Impact

The European Commission has made climate action one of its top priorities, with the transition towards a clean energy society as a cornerstone. Research and innovation will play a central role for achieving this goal.

EERA supports the EU by catalysing R&I efforts in the field of energy and adjacent disciplines throughout Europe. EERA leverages this renewed political focus and creates impact for the different stakeholders of the clean energy transition.

  • Excellent research
    Work with the best: EERA gathers the most excellent energy researchers and infrastructures in the whole of Europe. Joining the EERA community means opening doors to cutting-edge capacities that drive scientific and technological development here and world-wide.
  • Agenda setting
    Decisions on public money spent on research are mostly taken at government level – national and European. As Europe’s largest energy research community and key player in the EU Strategic Energy Technology Plan and the Clean Energy Transition, EERA is an acknowledged adviser to the European institutions. Thanks to the input of its members, EERA can provide strategic and technological advice and help shape the future research funding landscape. Your contribution is crucial in this endeavour – make your voice heard.
  • Joint programming
    The objective to streamline research efforts and agree on common goals is at the heart of EERA's mission. Organisations in different countries joining efforts were at the origin of the association. EERA acts as a facilitator for inter-organisational and inter-institutional collaboration, helps avoid duplication and reach the common targets defined for instance in the SET-Plan.
  • Knowledge sharing
    EERA offers a unique network and platform for knowledge-sharing and dissemination. The most prominent networks in EERA are the EERA Joint Programmes. EERA members can participate in one or more Joint Programmes and work together on commonly defined research priorities, make new contacts and advance their research. Besides that, EERA helps its Joint Programmes and their members cross borders and engage also with other disciplines.
  • Networking
    Collaboration with partners in other countries is a prerequesite for success at the international level and also for the majority of European funding schemes. To be able to rely on an extensive network of partners is a great plus. The EERA community offers the possibility to network with peers from your field of work but also from other, adjacent disciplines.
  • Strategic initiatives
    Are you looking for exciting new research and innovation projects? Consortia that are developing? Emerging collaborations? New political initiatives? As part of the EERA network, chances are high that you are able to detect new opportunities early on as you will be in the loop of ongoing discussions in your field of work and beyond. EERA and its Joint Programmes are a breeding ground for such new initiatives, at national, European and international levels.

Interested in joining us?

  • Trusted adviser
    Thanks to its huge network of top experts in the broad range of low-carbon energy research, EERA is able to provide leading-edge independent advice on both specific technologies and the energy transition as a whole. EERA’s 18 Joint Programmes, which include systemic and interdisciplinary topics, allow for a holistic view and the integration of different angles and perspectives.
  • Mobilisation of national resources
    By far largest share of public funding for energy research comes from national resources. To avoid duplication and reach the EU targets, it is crucial to mobilise and streamline national research efforts and funding. Our approach to this is twofold: It fosters bottom-up alignment through the participation of our members in Joint Programmes and helps national ministries and funding agencies harmonise their programmes and set up joint funding schemes (top-down).
  • One-stop shop for energy research and development
    EERA is the largest energy research community in Europe. It brings together 250 universities and public research centres in 30 countries and covers the whole range of low-carbon technologies as well as systemic and cross-cutting topics. With this powerful background, we are ideally positioned to represent Europe’s low-carbon energy research community towards the European institutions.
  • Liasion for international cooperation
    EERA integrates most of the EU Member States and 4 Associated Countries. But its focus doesn’t stop at the European borders. EERA and its researchers contribute to global initiatives like Mission Innovation, the Paris Agreement and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and interact with key players all over the world.

  • A knowledge-sharing platform
    EERA acts as a facilitator for inter-organisational and inter-institutional collaboration in the field of low-carbon energy research. It provides a platform for knowledge-sharing and opens a room for discussions, best practices and both bi- and multilateral cooperation. Besides that, we offer scientific expertise and sound advice on energy-related matters and bring together researchers, innovators and decision-makers.
  • A tool to mobilise and leverage national resources
    EERA gathers 250 public research centres and universities, which work together on jointly defined research agendas. This collaboration includes but is not limited to shared use of research infrastructures and scientific data and the implementation of inter-organisational staff exchange. The EERA Joint Programmes, which build the framework for this scientific cooperation, are aligned with the priorities defined in the SET-Plan.
  • A supporter of national strategies
    Where are the gaps in national funding strategies? How does a funding strategy fit in the international context? Are there collaboration opportunities with other states? Thanks to its umbrella function and close collaboration with the SET-Plan countries, EERA can assist national governments and funding agencies in aligning their strategy with shared priorities in Europe and thus make it more efficient and targeted.
  • Public sector advice
    Thanks to its huge network of top experts in the broad range of low-carbon energy research, EERA is able to provide leading-edge independent advice on both specific technologies and the energy transition as a whole. EERA’s 18 Joint Programmes, which include also systemic and interdisciplinary topics, allow for a holistic view and the integration of different angles and perspectives.

  • Facilitating technology transfer
    EERA brings together almost all low-carbon technologies – not only under one organisational roof, but also literally: we strive to break technological silos and look for added value that comes from collaboration with adjacent technologies and other disciplines entirely, for instance social sciences and the humanities.
  • Access to excellent research
    Are you looking for research performing organisations for your R&I project? EERA member organisations have, to a large extent, experience in collaborating with industry, be it bilaterally or in the frame of a bigger consortium. Feel free to approach the EERA Joint Programme that covers your field of interest to get in touch with leading researchers and explore opportunities for collaboration.
  • Access to new ideas and solutions
    In EERA, Europe’s brightest minds work together on cutting-edge low-carbon energy topics. Research undertaken in EERA covers the technology readiness levels 2 to 5 (technology validated in relevant environment), sometimes even up to 7 (system prototype demonstration in operational environment). This knowledge is ready to be used for your business idea.
  • Gain competitiveness
    Keeping up with newest technological developments is key for business sustainability. By working together with leading research organisations, you are able to profit from most recent scientific findings, turn them into innovative products and services and thereby increase your competitiveness in Europe and worldwide.

Learn more about the EERA Joint Programmes

  • Sustainable, secure, efficient and affordable energy
    Energy needs to be sustainable (to preserve our environment), secure (to avoid shortage), efficient (to avoid wasting it) and come at a low cost (to be affordable for everyone). The low-carbon energy technologies that are researched by the EERA member organisations fulfil all these requirements. Have a look at the different fields of research in low-carbon energy covered by the EERA Joint Programmes.
  • Clean air and a healthy environment
    More and more cities are forced to ban cars with noxious emissions from their centres. This is just one example for the reason why low-carbon energy technologies need to be further developed. EERA’s researchers work on solutions for the different sectors that are contributing to these emissions. This research lays the groundwork for innovations that contribute to cleaner air and a healthy environment.
  • A clean energy transition that works for everyone
    Technologies alone won't solve the problem. While much progress has been made at the technological level, the societal aspects have often been left out. We integrate social, ecological and economic aspects in our work and provide a holistic view on the energy transition.
  • Efficient and targeted use of tax money
    Research on clean energy is often financed with public money, which goes for instance to universities and public research centres or is used for competitive funding in public research programmes. By contributing to a coordinated approach and bringing national governments and research organisations together, EERA helps them identify common research priorities and avoid duplicate work. This allows for a more efficient and targeted use of tax money spent on energy research.

Highlights