The problem

The global market for environmental goods and services continues to grow, with Europe being a world leader in some environmental technologies. In the field of transport, for example, uptake of alternative fuels and hybrid vehicles has increased. However, the adoption of environmental technologies is constrained by various barriers, including a lack of expertise and accessible information. There is a need for coordinated action to raise awareness and tailor training, especially to SMEs, so that the ecological and economic benefits of environmental technologies can be fully realised.

Overview:

ETTAR aims to increase the uptake of environmental technologies through education, training and enhanced knowledge exchange, with a focus on the transport sector.

The project will:

• Organise three multi-stakeholder workshops to identify obstacles and possible solutions
• Produce background notes and policy briefs on training needs and awareness raising
• Deliver a low-cost e-learning tutorial to act as an information resource and to promote best practice
• Provide the basis for cross-sectoral networks and tools for coordinated training activities
• Organise a concluding conference to produce recommendations

Contribution to policy development:

• ETTAR builds on the activities of the Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP) by identifying specific training needs, involving both socio-economic and technical aspects, possible solutions, and best practice
• It also identifies instruments for improving the uptake of environmental technologies
• The project harmonises knowledge for cost-effective analysis of environmental technologies
• It contributes to reconciling EU sustainable development and environmental strategies

Project deliverables

• Three workshops (Gothenburg, Prague and Berlin) to identify environmental and information technologies, and training methods – May and November 2007 and April 2008
• First and second policy briefs and background note – January and June 2008
• Concluding conference in Brussels – June 2008
• e-learning module to provide targeted training for the transport sector – June 2008

Dissemination

• Project website – March 2007
• Three workshop summary reports – May and November 2007 and April 2008
• Background notes and policy briefs – June 2008
• Concluding conference summary – June 2008
• Final Scientific Report and e-learning tutorial – July 2008

Technical information

Project acronym: ETTAR
Project’s official full title: Identification and assessment of training needs, methods and activities for the wider use of environmental technologies in key sectors
Research priority: Environmental technologies for support of policy decisions, in particular concerning effective but low-cost technologies in the context of fulfilling environmental legislation
Specific webpage: Not yet available
Proposal/contract no: 044244
Start date: 1 January 2007
Kick off meeting: Month 1
Completion date: 30 June 2008
European Commission scientific officer: Michele Galatola, Michele.Galatola@ec.europa.eu

Coordinator:
Name: Ecologic gGmbH
Abbreviated name: Ecologic
Address:
Pfalzburger Strasse 43/44
D - 10717 Berlin
Country: Germany
Tel: + 49 30 86880 0
Fax: + 49 30 86880 100
Website: http://www.ecologic.de/

Partners

Name: Schenker AG
Abbreviated name: Schenker
Country: Germany

Name: Clean Technology Centre Cork
Abbreviated name: CTC
Country: Ireland

Name: University of Cambridge Programme for Industry
Abbreviated name: CPI
Country: United Kingdom

Name: Chalmers University
Abbreviated name: Chalmers
Country: Sweden

Name: ENVIROS Prague
Abbreviated name: Enviros
Country: Czech Republic