News and events published on the Eco-innovation Community Platform

• New topic on the forum - Environmental policy and regulation: Is biomass the most cost-effective renewable electricity option available?
• New topic on the forum - International cooperation: Do "Green mini-grids" offer a solution for rural energy needs?
• News - "INNEON awards the first winners of its eco-innovation competition in a ceremony in Cyprus"

A French start-up that plans to use natural bioluminescence in street lighting and shop-front displays has scooped an eco-innovation prize from the city of Paris Innovation Grand Prix. The award, which was handed out at a ceremony in Paris in December 2015, earned the small company, Glowee, a prize of €12,000 and the chance to participate in an incubator for start-ups.

During 2015, the European Commission took a number of initiatives to encourage small and medium-sized companies to see the business opportunities that can arise from greater resource efficiency and green entrepreneurship. The initiatives are grouped under the Commission's Green Action Plan for SMEs. More work to develop the plan's themes is promised in 2016 and subsequent years.

A young Finnish company claims to be revolutionising the way waste is collected from public areas by using data from sensors to alert authorities to overflowing rubbish bins and recycling containers. The company, Espoo-based Enevo, has secured major backing from investors and is expanding in Europe and North America.