Call for proposals by The European Investment Bank for sponsorships within its EIB- University Research Sponsorship Programme
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has issued a call for proposals for sponsorships within its EIB-University Research Sponsorship Programme (EIBURS). EIBURS provides grants to university research centres working on research topics and themes of major interest to the EIB. For the academic year 2010/2011, three new lines of research have been selected: - Benchmarking European small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) credit performance There is significant research potential in looking at the relationship between SME credit performance on a micro level and the macroeconomic situation which businesses face. Those receiving EIBURS support would be expected to set up a research programme focussed on analysing the impact of changes in macroeconomic drivers on key credit performance indicators of SMEs within Europe. - The history of European infrastructure finance European governments are looking to forms of public private partnership (PPP) contracts as a way to deliver improved infrastructure and provide public services. The EIB is looking for research proposals which: a) explore the longer term macro trends in infrastructure finance, the outcomes in terms of sustainable public service improvements, and their relevance to contemporary policy debates, b) develop case studies of technological and financial innovation in specific infrastructure projects and sectors, particularly those of a pan-European nature, c) catalogue and analyse the history of different public, private and mixed financing schemes for infrastructure construction and operation across different sectors and within different legal and national policy frameworks. - The economic impact of law: an economic assessment of the impact of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive According to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, the packaging industry has to recycle and recover the packaging that it puts on the market, but the countries are responsible for meeting the recycling and recovery targets listed in the Directive. Researchers receiving support in this area should include the economic impact that the legal obligations contained in the Directive has had on the various stakeholders involved: public authorities, market participants and citizens. Under the EIBURS programme, successful applicants are eligible for a grant of up to EUR 300,000 over a 3-year period. Research proposals that take a quantitative and qualitative, cross-disciplinary approach and involve collaboration between academics from different European countries are particularly encouraged by the EIB.For further information, please contact: Ms Luísa Ferreira, Co-ordinator EIB-Universities Research Action 100, boulevard Konrad Adenauer 2950 Luxembourg Luxembourg To see the full details of the call, please consult: OJ No C 142 of 1 June 2010(opens in new window)