The National Strategy for Research & Innovation in Energy and - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The National Strategy for Research & Innovation in Energy and Water

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(2021-2030)

Overview

First National Strategy to be exclusively dedicated to research and innovation (R&I) in the fields of energy and water.

• Overview of the Agency
• Background to the National Strategy for R&I in Energy and Water
• 2030 Strategy and Aims
• Platform-RINEW
• Funding and Resources
• Evaluation and Monitoring

Overview of the Agency

• Established in 2014 within the Ministry for Energy and Water Management.
• Technical and policy support arm of the Ministry.
• Has grown significantly in terms of resources - by the end of 2019, the agency had

a workforce of over 50 professionals including engineers, architects, scientists, lawyers, and economists.

• The Agency is tasked with the development of policies to ensure secure,

sustainable and affordable energy and water for the Maltese consumer.

• Well-placed to take into account and identify synergies arising from the energy-

water nexus in the Maltese Islands.

Background (1)

• Under the Regulation of the Governance of the Energy Union, Member States

were required to submit their National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) 2021-2030 covering the 5 dimensions of the Energy Union.

• Research, Innovation and Competitiveness is one of the five dimensions.
• Considered key cross-cutting area enabling member states and the EU to deliver
• n the overarching objectives of the Energy Union.

DECARBONISATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY ENERGY SECURITY RESEARCH & INNOVATION INTERNAL MARKET

Background (2)

• Necessitated initiation of work on a strategy for R&I in

the field of energy.

• Expanded to include R&I in water (supports the

implementation of supplementary measures under the Water Framework Directive).

• Innovation potential in both fields.
• Current support at the national level limited to

experimental design and commercialisation stages.

• Energy and water research not directly eligible for

European Structural and Investment Funds for R&I.

The Strategy is guided by:

• National policy direction

and sectoral ambitions

• European objectives and

long-term vision

• Engagement with

national stakeholders and the public

• The wider R&I landscape

BOLSTERING STRENGTHS & ADDRESSING GAPS

Working within a rich R&I landscape

• Significant focus at EU level on energy and water – largely from a

perspective of sustainability, climate change adaptation and resource management

• European Commission proposed to increase target of EU

budget expenditure on climate objectives to 25% between 2021-2027 (EUR 25 billion).

• Ensure complementarity with national and EU policies.
• Seeking to avoid overlaps and duplication.
• Enhance synergies.
• Seeking to ensure multi-level coordination between the different

government entities responsible for R&I and academia already undertaking R&I activities.

EU LEVEL Horizon Europe and

• ther programmes

NATIONAL Post-2020 National R&I Strategy (MCST) – work is ongoing SECTORAL Other sectoral strategies with an R&I aspect

R&I in Energy & Water: 2030 Strategy

• Provide clarity on priority areas for R&I
• Provide additional support for R&I activities

Boost R&I in energy & water

• Create a framework for coordination &

enhanced dialogue between stakeholders

• Centralisation of activities & opportunities

Enhance coordination & cooperation

Boost R&I in Energy & Water

Objective 1 - Strengthen and support R&I that:

• Addresses national policy priorities and challenges; and/or
• Bolsters national competitiveness and growth in a variety of

sectors. Seeking to ensure a balance between research and innovation: Addressing the above will require a combination of research- focused (fundamental and applied) and innovation-focused activities.

• Not a purely technological focus.
• Policy & regulatory tools, institutional and behavioural norms,

technical constraints & opportunities etc.

Supporting research and innovation that:

• Addresses national

challenges

• Contributes to the

realisation of national

• bjectives in energy

and water

• Contributes to national

economic development/ competitiveness AIMING FOR BOTH EXCELLENCE AND IMPACT

Priority Areas for R&I in Energy & Water

ENERGY-WATER NEXUS

RENEWABLE SOLUTIONS FOR ISLANDS

INTEGRATION OF RES ELECTRICITY ENERGY EFFICIENT SOLUTIONS FOR INDUSTRY AND SERVICES WATER USE EFFICIENCY DESALINATION PROCESSES WASTEWATER/ WATER TREATMENT & RECLAMATION WATER FRIENDLY URBAN CENTRES ENGINEERING AND NATURAL SCIENCES BIG DATA, DIGITALISATION AND ARIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND BEHAVIOURAL RESEARCH

AREAS OF RESEARCH

Platform-RINEW

Objective 2 – Enhance coordination and cooperation:

• Facilitate frequent coordination between stakeholders, maximising mutually

beneficial opportunities; and

• Enable the translation of R&I outcomes into tangible impacts.

Platform-RINEW will be established:

• Primary tool for coordinating the implementation of the Strategy.
• Development of periodic (multi-year) Implementation Plans.
• Bring together government, academia, industry and the commercial sector.
• A more horizontal relationship between those executing the Strategy,

those participating within its support framework and those benefitting from its outcomes.

Platform-RINEW: Structure & Roles

STEERING COMMITTEE

• Co-chaired by high-level executives

(proposal for joint chairmanship between MEW & Ministry responsible for R&I)

• Approval of Implementation Plans & budgetary control.

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

• Representatives from public sector, academia, industry & other relevant institutions.
• Co-chaired by technical executive from EWA & research institutions (rotating).
• Ensure frequent interaction and coordination between stakeholders.
• Design of the Implementation Plans, including identified targets.

SECRETARIAT

• Day-to-day running of Platform-RINEW.
• Act as one-stop-shop for all matters related to R&I in energy and water.
• Regular collection of data.

Funding

• Fundamental and applied research (TRL 2-6) are prioritised under this Strategy.
• Early engagement with experts and stakeholders;
• Existing and planned support at national and EU level; and
• JRC Policy Support Facility Peer Review (2019).
• Expected to take the form of research grants, disbursed through two distinct

mechanisms: 1. Calls for bottom-up proposals relating to the Priority Areas; and 2. Calls for proposals to structured research questions relating to the Priority Areas.

Resources

• Budget 2020: EUR 500,000 for the first year of implementation of the Strategy.
• It is planned that a pilot scheme will be launched in mid-2020.
• European Structural and Investment Funds – portion dedicated to Member States

for R&I (if available).

• Smart Specialisation Strategy (currently being developed by MCST).
• Flexible design of the Strategy, allowing for the exploitation of synergies as they

emerge and thus, the maximisation of resources available for research.

Evaluation & Monitoring

• Essential to set quantifiable targets & track progress of the Strategy and the

Implementation Plans.

• In-depth stock-taking exercise to be conducted to establish ‘baseline’.

Indicator Justification Number of publications Indicator of fundamental research Number of publications in high-impact journals Indicator of fundamental research Level of public sector funding to energy & water (% GDP) Indicators of magnitude of activity Level of EU-funding (% of total EU funding

• btained for energy & water R&I)

Indicator of magnitude of activity & level

• f international participation

Number of projects Indicator of level of activity Number of researchers Indicator of critical mass for research

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