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The American software house PTC has enhanced its range of software for analysing the environmental impact of manufactured products by buying Planet Metrics. PTC, the American company which develops software solutions for product lifecycle management (PLM) has bought Planet Metrics, a specialist in environmental impact analysis, in order to enhance Insight Environmental Compliance, a program for meeting environmental standards originally developed by PTC in 2008. Insight is integrated into the existing IT infrastructure and automatically collects information from the various databases available in the business (materials, processes etc.) and determines the level of compliance of the product as regulations evolve (RoHS, REACH...).
With its purchase of Planet Metrics, the company has enhanced its eco-design product line by facilitating the acquisition of data from suppliers and the management of the environmental impact of raw materials, packaging methods, the supply chain, and the transport and disposal of waste. This enables managers to identify with greater precision the points in the product lifecycle that have most environmental impact.
Info: PTC, www.ptc.com
(Environnement Magazine, France, www.environnement-online.com)

Thirteen projects have been accepted for the 2010 Life programme, with a total investment of 14.2 million euros for environmental protection projects. The environmental policy and governance section includes 8 projects, including the IMCM projected for an integrated approach to controlling harmful, disease-bearing mosquitos which is compatible with sustainable development (2.1 million euros in grants), the Mini-waste project to reduce urban organic waste which is being piloted by the Rennes metropolitan area (1.1 million euros), and Photopaq, the CNRS project to evaluate the efficiency of photocatalytic materials in depolluting air in urban areas (2 million euros).
The nature section includes five projects, including the restoration of alluvial woodlands on the island of Rohrshollen, near Strasbourg (1 million euros), the protection of two species of bats in the Camargue national park (2.3 million euros), of capercaillies in the Vosges (1.3 million euros), Hermann's tortoise in the Var (1.3 million euros), and conservation of bees in cities (1 million euros).
(Environnement Magazine, France, www.environnement-online.com)

New technologies help to reduce environmental impact and use natural resources more effectively. This is why the Swiss Federation has been promoting and funding the development of these technologies since 1997, says the Federal Environment Office (BAFU). The promotion also includes fiscal incentives and other tools of modern environmental policy.
In February, the Federal Council published the second 5-year report on support for environmental technology, covering 2002-2006. The report shows that in all environmental spheres, more efficient technologies, processes and products have been developed; for example a new technique for measuring nanoparticles of soot, or quieter rolling stock for railways.
With spending of 3.1 million Swiss francs (2.160 M?) per year, the Federation's support for environmental technology gives a significant boost to the development of marketable innovations with strong environmental benefits.
Along with energy technology, environmental technology forms the Cleantech sector -- an important market that is growing strongly. The recognition that businesses throughout the world are suffering more and more from the scarcity and rising prices of resources is a key factor, and this is why they must remain competitive by using resources more efficiently as a result of technological innovation.
According to BAFU, almost all member countries of the OECD are currently funding programmes to promote innovation in the Cleantech sector.
Info: Federla Office for the Environment, FOEN (Bafu), www.bafu.admin.ch
(Umwelt Perspektiven, Switzerland, www.umweltperspektiven.ch)

The European Parliament wants to increase investment in low-carbon energy generation techniques. A resolution approved by MEPs on 11 March states that the European Union should invest a minimum of 2 billion euros a year in low-carbon-emission technologies, according to the information gathered by the research and development agency Cordis. Moreover, the MEPs believe that additional funds from other public and private sources will be needed for the European Union to achieve its climate-change protection goals by 2020.
The resolution on investment in the development of low-carbon technologies, known as the Strategic Energy Technology Plan, was passed in a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg by 444 votes for, 88 against, and 32 abstentions. The European Commission also published a press release saying that the EU is about to exceed its goal to generate 20% of energy used from renewable sources. According to the press release, 10 of the 27 member states will probably exceed their targets, and 12 will meet them.
(Residuos, Spain, www.revistaresiduos.com)

On 1st - 2nd June 2010 the Cleantech Cluster of Western Switzerland will be launched and the European Partnering Event for Clean Technologies will be held in Geneva.
Through a series of face2face meetings, representatives of SME's, industry and research centres from throughout Europe will initate commercial and technological cooperation and European Research & Devlopment projects in three areas of Clean Technologies: Energy Efficient Buildings, Green Cars and Factory of the Future.