ERA-NET for research and innovation on materials and battery technologies, supporting the European Green Deal.

Project Information

M-ERA.NET3

Grant agreement ID: 958174

DOI

10.3030/958174

EC signature date 25 September 2020

Start date 1 March 2021

End date 31 August 2026

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Advanced materials

Total cost

€ 45 454 545,45

EU contribution

€ 15 000 000,00

Coordinated by

OSTERREICHISCHE FORSCHUNGSFORDERUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH
Austria

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - M-ERA.NET3 (ERA-NET for research and innovation on materials and battery technologies, supporting the European Green Deal.)

Reporting period: 2021-03-01 to 2022-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

M-ERA.NET 3 brings together 50 partners from 27 EU MS and AC and 6 non-European countries to facilitate transnational RTD projects in materials research and innovation, including materials for future batteries. The objectives are to
• establish a joint vision and multi-annual policy for joint strategic programming;
• implement a cofunded joint transnational call with a total call budget of at least 50 mio €;
• implement additional, annual joint transnational calls without EU cofunding;
• mobilise a total public call budget of 150 million € with additional private investment of 50 million €; thus, the leverage effect of the EU contribution is expected to reach a factor of 13;
• assess the results of completed RTD projects funded from the cofunded call as well as by previous M-ERA.NET Calls 2016-2020 based on an agreed set of indicators;
• valorise the results of funded projects and promote the take-up of the developed technologies by disseminating good practices through success stories and brokerage events;
• consolidate the basis for pan-European cooperation of national and regional funding programmes enabled by a flexible framework and a variable geometry approach, aiming for a durable partnership;
• establish a dialogue with the European and international RTD community in materials research and innovation with a special view to future batteries;
• communicate with the general public in both directions, e.g. by informing about the results of funded projects as well as by providing opportunities to deliver comments on the co-programming process for the annual work programmes;
• raise awareness among the scientific community and policy makers on potential RRI issues in materials research and develop RRI-guidelines for materials research

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

WP1
Task 1.1: Deliverable reports were compiled and submitted to the EC.
Task 1.2: 5 consortium meetings (virtual/hybrid) were organised.
Task 1.3: the Management Group has continuously controlled project progress to ensure effective operation of the core activities.
WP2
Task 2.1: The following actions were undertaken already before the actual M-ERA.NET 3 kick-off:
- survey among consortium partners to identify call topics and workshop of Strategic Experts Group
- analysis of ongoing initiatives to identify materials related R&D&I needs and opportunities for low-carbon energy technology development
Task 2.2: Call 2021 was designed from Oct 2020 to Jan 2021 and prepared for implementation Jan-Mar 2021.
Task 2.3: M-ERA.NET webpage, mailing list, call flyer.
Task 2.4: An electronic proposal management system was set up by the call secretariat comprising 3 separate modules for Submission, Evaluation, Monitoring.
WP 3
Task 3.1: In total 114 evaluators were allocated to eligible full-proposals.
Task 3.2: 493 Pre-Proposals were received; 174 pre-proposals were recommended to stage 2.
Task 3.3: An independent observer monitored the call implementation. 170 submitted and eligible full-proposals were evaluated according to the EC rules for ERA-NET COFUND. 151 full-proposals passed the central evaluation.
Task 3.4: While the mixed-mode approach for using the EC top-was already agreed in the CA the exact share of top-up was decided in the selection meetings. 70 Full-Proposals were selected for funding. Applicants received feedback emails from the call secretariat after the pre-proposal and full-proposal selection meetings.
WP4
Task 4.1: Online questionnaires to collect feedback from applicants were drafted.
Task 4.2: Templates for mid-term and final reviews were drafted.
WP 5
Task 5.1:: A communication strategy was set up: The public homepage www.m-era.net was updated in March 2021. The project intranet is part of the M-ERA.NET monitoring tool.
Task 5.2: Success stories of funded projects and reports on the assessment of transnational projects funded under the M-ERA.NET calls were published.
WP 6
Task 6.1: Input on topics for the call 2022 was collected through an online survey. The consortium agreed to support 6 topics.
Task 6.2: A draft work programme for call 2022 was circulated in Dec 2021 and endorsed in Feb 2022.
Task 6.3: The call 2022 was promoted through the M-ERA.NET website, a mass mailing and printed material.
Task 6.6: Projects funded under the predecessor M-ERA.NET 2 Call 2017 were assessed in January 2022
WP 7
Task 7.1: A questionnaire was circulated to collect information on participating organisations and programmes.
Task 7.2: A strategy on joint activities with European RTD community was adopted, providing a comprehensive overview of the main initiatives and networks performing in the materials and batteries field.
Task 7.5: First "Guidelines for Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) in the context of materials science" were developed to contribute to a wider public debate on the impact of materials research, ethically, for relevant SDGs and a circular economy.
WP 8
Task 8.1: Two deliverables were submitted describing the protection of personal data, the procedures and criteria used to identify/recruit both experts and evaluators and the informed consent procedures implemented for the participation of both experts and evaluators

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Synergies with international, national and regional programmes that support research and innovation
• M-ERA.NET 3 will foster the convergence of funding programmes by streamlining programme procedures and allowing for a more efficient use of resources.
• EU-13 countries will be substantially supported in their efforts; M-ERA.NET 3 will contribute to harmonising knowledge and generate learning effects
• Through its strong participation of regions, M-ERA.NET 3 will have a strong impact on R&I at regional level and support local actors by facilitating global connections and increased productivity.
• M-ERA.NET 3 will contribute to achieving consolidated research cooperation within the EU and improved cooperation with Third Countries.
Synergies but no overlap with the topics of Horizon 2020 and with related European Partnership initiatives and be open to adapt to future coming initiatives of Horizon Europe
• The thematic scope of joint calls will be defined in cooperation with representatives from identified relevant initiatives
• identify options and opportunities for cooperating with upcoming European Partnerships
Leverage of national, regional and European funding
• M-ERA.NET 3 will mobilise substantial funding at the regional, national and European levels; the network will launch annual calls with an estimated total funding of around 150 million € during 5 years.
Contribution to meeting Global Challenges through Better Governance: International Co-operation in Science, Technology and Innovation
• with 6 non-European countries represented in the consortium there is already a very good base from which to explore further cooperation opportunities to meet global challenges and to build capacity in science, technology and innovation (STI)
Relevant contribution to the SDGs, including sustainable battery based energy storage technology
• Research groups applying for funding from the M-ERA.NET 3 calls will have to show how their proposed projects contribute to the SDG
Relevant contribution towards a circular economy
• M-ERA.NET 3 will contribute to an improved efficiency of production processes, to reduced use of materials & energy resources, and to improved materials properties to maintain the value of materials and products for as long as possible.

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