Periodic Reporting for period 1 - GREENET (NCPS NETwork for the GREEN transition in climate, energy and mobility)
Période du rapport: 2022-07-01 au 2023-12-31
Horizon Europe (HE) is the EU's flagship R&I funding program designed to drive scientific excellence, technological innovation, and societal impact. It is organized into several thematic clusters, each focusing on key challenges and strategic priorities. Cluster 5 (CL5) specifically addresses climate, energy, and mobility, aiming to foster sustainability, resilience, and green transition across various sectors. Within the HE framework, National Contact Points (NCPs) play a crucial role as intermediaries between the program and potential applicants. They provide guidance, support, and information to stakeholders, facilitating their participation in HE calls. The objectives of GREENET are:
-Professionalization and Expertise Enhancement: GREENET elevates the capabilities and expertise of CL5 NCPs throughout Europe. By providing specialized training, resources, and networking opportunities, GREENET seeks to empower NCPs with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively navigate the complexities of HE's CL5.
-Simplified Access to HE Calls: GREENET streamlines the process for applicants seeking funding under HE. By developing tools and support mechanisms, GREENET enhances the accessibility and user-friendliness of HE calls, thus encouraging broader participation and engagement from diverse stakeholders.
-Capacity Building and Service Development: GREENET fosters the development of targeted, high-quality capacity-building services and collaborative initiatives tailored to the specific needs of CL5 applicants, enhancing the ability of CL5 NCPs to provide personalized guidance, support, and assistance to applicants, thereby maximizing their chances of success within the HE ecosystem.
-Community Building and Integration: GREENET seeks to cultivate a vibrant and cohesive community among CL5 stakeholders, fostering collaboration. By facilitating networking events, forums, and collaborative projects, GREENET aims to promote synergy and cohesion within the CL5 community, ultimately strengthening its collective impact and effectiveness within HE.
In summary, GREENET is a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing the effectiveness, professionalism, and accessibility of CL5 NCPs, empowering them to better serve their constituents and contribute to the achievement of HE's overarching objectives in the realms of CL5.
-Professionalization and Expertise Enhancement: GREENET elevates the capabilities and expertise of CL5 NCPs throughout Europe. By providing specialized training, resources, and networking opportunities, GREENET seeks to empower NCPs with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively navigate the complexities of HE's CL5.
-Simplified Access to HE Calls: GREENET streamlines the process for applicants seeking funding under HE. By developing tools and support mechanisms, GREENET enhances the accessibility and user-friendliness of HE calls, thus encouraging broader participation and engagement from diverse stakeholders.
-Capacity Building and Service Development: GREENET fosters the development of targeted, high-quality capacity-building services and collaborative initiatives tailored to the specific needs of CL5 applicants, enhancing the ability of CL5 NCPs to provide personalized guidance, support, and assistance to applicants, thereby maximizing their chances of success within the HE ecosystem.
-Community Building and Integration: GREENET seeks to cultivate a vibrant and cohesive community among CL5 stakeholders, fostering collaboration. By facilitating networking events, forums, and collaborative projects, GREENET aims to promote synergy and cohesion within the CL5 community, ultimately strengthening its collective impact and effectiveness within HE.
In summary, GREENET is a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing the effectiveness, professionalism, and accessibility of CL5 NCPs, empowering them to better serve their constituents and contribute to the achievement of HE's overarching objectives in the realms of CL5.
GREENET achievements are as follows:
1. Improving capacities and knowledge of NCPs:
- 7 Training events (1 onsite masterclass and 6 webinars) for NCPs delivered
- 1 twinning visit completed
- 1 mentoring programme launched
- 1 Digital Handbook for newly appointed NCPs
- 3 NCPs’ forums organised
- 2 Newsletters issued
2. Upgrading the tools available to NCPs and users, raising their general understanding about HE:
- Online “Stakeholder Directory” developed, browsable and publicly available on the GREENET website
-The Repository of European Cluster 5 Strategic Documents launched
- Project website created and populated with new content and functionalities
- Partner Profile database launched and populated
- 11 factsheets on CL5-relevant topics (incl. European Partnerships and EITs) developed and published
3. Providing the CL5 R&I constituency with direct opportunities and possibilities for learning, training and networking
- 7 Brokerage events organised or co-organised
- 3 training events (1 onsite and 2 webinars) for stakeholders completed
4. Enlarging and enriching the composition of the CL5 constituency, strengthening its internal ties, linking the GREENET network to all its relevant stakeholders
- Structured cooperation with other NCP networks
- Collaboration with EEN
- Interaction with CL5 key players
5. Lowering the barriers for newcomers and participants from widening countries in CL5 and promoting their assets and competencies:
- CL5-related R&D competences and value chains in the Widening countries identified
- 1 online infoday for widening countries applicants organized
- 5 video interviews and success cases from 3 widening countries published in the ‘Discover the ecosystem’ page of the project website
- 2 pitching sessions organized
1. Improving capacities and knowledge of NCPs:
