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class="singlepage"> <h1>Frequently Asked Questions</h1> <div class="drdot"> <hr/> </div> <div class="node"> <div class="content">   FAQs ABOUT ETP SMARTGRIDS <a href="#12" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">1. What is Smart Grids?</a> 2<a href="#13" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. Now that the Strategy Deployment Document (SDD) is ready, what is there left for the SMART GRIDS to do?</a> 3<a href="#14" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. Does ETP SMARTGRIDS participate in projects?</a> 4<a href="#15" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. How can I get involved in ETP SMARTGRIDS?</a> 5<a href="#16" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. How many members are involved in the ETP SMARTGRIDS?</a> 6<a href="#17" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. Who pays for it?</a> 7<a href="#18" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. What is the relation between the SRA and the European Commission's 7th Framework Programme (FP7)?</a> 8<a href="#26" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. Does the ETP SmartGrids have own project calls or does it support the FP7 Calls?</a> 9<a href="#19" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. Industry has in the past benefited from the European Commission's Framework Programmes for Research. What is different today?</a> 10<a href="#20" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. Who decides on the research areas or projects that will be funded under the FP7 and what are the criteria for these decisions?</a> 11<a href="#21" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. How will research projects resulting from the SRA be included in the FP7?</a> 12<a href="#22" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. How do companies apply for research projects under FP7?</a> 13<a href="#23" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. Does one have to go through the ETP to apply for research projects under FP7, CIP and other programmes?</a> 14<a href="#24" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. How and when do companies form or join a consortium?</a> 15<a href="#25" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. What happens with the results of a research project in which companies have participated? Do they become public knowledge and can they be used by other competing companies?</a>   FAQs ABOUT EUROPEAN TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS <a href="#1" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">16. What are European Technology Platforms (ETPs)?</a> 17<a href="#2" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. How is an European Technology Platform set up and who are the stakeholders?</a> 18.<a href="#3" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none"> What are the defining characteristics of ETPs?</a> 19<a href="#4" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. What is the typical lifecycle of a technology platform?</a> 20<a href="#5" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. How are European Technology Platforms funded?</a> 21<a href="#6" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. What is the role of the European Commission in European Technology Platforms?</a> 22<a href="#7" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. Where can I find information about other ETPs?</a> 23<a href="#8" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. What is a Joint Technology Initiative?</a> 24<a href="#9" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. What is the difference between ETP and JTI?</a> 25<a href="#10" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. What kind of public programmes are ETP related to?</a> 26<a href="#11" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">. Who can I contact for more information?</a>   <hr/>   FAQs ABOUT ETP SMARTGRIDS   <a name="12" style="text-decoration: none">1. What is Smart Grids?</a> The concept of SmartGrids was developed in 2006 by the European Technology Platform for Smart Grids, and concerns an electricity network that can intelligently integrate the actions of all users connected to it - generators, consumers and those that do both - in order to efficiently deliver sustainable, economic and secure electricity supplies. A smart grid employs innovative products and services together with intelligent monitoring, control, communication, and self-healing technologies in order to: <ul> <li class="rtejustify"> Better facilitate the connection and operation of generators of all sizes and technologies</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Allow consumers to play a part in optimising the operation of the system</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Provide consumers with greater information and options for choice of supply</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Significantly reduce the environmental impact of the whole electricity supply system</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Maintain or even improve the existing high levels of system reliability, quality and security of supply</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Maintain and improve the existing services efficiently</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Foster market integration towards a European integrated market.</li> </ul>   <a name="13" style="text-decoration: none">2. Now that the Strategy Deployment Document (SDD) is ready, what is there left for the SMART GRIDS to do?