Final Report Summary - INRES (Insular regions cooperation for maximising the environmental and economic benefits from the research in renewable energy sources)
Executive summary:
The INRES project concerns renewable energy and it aims to establish collaboration between three island regions, namely the Canary Islands (Spain), Crete (Greece) and Samsø (Denmark). The objective is to promote innovation, especially for the benefit of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The project period is from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2012.
Each island region participates with a research driven cluster of three partners, namely an industrial, a public authority and a development oriented partner. A consulting company from Italy specialising in technology transfer, benchmarking analyses and international networks is involved as an additional partner.
SMEs from the industry, tourism and service sectors are important players in these clusters. They are producers and end-users of renewable energy technologies and their experience of collaborating both locally and internationally is regarded as an important input for the design of the project's common action plan.
Project context and objectives:
The work is divided into three phases:
Analysis of the state of the art:
1. core competences, regional research agendas, technology transfer dynamics, economic impact of renewable energy policies
2. carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions: profiling, analysis, forecast, industry driven policies for reduction.
Cross-learning and mentoring:
1. organisation of staff exchanges/visits and workshops (regional and inter-regional)
2. identification of European renewable energy sources (RES) policies
Drawing up of a joint action plan (JAP):
1. concerted long-term vision on policies and research strategies for the RES sector
2. generation of a common research agenda for a sustainable energy environment
3. preparation of a business plan supporting the financial coverage of the action plan.
Project results:
Applied technologies
All island regions have implemented renewable energy in one form or another and each regional research-driven cluster has technological specialties.
1. Canary Islands. Environmental products and services, especially with regard to: water, energy, waste treatment, environmental quality systems, contamination management and the sustainable development of the territory. Application specialty: electro-mechanical equipment.
2. Crete. Development of renewable energy policies, monitoring and their impact on SMEs, especially with regard to: applications of renewable energy, rational use of energy, energy savings. Application specialty: photovoltaic panels and thermal control systems in a hotel.
3. Samsø. Measures and tools to raise the interest and the participation of the local companies for integrating renewable energy sources, especially with regard to: onshore / offshore wind turbines and district heating plants. Application specialty: solar panels, underground heating and other installations for private households.
The INRES project organises personnel exchanges and workshops in order to transfer knowledge between the participating regions.
Potential impact:
INRES impact and benefits
1. coordination among the triple helix members
2. higher integration of business sector through regional cluster networking. Creation of the Crete RES cluster and consolidation of the Ricam cluster in the Canaries.
3. involvement of business sector in the design of the action plan for RES economic implementation
4. creation of a transnational network of cooperation, reinforced by the study visits organised with different stakeholders
5. acknowledgment and better exploitation of linkages between regions and increasing the potential of technology transfer dynamics beyond the regional dimension
6. planning of a long-term sustained management strategy and joint research proposals that promise long-term benefits and increased impact
7. identification of specific proposals in the JAP for assuring the long term cooperation
8. networking stimulates and enhances the interconnected thinking from different cultural contexts and recognises the ambition towards common actions
9. feedback from the membership enhancement programme (MEP) on JAP activities and alignment with European Union (EU) policies.
List of websites:
http://www.inresproject.eu/
List of partners
Canary Islands (Spain)
Agencia Canaria de Investigación, Innovación y Sociedad de la Información (ACIISI) - coordinator, http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/aciisi
Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias S.A. (ITC), http://www.itccanarias.org
Dobontech, Dobon's Technology S.L. http://www.dobontech.com
Crete (Greece)
Regional Energy Agency of Crete (REAC), http://www.crete-region.gr
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), http://www.forth.gr
Candia Maris Hotel (CANDIA), http://www.maris.gr/candia
Samsø (Denmark)
Samsø Energy Agency (SEA), http://www.seagency.dk
Samsø Energy Academy (SE), http://www.energiakademiet.dk
Brdr. Stjerne K.S. (BS), http://www.brdrstjerne.dk
Italy
Innova S.p.A. http://www.innova-eu.net
The INRES project concerns renewable energy and it aims to establish collaboration between three island regions, namely the Canary Islands (Spain), Crete (Greece) and Samsø (Denmark). The objective is to promote innovation, especially for the benefit of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The project period is from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2012.
