Smart Specialisation Platform on Energy - green and efficient energy for Europe's regions
26 May 2015by eub2 -- last modified 26 May 2015
The European Commission launched on 26 May the European Smart specialisation platform on energy, which will support regions and EU Member States in using Cohesion Policy funding more effectively for promoting sustainable energy. The Platform will help regions to share their expertise on sustainable energy investments and especially on the deployment of innovative low-carbon technologies.
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By supporting the optimal use of Cohesion Policy funds for sustainable energy projects, the Platform will directly contribute to the European Energy Union Strategy. It will also aim to better align innovation activities in the field of energy at national, regional and local level with a view to setting up a joint strategic agenda on energy priorities. The platform, which has been set up by the Commission's in-house science service, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), will contribute to boosting economic growth in the regions by ensuring sustainable, competitive and secure energy supply.
To mark the launch of the platform, a high-level conference took place in Brussels in the presence of Commissioner Tibor Navracsics. Two parallel sessions, organised in Andalusia and Scotland, joined via video-link. The event gathered policy makers, public officials, energy experts and researchers to reflect on and discuss a strategic agenda and the next steps in the development of Smart Specialisation in the energy sector.
Background
The project is based on a joint cooperation between DG Regional and Urban Policy (REGIO), DG Energy (ENER) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC). It draws from positive experience with the existing Smart Specialisation Platform focused on research and innovation strategies (S3 Platform). Currently 172 regions or countries accounting for over 80% of the EU regions participate in the activities of this platform. More than two-thirds of these have chosen energy as their area of Smart Specialisation.
Smart specialisation is an innovative approach developed by the European Commission to foster economic growth and prosperity at regional level. It encourages efficient and targeted use of public investment in research and innovation to create competitive advantages and enable regions to specialise in the field of their relative strengths. It is also a precondition for benefiting from European Structural and Investment Funds.
The new Platform on Energy will provide information, knowledge and expertise on investing in energy projects, in line with the needs of policy makers, authorities and stakeholders in charge of energy and research. It will also develop ways of matching Member States and regions with similar interests and planned investments in energy innovation.
The EU plans to invest about EUR 38 billion in the period 2014-2020 in the framework of its Cohesion Policy including EUR 2 billion for investments in smart grids. The objective is to facilitate the shift towards a low-carbon economy by supporting projects in energy efficiency, renewables as well as in sustainable urban mobility and research and innovation.
Examples of Energy projects funded by Cohesion Policy
WAVE HUB, an innovative renewable energy solution (UK)
Scheme of renovation of the public buildings (Lithuania)
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