Page 9 - European Energy Innovation - summer 2019 publication
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Summer 2019 European Energy Innovation 9
CLEAN ENERGY FOR ALL EUROPEANS
Energy Union, these NECPs should a target of 35% of the overall budget to use the new partnership tools
also outline priorities for research and for climate related R&I. in the most efficient and effective
innovation in the next decade. I have way. Despite the impressive results
always said that innovation is the key Another important change in Horizon achieved so far through the SET
to link the clean energy transition Europe is the shift from a sector- plan, to be truly effective, we must
with better jobs, sustainable growth approach to a system-approach in ensure that every Member State pulls
and investments in Europe. order to address challenges in a more its weight. All efforts from Horizon
holistic way, including a cluster for 2020 and Horizon Europe will not be
To achieve the Paris targets, the EU “Climate, Energy and Transport” in enough if EU Member States do not
needs around €180 billion in extra order to break boundaries between mobilise the national public funding.
investment every year until 2030 in disciplines, sectors and policy areas.
energy efficiency, renewable energy, We believe that this will lead to higher To conclude, I would argue that
and clean transport. While the core impact because the real innovation this Commission has set the most
of the investment has to come from in the future is likely to emerge at advanced legislative framework in
the private sector, there is also a the inter-section of disciplines and support to clean energy transition
clear role for public investment. sectors. Here the proposed budget that is fit for the challenges ahead.
A well-coordinated and carefully for ‘Climate, Energy and Transport’ With increasing public interest on
targeted use of public funding is €15 billion - an increase of around combatting climate change, it is now
can provide crucial links and have 30% compared to similar activities in up to the public and private sectors
considerable leverage effect on Horizon 2020. And it is an approach to invest and innovate with a view to
private investment. that fits well with EUSEW: anybody delivering.
who has ever participated knows that
Nowhere is this more apparent integration and cooperation across I am looking forward to EUSEW to
than investment in research and technologies, sectors and disciplines discuss this with many of you! l
innovation. Thanks to the highly has been a key ingredient of the
efficient projects financed under the week.
current EU Research and Innovation
funding programme Horizon 2020, Missions are another novelty of
and notably through the Strategic Horizon Europe. We will launch
Energy Technology (SET) Plan, a limited set of impactful and
only 15% of the funding for energy highly visible missions. They will
innovation comes from public have ambitious, time-bound
sources. Each Euro spent on research and achievable goals easy to
and innovation brings much higher communicate to the public.
economic and societal return.
Horizon Europe will also take a
As the current EU budget framework new and more impact-focussed
(for 2014-2020) comes to an end, approach to partnerships with both
the Commission is keen not just the public and private sectors. It
to maintain these elements, but aims at rationalising their number in
to increase them in the next line with Union policy priorities and
budgetary period from 2021 to 2027. avoid overlaps and duplication. We
Furthermore, the entire EU budget aim towards a simpler architecture
aims at an overall target of 25% of with three levels of partnerships:
expenditure supporting climate, co-programmed, co-funded, and
including clean energy transition, institutionalised partnerships. Again,
objectives. An increase from the EUSEW and the inspiring people,
current level of 20%. projects and ideas it brings together
will help us shaping the missions
Negotiations for the next budgetary and building on the expertise that
period are still ongoing, but I can we gather, for example in the area of
confirm that the Commission sustainable and smart cities.
concept is to increase the overall
budget for the new Research and This new approach to partnerships
Innovation programme “Horizon will have a strong impact on the
Europe” by 25% to €100 billion – with SET-Plan and there is an urgent need
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
