In collaboration with the European Commission and the European Green Vehicles Initiative Association, European countries and regions will set-up an ERA-NET Cofund to further promote electric mobility in Europe. Electric Mobility Europe builds on the experiences, networks and results of Electromobility+ and is designed to take transnational e-mobility research and policy exchange to the next level. With a two-track approach, the initiative will link research and policy practice in support of electric mobility at the European level. The first of two pillars of Electric Mobility Europe will fund innovation projects focussing on the application and demonstration of e-mobility with the objective of advancing the mainstreaming of the electrification of mobility in Europe. The initiative will bring together about 30 million EUR for supporting applied innovation projects, including up to 10 million EUR of co-funding provided by the European Commission under Horizon 2020. In 2016, the initiative will issue a call for project proposals addressing the key areas of electric mobility: 1. System integration (transport, (sub)urban areas) 2. Integration of urban freight and city logistics in the e-mobility 3. Smart Mobility concepts and ICT applications 4. Public transport 5. Consumer behaviour and societal trends In addition to funding innovation and demonstration projects, the ERA-NET Cofund Electric Mobility Europe will establish a second pillar of activity. The network will provide a platform for cooperation and exchange of information and experiences among participating countries and regions. In this context, know-how will be shared on setting conducive conditions for the development of electric mobility in Europe (e.g. on charging infrastructure). The network will support this by facilitating suitable means of cooperation such as workshops or seminars in order to exchange or coordinate required actions, in attunement with the European Green Vehicle Initiative Association.

This proposal responds to topic “SFA-31-2019 A” of the work programme 2018-2020 of societal challenge 2 under Horizon 2020. The overall objective of “ICT-enabled agri-food systems” is strengthening the cooperation in research, development and innovation between EU Member and associated States to foster, verifiably and perceptibly, the use of smart digital technology to make European food systems more sustainable, resilient and secure. With financial support of the European Commission (EC), the proposing consortium will organise and fund joint calls for transnational research projects on an annual basis. Funded research projects will contribute to introducing and exploring digital technology that enhances the sustainability of the agri-food sector to the benefit of our and future generations. Beyond co-funded calls, other joint activities in this thematic area will be implemented, thus contributing to the establishment of a fair and societally accepted bioeconomy in the EU and beyond. The consortium will intensify, broaden and deepen the successful cooperation established in the framework of its predecessor FP7 ERA-NET; ICT-AGRI-2.

The Hungarian Ministry of Energy presents this proposal to host the 18th SET Plan conference in 2024 which will take place in Hungary during the Hungarian Presidency of the EU. The conference will be held in Budapest on 14-15 November 2024 and will be organized by the Hungarian Ministry of Energy and the European Commission. The general theme of the conference is “Energy R&D for resilient, autonomous and competitive European energy system”. The agenda includes several thematic parallel sessions and high level panels as well in the following areas: commercialisation of innovative technologies, industrial decarbonisations, geothermal energy, energy storage, hydrogen, skills. We are expecting high level speakers from the European Commission and the Hungarian Minister of Energy to open the conference. The main goals of the conference are: (1) enhancing cooperation and synergies between national and European policies, (2) facilitating collaboration within the energy R&I, (3) gathering the most promising results of the energy R&I.

The Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR) is a long-standing committee of EU Member States and Associated Countries presided over by the European Commission. It has become a respected source of advice on European agricultural and wider bioeconomy research and has been a catalyst for the coordination of national research and innovation (R&I) programmes. It is supported in these strategic functions by SCAR Working Groups (WGs), including a Foresight Group, which provide domain-specific expert advice and input. RefreSCAR will strengthen the strategic functioning and capacities of SCAR WGs in order to facilitate the improved coordination of national and European bioeconomy R&I programmes. Through a toolkit of measures, RefreSCAR will provide robust scientific support to SCAR WGs through regular portfolio analysis of projects, expert studies and support for the SCAR Foresight process. Combined with practical administrative support, this will enable a better structured organisation, facilitation and reporting of SCAR WG activities in themes of relevance for Horizon Europe, the Common Agricultural Policy, European Green Deal, Digital Europe and the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies. In order to boost the participation of under-represented countries in SCAR WGs, a SCAR-Engage Programme will be developed involving tailored action plans, financial and peer-to-peer support, networking and knowledge exchange. Targeted support for communication and dissemination will immerse a broad audience of stakeholders in the activities of the WGs. Furthermore, RefreSCAR will cultivate connections between SCAR WGs, key actors in EU policy, practitioners and relevant EU and international initiatives through dedicated fora, helping to build a bridge between R&I, policy and practice. The outcome will be more impactful SCAR WGs that are better resourced and empowered to deliver strategic advice, contributing to a strengthened SCAR within the European Research Area.

The Green ERA-Hub (GEH) represents 15 currently active EU ERA-Net Cofunds and self-sustained initiatives in the field of Agri-food and biotechnology. Together with already ended predecessor initiatives, they represent 29 co-ordination actions in which more than 1100 Mio Euro funding has been mobilised via 89 transnational calls. The ERA-Net scheme is a success model for transnational co-operation of national research programmes. The partners consider GEH an ideal measure to continue and extend this fruitful co-operation. The aims of GEH are to: - continue to build on previous achievements and further enhance cross-sector collaborations between Agri-food and biotechnology ERA-Nets, through joint transnational funding of collaborative research projects - valorise and implement joint activities supporting the market, regulatory or societal uptake of results after the end of individual ERA-Nets - identify common research and innovation priorities, agreed upon by the participating national programmes, and address them via new joint calls - preserve best practice and managerial competences - contribute to the planning and complement the implementation of the new HEU Partnerships and Missions - broaden the actions and impact of initiatives towards stakeholders and in terms of geographical coverage - contribute to achieve the strategic goals of the SDGs, in particular zero hunger, industry innovation and infrastructure, responsible consumption and production, life on land, partnership for the goals, the farm2fork strategy and EU's Green Deal. GEH will provide clear perspectives for ERA-Net (Cofunds), national research funders and researchers in the Agri-food and biotechnology sector to find dedicated support at the level of information, communication, co-operation, networking and joint transnational funding that best fits their needs. In turn, GEH will contribute to maintaining and strengthening EU's highly competitive position in Agri-food and biotechnology research.