</a> The performance of ETPs was evaluated in August 2009 and most of them were found to have been successful in bringing the relevant stakeholders together to discuss and agree on research strategy and themes. However, as times change, some have suggested that the ETPs have achieved their mission and that something new is needed to revitalize the ETP instrument and reach a new level of enthusiasm and engagement. The European Technology Platform for SmartGrids was set up in 2005 to create a joint vision for the European electricity networks of 2020 and beyond. The platform includes representatives from industry, transmission and distribution system operators, research bodies and regulators. It has already identified clear objectives and proposes an ambitious strategy for the benefits of Europe and its electricity customers. Currently, SMARTGRIDS has the following specific objectives: <ul> <li class="rtejustify"> Updating the SRA. It has been 5 years since the SRA was created and a new strategy envisaging beyond 2020 is needed</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Supporting European Grid EU initiatives and related projects</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Disseminating Smart Grids in Europe and Internationally</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Bringing key stakeholders together</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Bridge and establish links with other initiatives relevant to SmartGrids</li> </ul>   <a name="14" style="text-decoration: none">3. Does ETP SMARTGRIDS participate in projects?</a> As ETPs are not a legal entity, they are not allowed to join any project. However, its individual members can do it, always on their behalf.   <a name="15" style="text-decoration: none">4. How can I get involved in ETP SMARTGRIDS?</a> The better way to be proactive in this platform is to follow about its activities in its website. In brief, there are different ways to get involved: <ul> <li class="rtejustify"> Subscribe for the ETP SmartGrids newsletter</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Attend to seminars and related events that are sponsored, supported or (co)organised by the ETP</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Participate in the public consultations that appear in the website</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Join an existing Working Group (direct link: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120209032604/http://www.smartgrids.eu/documents/group_form.doc" title="http://www.smartgrids.eu/documents/group_form.doc">http://www.smartgrids.eu/documents/group_form.doc</a>)</li> </ul> You can also participate sponsoring and/or partnering with initiatives. For this purpose, and being a stakeholder related to the issue, the decision will be taken by the Chairman of the Platform, with the approval of the ETP SmartGrids Forum.   <a name="16" style="text-decoration: none">5. How many members are involved in the ETP SMARTGRIDS?</a> ETP SMARTGRIDS has no membership as it does not charge for their activities. People involved are partipants of the working groups, administrators, etc.   <a name="17" style="text-decoration: none">6. Who pays for it?</a> Only the secretariat is being partly funded by the EC. All the other costs are not covered by the ETP. .   <a name="18" style="text-decoration: none">7. What is the relation between the SRA and the European Commission's 7th Framework Programme (FP7)?</a> The SRA is a long term R&D roadmap formulated by the entire energy sector, but it is not an R&D funding instrument. FP7 is a policy instrument of the European Community to direct R&D during 2007-2013. It provides funding for R&D activities which are defined in Specific Programmes and derived Work Programmes. The SRA was taken into consideration during formulation of FP7's Specific Programmes and Work Programmes. FP7 is one of several funding sources relevant to the sector. Other funding sources include additional EU programmes such as the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme 2007-2013, ERA-Nets (i.e. networks for the linkage of National Programmes), national programmes and industry contributions or loans.   <a name="26" style="text-decoration: none">8. Does the ETP SmartGrids have own project calls or does it support the FP7 Calls?</a> No. The ETP SmartGrids does not manage calls for proposals or funds to support projects.   <a name="19" style="text-decoration: none">9. Industry has in the past benefited from the European Commission's Framework Programmes for Research. What is different today?</a> Industry participation in R&D projects under the different Research Framework Programmes has decreased over the years. Reasons have been unfavourable conditions concerning intellectual property right (IPR) issues, low participation in programme development, and complicated administrative requirements. Starting from the 6th Framework Programme, IPR issues have been dealt with in a much more favourable way for companies. Project consortia now have a much higher flexibility in allocating work and budget. The instrument of European Technology Platforms was created to facilitate private-public partnerships for research. Industry was actively involved from the beginning of this initiative. In FP7, a much stronger (and even leading) involvement of industry is expected.   <a name="20" style="text-decoration: none">10. Who decides on the research areas or projects that will be funded under the FP7 and what are the criteria for these decisions?</a> The content of FP7, and especially of the Specific Programmes and the Rules of Participation were developed by the European Commission (EC), and subsequently adopted by the European Parliament and the European Council. The Work Programmes with their detailed description of objectives and activities have been developed by the EC in consultation with, for example, Programme Committees consisting of National Delegates at political level. Which projects ultimately obtain funding depends on the outcome of the evaluation procedure under a specific call for proposals for a Specific Area or theme in a Work Programme. Evaluation procedures are well-defined and involve unbiased, external experts.   <a name="21" style="text-decoration: none">11. How will research projects resulting from the SRA be included in the FP7?