On 16 October, EERA hosted its annual High-Level Policy Conference at Sparks, Brussels. This year’s flagship event focused on the critical role of energy research and innovation in bolstering the European Union’s competitiveness and strategic autonomy. Against a backdrop of rising protectionism, global competition, and geopolitical tensions, low-carbon energy R&I is essential to advancing the EU's Clean Energy Transition, which requires a radical transformation of the energy system for the EU to become climate neutral by 2050.

The conference, attended by 96 in-person participants and 375 online viewers, served as a platform for dialogue among policymakers, academics, and industry leaders on the indispensable role of energy R&I in achieving the EU’s strategic objectives. Additionally, EERA Secretary General Adel El Gammal presented key recommendations for fostering a sustainable and competitive Europe with low-carbon energy R&I at its core, offering insights from its forthcoming technology and policy-oriented flagship report.

The conference welcomed recognised speakers, including Janez Potočnik, Co-Chair of the International Resource Panel and former European Commissioner for Science and Research (2004–2010) and Environment (2010–2014), who delivered inspiring opening remarks. In his speech, he emphasised the need to rethink traditional views on economic growth as an endless pursuit of gross domestic product (GDP) and instead frame it around societal needs, environmental considerations, and planetary boundaries as central elements of economic development.

In an engaging fireside chat with climate and energy journalist Anna Gumbau, participants also gained insights from Rosalinde van der Vlies, Director of Clean Planet at the European Commission. Van der Vlies underscored the critical need for increased funding in R&I and stressed the importance of unifying research efforts across the EU. She pointed to the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan as a pivotal tool to advance low-carbon energy development by fostering coordinated national research.

Following on from this, the first panel of the day then expertly explored the role of energy research in driving the EU’s long-term competitiveness. The discussion highlighted the importance of mobilising Europe’s research and technology organisations to bridge regional divides in R&I and reduce fragmentation across EU countries. The panel included César Dro, Policy Officer at the European Commission’s Directorate-General (DG) for Research and Innovation; Norela Constantinescu, Deputy Director at IRENA’s Innovation and Technology Center; Martin Porter, Executive Chair at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership Europe; Angels Orduña, Executive Director at A.SPIRE; and Nils Røkke, Vice-President at EERA and Executive Vice-President for Sustainability at SINTEF. A key takeaway from the panel was the call for policymakers to set clear targets, giving industry stakeholders the strategic guidance needed to invest confidently in the transition. Panelists also emphasised the need to spotlight the energy transition’s impact on employment and advocated for innovation over delocalisation as a means for industry to meet climate goals.

The second panel of the conference notably addressed the growing interconnectivity between energy R&I and industry, as well as the need to embed sustainability into Europe’s competitiveness. Speakers included Daniel Cios, Policy Officer at the European Commission’s DG for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs; Benedetta Scuderi, Member of the European Parliament for the Greens/EFA; Fabrice Stassin, Secretary General of the Batteries European Partnership Association (BEPA); and Tuula Mäkinen, Executive Committee Member of EERA and Lead of Green Electrification at VTT. The discussion identified talent shortages, funding access, and policy-market alignment as significant barriers to the advancement of low-carbon energy technologies in Europe. Moreover, while the continent boasts a strong research and development (R&D) community, the panel noted the need for reduced fragmentation and increased investment to compete effectively on a global scale.

In his closing remarks, EERA President Henk-Jan Vink synopsised the key perspectives and ideas explored during the conference, ultimately returning the focus to the core pillar of the day: the increasingly prominent role that R&I should play in propelling EU competitiveness forward in the global sphere.

Rewatch the full conference livestream here.