Environmental Investment Centre (EIC) is seeking like-minded partners to co-develop or join proposals under EU Missions 1 and 4

Estonian Environmental Investment Centre (EIC) is seeking like-minded partners to co-develop or join proposals under EU Missions 1 and 4 (Adaptation to Climate Change and Climate-Neutral & Smart Cities). Looking for partners to co-create or join Horizon Europe projects related to local climate adaptation and resilience, circular economy, and data-driven/AI solutions for smart & sustainable cities.
We are a public funding agency with over 25 years of experience in environmental and climate investments based on EU structural funds, pollution taxes, emission trade and European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism, which all together make about 700 mln EUR in periood of 2021-2027. Besides granting services, we develop investment projects ourselves, bringing together partners and offering synergies with grants.
Hence municipalities and academia are one of the key-stakeholder groups of us, we aim to bring our knowledge and policy reach to international projects related to:
• Enabling regional and local authorities to translate NECP (national energy and climate plans) goals into local actions through SECAP´s (sustainable energy and climate action plans in municipality-level), digital observatories, tailored indicators, and multilevel governance
• Financing and piloting novel adaptation measures (with a focus on municipalities, i.e. enabling them to translate NECP goals into local actions via SECAP´s)
• Climate resilience and nature based solutions (including energy efficiency measures) for public/private sector buildings and infrastructure.
• Circular economy integration incl modern waste management at local and regional level
**Relevant experience:
**• R-Club : The R-Club (green club for municipality leaders) is a knowledge network and cooperation body for local governments, focusing on strategically selected environmental and climate topics, which together can be conceptualized and linked to the implementation of the green transition in the day-to-day management of local governments as well as investment activities.
• LIFE BuildEST, WetEst, CircEst, EEEFC: LIFE IP BuildEST project goal is pursuing Estonian national climate ambition through smart and resilient renovation. EIC role in the projects includes pilots regarding smart energy storage in apartment buildings and public-private fund-blending regarding increasing climate resilience in public sector buildings. LIFE SIP CircEST is a circular economy project designed to accelerate Estonia’s transition to a circular economy by advancing waste reform, waste management planning, and circular economy implementation. LIFE WetEST seeks ways to accelerate systemic change in water management and governance incl mobilizing investments, encouraging innovation via pilots and guidance esp in the context of melioration and sustainable agriculture practices. LIFE CET EEEFC - project funded by the European Commission, aimed at establishing National Hubs in member countries focusing on promoting the use of EU financial instruments, attracting private-sector investment, and improving knowledge-sharing to enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of financial products for businesses and citizens. The coordinator of the Estonian National HUB is the Environmental Investment Centre (KIK).
**We can contribute as:
**• A partner with public funding, developer of novel financial instruments and project design expertise
• A piloting or replication site in Estonia (through municipal clients)
• A channel to scale and mainstream successful approaches nationally
**Fields of expertise (suggested):
**• Climate adaptation Action Plans development
• Disaster risk management and adaptation
• Circularity and climate mitigation
• Climate proofing of public buildings
• Private sector financing of adaptation solutions
• Public procurement | Environment | Energy