Energy: 650 European experts meet today at the Set-Plan Conference 2014 in Rome

Towards an Energy Research and Innovation Union

Leading European and Italian authorities and over 650 energy stakeholders from all across Europe and beyond are gathering today and tomorrow in Rome at the 7th Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) Conference. The two-day conference - organised by ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development) with the collaboration and support of the European Commission - is a major event in the programme of the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The conference offers a unique opportunity for all stakeholders and representatives of national and EU institutions to have in-depth discussions on the new developments of the SET Plan towards an Integrated Roadmap and Action Plan addressing research & innovation challenges and needs of the EU energy system. Over the last six years, the SET Plan has promoted and fostered the exchange of information and knowledge between key decision-makers, industry and research actors and has had a structuring effect in EU and national programmes, orienting investments around selected technologies. Building on these achievements, the Integrated Roadmap and Action Plan will respond to the new challenges of the energy transition and the objectives of the European Energy Union.

“In this context – said ENEA Commissioner, Federico Testa – research and innovation are key to give answers to the challenge of securing energy supplies and to the increasing concerns on climate change. The crucial climate-energy nexus is further strengthened by the concurrence of the Lima Conference on climate change while the SET Plan Conference is taking place”.

The high-level opening speeches from the European Commission acknowledged that “this event could not fall at more opportune time, where the need to ensure a competitive, secure, affordable and sustainable energy system is without a doubt one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Indeed, the construction of a resilient Energy Union with a forward looking climate change policy has been identified as key priority of the current European Commission. European Energy R&I policy has a major role to play”.

Launched in 2008 the EU’s SET-Plan is the technology pillar of the EU’s energy and climate policy to support research and innovation on low-carbon technologies by establishing joint partnership among research actors, industry, European Commission and Member States. Its major goal is to contribute to the transition to a low carbon economy by reducing CO2 emissions as well as to increase energy security in a sustainable way while reinforcing competiveness, by using the available resources more effectively and leveraging investments to create growth and new jobs.

The SET-Plan is an initiative of the European Commission’s Directorates – General for Energy, Research and Innovation and the Joint Research Centre.

For further information on the SET-Plan Conference programme and speakers: www.setplan2014.it