Coordinating catalysis - ACENET pulls together research programmes from across Europe
'If there was no chemistry, we wouldn't be where we are today,' says Louis Vertegaal, coordinator of the ACENET ERA-NET, a network bringing together national research programmes on applied catalysis. Although invisible to most of us, we are surrounded by chemistry, and research in this field is constantly enabling new technologies and improvements to living standards. Essential to these new discoveries is catalysis, which is involved in 80 per cent of all chemical reactions, according to Dr Vertegaal. Indeed, catalysis was essential for the development of technologies such as laptops and mobile phones - appliances that would not normally be associated with chemistry - and is playing a major part in research in fields as diverse as sustainable hydrogen production and biotechnology. Dr Vertegaal has no doubts about the importance of catalysis for Europe, nor the need for coordination within this research field. Catalysis is important today, and will provide new innovations for tomorrow, says the ACENET coordinator, and therefore contributes to Europe's goals for growth and innovation. Coordination is also essential in order to get the most out of the funds and knowledge available, believes Dr Vertegaal. 'The amount of money that Brussels has to spend on research and innovation is relatively small compared with what can be spent by national research councils,' says Dr Vertegaal. It therefore makes sense for these research councils to work together where possible within the ERA-NET scheme. The ACENET ERA-NET unites ten research management and funding organisations from nine EU Member States. Together, the partners intend to establish more coordination between their research programmes, to create a framework for communication between the actors involved, and to learn from the experiences and new ideas of all participants. In addition to the above goals, ACENET has also set itself the ambitious goal of establishing a joint framework for training and education. No other ERA-NET is attempting this, but Dr Vertegaal is excited by the prospect: 'This is a bit like a dream for the catalysis community - to have integrated courses.' Catalysis is perhaps one of the areas most suited to this type of coordination. Dr Vertegaal says that catalysis is 'by far the sector within chemistry that has a good connection between industry and academia. We have the sense to coordinate because we know that joint effort is the way to get the best results.' The ERA-NET is working closely with the sustainable chemistry Technology Platform, which is responsible for drawing up a strategic research agenda, as well as with other ERA-NETs working in related fields. Of course, successful collaboration is also dependent upon people, their flexibility and their enthusiasm, adds Dr Vertegaal. In a recent report, the European Commission noted that while many ERA-NETs have been a success, very few are prepared to launch joint calls. While ACENET has not yet reached this stage, Dr Vertegaal does expect his ERA-NET to launch joint calls in the not too distant future and is planning very carefully for this. The network is currently looking at benchmarking, procedures and best practices, and, after coordinating research programmes, joint initiatives will be the next step. ACENET has set itself a number of goals to achieve within its funding timeframe, but the real objective, according to Dr Vertegaal, is to create a structure with a longer lifespan, which receives financial support from national budgets. The real change must happen 'in the minds of people in different nations. This ERA-NET is really making this happen,' says the ACENET coordinator.