To achieve these objectives, the project has implemented several major activities in RP2, including:
1. Establishment of five national experts' groups to launch discussions mirroring the RHC-ETIP’s approach in five selected countries (Poland, Sweden, Germany, France, and Croatia).
2. Organisation of 14 roundtable events to closely inform national experts on the ongoing work of the RHC-ETIP, to exchange knowledge, and receive feedback on the RHC-ETIP expert documents, and to also engage national stakeholders in discussions about the ongoing H&C transition within their region.
3. Review of SRIA feeding into “RHC-ETIP's priority topics for the Horizon Europe's Work Programme 2026 & 2027” with the expert document sent to the European Commission's DG RTD
4. Interaction with other ETIPs and further relevant initiatives. Participation and active contribution to the activities of the ETIPs Forum were ensured and contributions of RHC-ETIP were provided to the following documents: joint ETIPs report analysing the R&I dimension of NECPs, joint ETIPs report on Skills and jobs in the RE sectors, CST4ALL online workshop on heat pumps hybridisation, CST4ALL final event discussion panel, contribution to and endorsement of SRIA on Hybrid Energy Storage developed under the coordination of the StoRIES project, contribution to the joint ETIPs workshop organised by ETIPs FORUM in March 2025, and others.
5. Establishment of new links with relevant groups, while other ongoing collaborations have continued. These include structured cooperation with European Partnerships (CETPartnership TRI4, Driving Urban Transitions Partnership), collaborative platforms (Smart Cities Marketplace, Energy Cities, ECTP, Cool Heating Coalition), industry associations (COGEN Europe), and IEA Technology Collaboration Programmes.
6. Publication of three position papers by the Social Sciences and Humanities for RHC Horizontal Working Group
7. Launch of the RHC Accelerator and its integration in the RHC-ETIP website
8. Work within the Focus Group on Heating and Cooling of the Smart Cities Marketplace, publication of the District Heating and Cooling Solution Booklet and organisation of two topic-specific webinars and a City Course as a solution-oriented capacity-building event.
9. Publication of the RHC industrial strategy laying out a comprehensive framework for enhancing funding for production facilities made in Europe, streamlining permitting regulations, ensuring a skilled workforce and fortifying energy infrastructure for renewable heating and cooling.
10. Participation to ETIP SNET Governing Board meetings and feedback for the preparation of their reports.
11. Organisation of regular Board, HWG and Technology panel meetings to present and discuss relevant topics for the RHC uptake and to allow members to provide news on recent developments which the EC and MS representatives use to define research programmes and financial instruments.
12. Organisation of the annual 100% RHC events in Graz 2024 (within ISEC 2024) and in Brussels in 2025.
13. Development and publishing of a series of interview-styled videos with RHC industry leaders where they share their success stories, strategies for the energy transition and overcoming challenges.