</a> The ETPs brief the European Commission's DG, the National Delegates in the Programme Committees, and members of the European Parliament, on issues important to the sector. As a result, the Work Programmes and calls for proposals within FP7 will provide possibilities to submit proposals for cooperative R&D projects that adhere to the SRA. It is the task of research institutes, universities and industry to form consortia, develop projects that meet the respective call, to prepare excellent proposals and to submit these in due time. The ETP steering group has a facilitating role in this process and will support funded projects that contribute to the SRA and fulfil SRA objectives.   <a name="22" style="text-decoration: none">12. How do companies apply for research projects under FP7?</a> A call for proposals must be issued by the European Commission. This call describes the area of R&D which is announced, the regulations and the deadline for submission. In principle every legal entity can form a project consortium, and prepare and submit a project application. In reality, most project ideas are developed during discussions between partners from industry and research organisations and are in line with R&D needs expressed in the SRA. National or European research groupings, the ETP networking events can support project preparation. Projects need to closely adhere to the content of the respective call. Companies are invited to participate or engage themselves in project preparation. As the period between publication of a call for proposals and the deadline for submission usually is rather short (3-4 months for a pan-European R&D project), preparation work usually starts earlier.   <a name="23" style="text-decoration: none">13. Does one have to go through the ETP to apply for research projects under FP7, CIP and other programmes?</a> No. In principle every legal entity is free to form a project consortium and prepare and submit a project application. Some organisations or companies will prepare proposals independently of their involvement in the ETP, especially if they are going to apply for a project with a strong competitive edge. It could be beneficial to check if the proposed project has existing links with the ETP SRA. If this is the case, information about the proposal could be entered into the FTP Database.   <a name="24" style="text-decoration: none">14. How and when do companies form or join a consortium?</a> Companies that want to participate in FP7 projects should collect information on the programme and its calls, for example from the official information sources of the European Commission (e.g., <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120209032604/http://www.cordis.eu/">www.cordis.eu</a>) and the National Offices for FP7. Other sources of information are the ETP website. Companies can initiate or join consortia and prepare an application for a specific call for proposals. They can do so when a call is published or by anticipating the content of a call. Participation in a project consortium should start as early as possible. Participation in ETP activities can help companies with identifying promising calls, finding partners, and so forth.   <a name="25" style="text-decoration: none">15. What happens with the results of a research project in which companies have participated? Do they become public knowledge and can they be used by other competing companies?</a> An FP7 R&D project usually has to have an European dimension and therefore requires a consortium consisting of partners in typically more than three countries. During the creation of a consortium each partner should be aware of other partners and what potential competition conflicts might arise. Still, each partner owns the intellectual property rights of results that he has generated. It is up to the partner to protect the generated knowledge and to decide on making it public (or not). But partners have to provide access to this knowledge to those consortium partners which need it to carry out their own project tasks. Therefore, results do not become public knowledge automatically. Although partners are required (by art. II.30 ECGA) to disseminate the results derived from the project, this dissemination must be compatible with the protection of the intellectual property rights and partners can choose the amount of information they want to reveal. Finally, if the owner of the intellectual property rights wants to give a license to use its product, to other entities out from the consortium, he is allowed to do it and he can be paid.   FAQs ABOUT EUROPEAN TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS   <a name="1" style="text-decoration: none">16. What are European Technology Platforms (ETPs)?</a> European Technology Platforms play a major role in mobilising Europe’s research, technological development and innovation efforts. The platforms have as primary objectives the definition of Strategic Research Agendas for the medium to long-term and the establishment of the necessary, effective public-private partnerships for implementation of these agendas. The ETPs: <ul> <li class="rtejustify"> Provide a framework for stakeholders, led by industry, to define research and development priorities, timeframes and action plans on a number of strategically important issues where achieving Europe's future growth, competitiveness and sustainability objectives is dependent upon major research and technological advances in the medium to long term.</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Play a key role in ensuring an adequate focus of research funding on areas with a high degree of industrial relevance, by covering the whole economic value chain and by mobilising public authorities at national and regional levels. In fostering effective public-private partnerships, technology platforms have the potential to contribute significantly to the renewed Lisbon strategy and to the development of a European Research Area of knowledge for growth. As such, they are proving to be powerful actors in the development of European research policy, in particular in orienting the Seventh Research Framework Programme to better meet the needs of industry.