The European Forum on Eco-innovation brings together business and policy perspectives in an event that explores strategic orientations for eco-innovation and environmental technologies, in support of the EU Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP). The fifth meeting of the Forum will be held in Budapest, Hungary, in conjunction with the International Trade Fair for Environmental Protection and Municipal Technology, Őkotech 2008 and is organised jointly by the Hungarian Ministry of Environment and Water and the European Commission.

The rapid development of emerging technologies such as bio-technologies, nano-technologies, ICT and robotics offers the opportunity to achieve disruptive step-changes to address the environmental challenges faced by the European Union. However, as the technological opportunities become apparent the potential negative side-effect, especially risks to health or the environment and ethical issues, gain increased attention. With inconclusive evidence regarding opportunities and risks, emerging technologies provide policy-makers, academics and businesses enough room for contradictory debates.

This event intends to explore the emerging environmental technologies in the field of recycling and waste and bio-based products. The focus will be on, but not restricted to, the markets identified by the European Commission in the Lead Market Initiative. These are promising emerging markets in which the EU has the potential to become world leader and where public policy authorities can play a major role in accelerating the uptake of new and innovative environmental technologies.