After the launch of the first four joint programmes in June this year, EERA now strengthens, expands and optimises the EU's energy research capacity by jointly implementing Pan-European research programmes in accordance with the strategic energy technology plan, the SET-Plan.
The three new joint EERA programmes have been launched in connection with the SET-Plan conference in Brussells held on 15 and 16 November 2010 under Belgian presidency. The new joint programmes cover carbon capture and storage and new materials for nuclear power and bioenergy.
"With this recent launch, there are now 7 EERA research programmes with constantly growing participation and currently 74 research institutions and more than 1000 scientists involved. For Europe, this is an unprecedented cooperation on strategic energy research that will accelerate the development of energy technologies, giving individual research groups expanded access to knowledge and facilities, and optimal conditions for doing what they are best at, "says Henrik Bindslev, Chairman of the EERA, who is also the director of Risø DTU.
EERA's innovative programmes aim at identifying and bringing together national centres of excellence in the energy research sector, proactively engaging involved organisations in the identification of common needs and areas of research for the 2013-2020 programming period.
EERA has selected technologies with the greatest potential and planned together with major actors in the field how to target future funding.
This innovative and open approach and the critical mass of investments behind it, is currently creating high interest even at international level in countries like the USA and Japan, where the EERA today is perceived as an important European counterpart contributing to creating synergies and collaborations within the field of energy-related research.
The content of the new joint programmes will be presented at the SET-PLAN conference to an audience mainly composed of representatives from the research community, industry, policymakers, the financial community and international partners.
At the conference Henrik Bindslev will also report the state of play of the first four programmes already active and talk about programmes under development.
The Brussels conference will allow participants to learn about and discuss other initiatives under the SET-plan (such as European Industrial Initiatives, Universities' involvement and international cooperation) with actors interested in hearing about EERA before the first EERA annual Congress is to take place on 11 – 12 April 2011 in Brussels.