In line with the EU's Energy Union Strategy published in February this year, its fifth dimension – Research, Innovation and Competitiveness - will be developed along three policy priorities: the integrated SET Plan, the Strategic Transport Research and Innovation Agenda and the Global Technology and Innovation Leadership Initiative.

The Communication adopted today addresses the role of the SET-Plan in defining the new Research & Innovation (R&I) approach which will accelerate the transformation of the European energy system and ensure the EU's leadership in the development and deployment of low carbon energy technologies.  It also provides the overall framework for encouraging further cooperation and synergies in R&I between the EU, Member States and stakeholders (research and industry).

In particular, the new integrated SET Plan:

• assesses EU strengths and weaknesses in each of the Energy Union research and innovation priorities;  it is built on the experience gained from the implementation of the SET Plan in these areas, including the Integrated Roadmap exercise developed with stakeholders and Member States during the last two years.
• identifies 10 actions for R&I, based on an assessment of the energy system needs and on their importance for accelerating the energy system transformation and create growth and jobs in the EU;
• addresses for these actions the whole innovation chain, from basic research to market uptake, both in terms of financing as well as in terms of regulatory framework;
• will be firmly rooted in the Energy Union to ensure a more effective interaction with Member States and stakeholders for the development of new research and innovation programmes and activities at European and national level. The full engagement of Member States and stakeholders will be key for the success of the SET Plan and ultimately of the R&I pillar of the Energy Union;
• proposes a new SET Plan management to increase transparency, accountability, knowledge sharing and measure the progress achieved with a result-oriented approach.

To this purpose, the European Commission will further strengthen the existing SET Plan Information System (JRC SETIS) to ensure a more diligent and intelligent use of available information, data and reporting practices by the Member States and stakeholders, as well as part of the reporting on the State of the Energy Union.

Next steps

The SET Plan 2015 conference will launch the European debate on the new SET-Plan, and the next steps to implement its actions, at the highest level. The conference will be held back-to-back with the Informal Council of the Energy Ministers in Luxembourg, thereby placing research and innovation in energy at the heart of Luxembourg’s Council Presidency.

For more information see: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/news/integrated-set-plan-fit-new-challenges

Where you can find also the text of the Communication.