</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Address technological challenges that can potentially contribute to a number of key policy objectives which are essential for Europe's future competitiveness, including the timely development and deployment of new technologies, technology development with a view to sustainable development, new technology-based public goods and services, technological breakthroughs necessary to remain at the leading edge in high technology sectors and the restructuring of traditional industrial sectors. In brief, ETPs bring together the key stakeholders, i.e. industry, national and European public authorities, the academic community, the financial community, consumers and users around a common vision for the development of the technologies concerned.</li> </ul>   <a name="2" style="text-decoration: none">17. How is an European Technology Platform set up and who are the stakeholders?</a> Due to their demand driven nature, key industrial concerns in the field in question play a leading role in initiating and advancing the platform. Nevertheless, to be effective, the platform approach is inclusive and mobilises the efforts of all key stakeholders. These typically include: <ul> <li class="rtejustify"> Industry (large, medium and small, embracing the whole production and supply chain) </li> <li class="rtejustify"> Public authorities (given their role of policy-makers and funding agencies, as well as promoters and consumers of technologies)</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Research institutes and the academic community </li> <li class="rtejustify"> Financial community (e.g. Venture capital organisations and the European Investment Bank)</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Civil society, including users and consumers</li> </ul> It is up to the interested stakeholders themselves to decide whether or not to set up a technology platform. However, new emerging initiatives should meet some criteria (see question 3 below), designed to avoid a dilution of the ETP concept and overlaps between platforms. The relevant thematic services of the European Commission can provide guidance and emerging initiatives are invited to contact Commission services for more information (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120209032604/mailto:RTD-ETP-Secretariat@ec.europa.eu">RTD-ETP-Secretariat@ec.europa.eu</a>).   <a name="3" style="text-decoration: none">18. What are the defining characteristics of ETPs?</a> A specific inter-service working group at the Commission evaluates whether emerging ETP initiatives adhere to the following criteria: - Its key goals contribute to European growth, competitiveness and sustainability objectives, including: <ul> <li class="rtejustify"> Timely development and deployment of new technologies that offer the potential of radical change in one or more industrial sectors</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Technology development to meet different policy objectives with a view to sustainable development</li> <li class="rtejustify"> New technology-based public goods and services with high entry barriers and uncertain profitability, but which offer significant economic potential</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Achieving the necessary technological breakthroughs to remain at the leading edge in high technology sectors that have significant strategic and economic importance</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Renewal, revival or restructuring of traditional industrial sectors</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Interactions with and positive impact on a wide range of Community policies (e.g. industrial policy, sustainable development, economic and societal issues, regional policy)</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Clear commitment from industry and strong involvement from Member States</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Representation from a wide range of stakeholders (e.g. large industries, SMEs, NGOs, financial institutions, civil society, Member States)</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Addressing topics of recognised importance and of a vertical nature</li> <li class="rtejustify"> A technology platform is the most appropriate approach to achieve the desired outcome.</li> </ul> Emerging initiatives that are considered to meet these criteria will appear on the CORDIS website (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120209032604/http://cordis.europa.eu/technology-platforms/individual_en.html" title="http://cordis.europa.eu/technology-platforms/individual_en.html">http://cordis.europa.eu/technology-platforms/individual_en.html</a>), and their industrial leaders will be invited to regular meetings to exchange views and information with Commission services. Emerging initiatives are invited to contact Commission services for more information (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120209032604/mailto:RTD-ETP-Secretariat@ec.europa.eu">RTD-ETP-Secretariat@ec.europa.eu</a>)   <a name="4" style="text-decoration: none">19. What is the typical lifecycle of a technology platform?</a> While each European Technology Platform has its own origins, timing, approach and its own particular way of working, they normally follow a “three-stage” development process: Stage 1: Stakeholders getting together in order to establish their “vision” for the future development of the field concerned and to set up the technology platform; Stage 2: Stakeholders define a Strategic Research Agenda setting out their common views on the necessary medium to long term research, development and demonstration needs for this technology; Stage 3: Implementation of the Strategic Research Agenda - for which, in many instances, it is anticipated that significant public and private investments will need to be mobilised. In this stage ETPs identify priorities and planning for deployment.   <a name="5" style="text-decoration: none">20. How are European Technology Platforms funded?</a> In general, the active stakeholders fund their own costs in participating in technology platforms. Limited Community support for funding operational entities (for example a Secretariat) can however be mobilised in the case where a given platform’s objectives and activities correspond closely with the thematic areas of the current 7th Research Framework Programme.   <a name="6" style="text-decoration: none">21. What is the role of the European Commission in European Technology Platforms?</a> The European Commission encourages this bottom-up, industry-led approach, for example through active participation as an observer in many platforms and by playing a guiding role, where necessary. In order to avoid a dilution of the ETP concept and overlaps between platforms, the Commission services evaluate emerging initiatives, according to a set of pre-established criteria, and give recommendations for their development. The Commission however does not “own” technology platforms (which do not have any legal status) nor is bound by their views. The Commission services follow developments within European technology platforms and, where appropriate, use their input in the course of developing European research policy. In this context, the Strategic Research Agendas have already provided a valuable and significant input to the nine themes of the “Co-operation” programme in the Commission’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and they will be further reflected in more detail in future Specific Programmes and Work Programmes.   <a name="7" style="text-decoration: none">22. Where can I find information about other ETPs?</a> Currently, there are 37 ETPs. You can find a list of them in the following <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120209032604/http://cordis.europa.eu/technology-platforms/home_en.html">link</a>.   <a name="8" style="text-decoration: none">23. What is a Joint Technology Initiative?</a> Joint Technology Initiatives are a specific new mechanism, envisaged to be introduced under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), which enable coherent, large-scale structures to be set up in order to support the implementation of all or part of the Strategic Research Agendas defined by a limited number of European technology platforms which are of such an ambitious scale that they will require the mobilisation of very high public and private investments, as well as huge material and human research resources. Further information is available on <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120209032604/ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/docs/faqs-jtis_en.pdf" title="ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/docs/faqs-jtis_en.pdf">ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/docs/faqs-jtis_en.pdf</a>. At this stage, Joint Technology Initiatives running are: <ul> <li class="rtejustify"> Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI)</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Embedded Computing Systems (ARTEMIS)</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Aeronautics and Air Transport (Clean Sky)</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Nanoelectronics Technologies 2020 (ENIAC)</li> <li class="rtejustify"> Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (FCH)</li> </ul>   <a name="9" style="text-decoration: none">24. What is the difference between ETP and JTI?</a> Basically, JTIs are usually the result of ETP development. In fact, JTIs are in charge of developing the agenda elaborated by ETPs. Whereas JTIs are independent legal entities and therefore able to launch calls and have funding capacities (50% from EC and 50% from JTI members), ETPs don’t.   <a name="10" style="text-decoration: none">25. What kind of public programmes are ETP related to?</a> ETPs have been providing major input to European research programmes such as FP7, CIP and ERANET. Moreover, it is important to know that ETPs will develop an essential role within the industrial initiatives represented in the SET PLAN, as well as several related national programmes and initiatives.   <a name="11" style="text-decoration: none">26. Who can I contact for more information?</a> The Commission services have compiled four Status Reports on the Development of Technology Platforms (available on Cordis) which contain further information and contact details for the individual platforms. Additional information on the context and rationale of platforms is available in the reports "Technology Platforms: from Definition to Implementation of a Common Research Agenda" (September 2004) and "European Technology Platforms and Joint Technology Initiatives: Fostering Public-Private R&D Partnerships to Boost Europe's Industrial Competitiveness". All these reports are available on Cordis (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120209032604/http://cordis.europa.eu/technology-platforms/further_en.html" title="http://cordis.europa.eu/technology-platforms/further_en.html">http://cordis.europa.eu/technology-platforms/further_en.html</a> For any other questions you can contact the ETP Secretariat at the European Commission's Directorate General for Research at <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120209032604/mailto:RTD-ETP-Secretariat@ec.europa.eu">RTD-ETP-Secretariat@ec.europa.eu</a> or the individual ETPs as well. </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="clear"></div> </div> </div>  <div id="footer"> Copyright © 2011 - SmartGrids - European Technology Platform. All rights reserved. </div> </body> </html>