Each island region participates with a research driven cluster of three partners, namely an industrial, a public authority and a development oriented partner. A consulting company from Italy specialising in technology transfer, benchmarking analyses and international networks is involved as an additional partner.
SMEs from the industry, tourism and service sectors are important players in these clusters. They are producers and end-users of renewable energy technologies and their experience of collaborating both locally and internationally is regarded as an important input for the design of the project's common action plan.
Project context and objectives:
The work is divided into three phases:
Analysis of the state of the art:
1. core competences, regional research agendas, technology transfer dynamics, economic impact of renewable energy policies
2. carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions: profiling, analysis, forecast, industry driven policies for reduction.
Cross-learning and mentoring:
1. organisation of staff exchanges/visits and workshops (regional and inter-regional)
2. identification of European renewable energy sources (RES) policies
Drawing up of a joint action plan (JAP):
1. concerted long-term vision on policies and research strategies for the RES sector
2. generation of a common research agenda for a sustainable energy environment
3. preparation of a business plan supporting the financial coverage of the action plan.
Project results:
Applied technologies
All island regions have implemented renewable energy in one form or another and each regional research-driven cluster has technological specialties.
1. Canary Islands. Environmental products and services, especially with regard to: water, energy, waste treatment, environmental quality systems, contamination management and the sustainable development of the territory. Application specialty: electro-mechanical equipment.
2. Crete. Development of renewable energy policies, monitoring and their impact on SMEs, especially with regard to: applications of renewable energy, rational use of energy, energy savings. Application specialty: photovoltaic panels and thermal control systems in a hotel.
3. Samsø. Measures and tools to raise the interest and the participation of the local companies for integrating renewable energy sources, especially with regard to: onshore / offshore wind turbines and district heating plants. Application specialty: solar panels, underground heating and other installations for private households.
The INRES project organises personnel exchanges and workshops in order to transfer knowledge between the participating regions.
Potential impact:
INRES impact and benefits
1. coordination among the triple helix members
2. higher integration of business sector through regional cluster networking. Creation of the Crete RES cluster and consolidation of the Ricam cluster in the Canaries.
3. involvement of business sector in the design of the action plan for RES economic implementation
4. creation of a transnational network of cooperation, reinforced by the study visits organised with different stakeholders
5. acknowledgment and better exploitation of linkages between regions and increasing the potential of technology transfer dynamics beyond the regional dimension
6. planning of a long-term sustained management strategy and joint research proposals that promise long-term benefits and increased impact
7. identification of specific proposals in the JAP for assuring the long term cooperation
8. networking stimulates and enhances the interconnected thinking from different cultural contexts and recognises the ambition towards common actions
9. feedback from the membership enhancement programme (MEP) on JAP activities and alignment with European Union (EU) policies.
List of websites:
http://www.inresproject.eu/
List of partners
Canary Islands (Spain)
Agencia Canaria de Investigación, Innovación y Sociedad de la Información (ACIISI) - coordinator, http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/aciisi
Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias S.A. (ITC), http://www.itccanarias.org
Dobontech, Dobon's Technology S.L. http://www.dobontech.com
Crete (Greece)
Regional Energy Agency of Crete (REAC), http://www.crete-region.gr
Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), http://www.forth.gr
Candia Maris Hotel (CANDIA), http://www.maris.gr/candia
Samsø (Denmark)
Samsø Energy Agency (SEA), http://www.seagency.dk
Samsø Energy Academy (SE), http://www.energiakademiet.dk
Brdr. Stjerne K.S. (BS), http://www.brdrstjerne.dk
Italy
Innova S.p.A. http://www.innova-eu.net