This competition of ideas was initiated to create new developments of processes, products and services that are saleable and contribute to a ressource-sparing and energy efficient interaction with our environment.

Environmental innovation projects connect ecological and economical challenges of the mission statement for sustainable development. Directly or indirectly they cause less environmental pollution, increase competitiveness of companies and furthermore satisfy social responsibilities because they create new jobs and save them.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) as well as institutions that are located in Bremen and Bremerhaven are asked to participate in this challenge and apply for financial support of their projects. Projects of single enterprises can request a maximum of 150,000 Euros and cooperation projects of companies and scientific institutions can get 250,000 Euros.

All project ideas may be turned in with the business development agencies by February, 15th 2007. This ideas competition wants to foster development of the existing potential in terms of environmentally sound and innovative solutions in the Federal State of Bremen.

Environmental science has a very integrative character and therefore makes it possible to combine with further innovation fields like materials management, information and communications technology, measurement engineering or maritime industry. Several financial aid programmes of the state offer financial help. The challenge especially wants to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to develop innovative products, processes and services with a strong environmental focus and to bring them to market afterwards. Financial aid of the Federal State of Bremen will decrease technical and economical risks of applying companies. 

The label BIG Bremen – The Business Developer is an establishment of the Bremer Investitions-Gesellschaft mbH (BIG) to act as central institution of the Federal State of Bremen in terms of state development and business development. The BIG aims to strenghten the business location Bremen and to save jobs and create new ones there. Further information are available under: www.big-bremen.de.