The Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) is one of the main EU funding instruments to support research and innovation. It aims, in general, to achieve the following objectives:

• foster the competitiveness of enterprises, in particular of SMEs;
• promote all forms of innovation including eco-innovation;
• accelerate the development of a sustainable, competitive, innovative and inclusive information society;
• promote energy efficiency and new and renewable energy sources in all sectors, including transport.