @UIA_Initiative