- 7 Training events (1 onsite masterclass and 6 webinars) for NCPs delivered
- 1 twinning visit completed
- 1 mentoring programme launched
- 1 Digital Handbook for newly appointed NCPs
- 3 NCPs’ forums organised
- 2 Newsletters issued
2. Upgrading the tools available to NCPs and users, raising their general understanding about HE:
- Online “Stakeholder Directory” developed, browsable and publicly available on the GREENET website
-The Repository of European Cluster 5 Strategic Documents launched
- Project website created and populated with new content and functionalities
- Partner Profile database launched and populated
- 11 factsheets on CL5-relevant topics (incl. European Partnerships and EITs) developed and published
3. Providing the CL5 R&I constituency with direct opportunities and possibilities for learning, training and networking
- 7 Brokerage events organised or co-organised
- 3 training events (1 onsite and 2 webinars) for stakeholders completed
4. Enlarging and enriching the composition of the CL5 constituency, strengthening its internal ties, linking the GREENET network to all its relevant stakeholders
- Structured cooperation with other NCP networks
- Collaboration with EEN
- Interaction with CL5 key players
5. Lowering the barriers for newcomers and participants from widening countries in CL5 and promoting their assets and competencies:
- CL5-related R&D competences and value chains in the Widening countries identified
- 1 online infoday for widening countries applicants organized
- 5 video interviews and success cases from 3 widening countries published in the ‘Discover the ecosystem’ page of the project website
- 2 pitching sessions organized
GREENET progress beyond the state of the arts is related to the evolution and advancements in the EU R&I framework programmes. In fact, Horizon 2020 (H2020) NCP networks focused on implementing the priorities and objectives of the H2020 program. In contrast, HE NCP networks, incl. GREENET, are tailored to address the updated thematic priorities and strategic objectives of HE, aligning with the new EU policy agenda. HE introduced structural changes, such as the introduction of CL5 focusing on climate, energy, and mobility. This required the establishment of dedicated NCP networks, like GREENET, specifically catering to the needs and challenges of CL5 stakeholders. The transition from H2020 to HE involved adjustments in the organization, governance, and operations of NCP networks to accommodate new thematic priorities and funding instruments. HE places a stronger emphasis on sustainability, green transition, and climate action compared to its predecessor, reflecting the EU's commitment to the Green Deal and the Paris Agreement. From this perspective, GREENET plays a pivotal role in supporting the implementation of this objectives. GREENET results can be summarized as follows:
- It elevates the expertise and competencies of CL5 NCPs across Europe, surpassing the H2020 standards in terms of knowledge, skills, and proficiency in CL5 thematic areas.
- Through the development and implementation of innovative tools (e.g. Partner Search Tool, Stakeholder directory, Strategic Document Repository, exc.), resources, and training programs, GREENET enhances the quality and effectiveness of support services provided to CL5 applicants, exceeding existing benchmarks in terms of scope (they cover the broader thematic focus of CL5), relevance, user satisfaction and impact.
- By optimizing processes and communication channels, GREENET results in a more streamlined and user-friendly access to HE CL5 funding calls, surpassing past levels of effectiveness in facilitating applicant engagement and participation. Additionally, GREENET's capacity building, knowledge transfer, and best practice sharing initiatives lead to a tangible improvement in the success rates of CL5 applicants.
- GREENET efforts to foster collaboration, networking, and community building among CL5 actors result in the establishment of a vibrant and cohesive constituency that transcends the state of fragmented interactions, enabling enhanced knowledge-sharing, peer support, and collective problem-solving.
By striving to achieve these results beyond the state of the art, GREENET could significantly enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of CL5 NCPs and contribute to the overall success of HE's objectives in addressing climate, energy, and mobility-related challenges.
- It elevates the expertise and competencies of CL5 NCPs across Europe, surpassing the H2020 standards in terms of knowledge, skills, and proficiency in CL5 thematic areas.
- Through the development and implementation of innovative tools (e.g. Partner Search Tool, Stakeholder directory, Strategic Document Repository, exc.), resources, and training programs, GREENET enhances the quality and effectiveness of support services provided to CL5 applicants, exceeding existing benchmarks in terms of scope (they cover the broader thematic focus of CL5), relevance, user satisfaction and impact.
- By optimizing processes and communication channels, GREENET results in a more streamlined and user-friendly access to HE CL5 funding calls, surpassing past levels of effectiveness in facilitating applicant engagement and participation. Additionally, GREENET's capacity building, knowledge transfer, and best practice sharing initiatives lead to a tangible improvement in the success rates of CL5 applicants.
- GREENET efforts to foster collaboration, networking, and community building among CL5 actors result in the establishment of a vibrant and cohesive constituency that transcends the state of fragmented interactions, enabling enhanced knowledge-sharing, peer support, and collective problem-solving.
By striving to achieve these results beyond the state of the art, GREENET could significantly enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of CL5 NCPs and contribute to the overall success of HE's objectives in addressing climate, energy, and mobility-related challenges.