Tag Archive: european union

  1. The European Commission outlines funding criteria for small and medium enterprises in 2025

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    Source: EIT Mobility

    The SME Fund 2025 is offering financial assistance for protecting trademarks, designs, patents and plant varieties.

    The Ideas Powered for Business SME fund is a European Commission initiative that’s been implemented by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with protecting their intellectual property (IP) rights. To assist them with accessibility and inclusivity challenges it is offering special funding of up to €2,500 until 5th December 2025.

    Funding application criteria

    Owners, authorised employees or external representatives of SMEs that have been established in the EU are eligible to apply for financial support, with a representative being defined as any third party, whether a legal or natural person, that is duly authorised to represent the SME legally. If companies select an external representative to apply on their behalf, then a “declaration of honour”, signed by both parties, needs to be submitted when completing the electronic application form. All grants will be deposited into the bank account indicated in the application.

    Types of funding vouchers

    SMEs can receive vouchers of the following amounts for protecting their trade marks, designs, patents and plant varieties:

    • Voucher 1: Trade Marks & Designs – €700
    • Voucher 2: National Patents and Prior Art Search – €1,000
    • Voucher 3: European Patents and Legal Costs – €2,500
    • Voucher 4: Community Plant Varieties – €1,500

    Evaluation of the submitted applications during the period: weekly cut-off: every Friday.

    Evaluation and notification period: 10 working days from cut-off.

  2. EU launches interactive Urban Mobility Database to track sustainable transport plans

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    Source: EU Urban Mobility Observatory

    The EU Urban Mobility Observatory has introduced a new interactive city database designed to provide comprehensive information on sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMPs) and transport strategies across Europe. The initiative aims to compile detailed SUMP data for all European cities by 2025, enhancing transparency and encouraging best practices in urban mobility planning.

    The newly launched platform currently includes profiles of 431 urban nodes within the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). These profiles offer valuable insights into the progress of urban mobility plans across the continent, with additional details on city population statistics and transport strategies. Where available, the database links to published SUMPs and official city websites, providing users with direct access to each city’s mobility policies and initiatives.

    A user-friendly tool for urban mobility stakeholders

    The interactive platform has been designed with ease of use in mind, featuring a map that allows users to explore cities by location. Users can filter cities by Member State, making it simple to compare mobility strategies across different regions. Clicking on a city pin reveals key details, including the status of the urban mobility plan and links to relevant documents and resources.

    Data for the platform is sourced from Eurostat, national databases, and city websites, with updates scheduled at least twice a year to help ensure accuracy for the database to remain current and reflect the latest developments in urban mobility planning.

    The platform could be used as a valuable resource for city planners, policymakers, researchers, and urban mobility enthusiasts, offering insights into the diverse approaches adopted by European cities. It highlights best practices in sustainable transport, helping cities at various stages of their planning process to learn from others and refine their own strategies.

    Encouraging the adoption of sustainable mobility plans

    The EU’s focus on SUMPs is part of a broader effort to promote sustainable transport solutions in urban areas, reduce emissions, and improve quality of life for residents. By making information on urban mobility plans more accessible, the database aims to inspire collaboration and innovation among European cities.

    The EU Urban Mobility Observatory team hopes that the tool will support the development of robust SUMPs across the continent, contributing to the EU’s climate and sustainability goals.

    For more details and to explore the database, visit the EU Urban Mobility Observatory’s city database on SUMPs.