RAP’s Dr. Eoin Lees was appointed by the European Commission to the Coordinating Group for the Horizon 2020 programme. With sustainable development the overarching focus of the Horizon 2020 funds, Dr. Lees will play a significant role in directing funding dedicated to climate action and resource efficiency. Energy efficiency will receive approximately €5.7 billion over the 7-year period from 2014 to 2020, with a focus on integrating low-cost, low-carbon technologies into energy markets, smart energy cities and communities, and energy-efficient technologies.

“I look forward to this opportunity to connect today’s research and development with future energy markets,” said Dr. Lees.  “Demand side resources are particularly important for meeting the EU’s climate and energy directives, and the Horizon 2020 focus on energy efficiency and climate will help to advance those resources.”

Dr. Lees will join appointed representatives from 23 European organisations along with the Member States and EU Commission on the Coordinating Group. The Coordinating Group will produce an Integrated Roadmap addressing energy system and innovation chain integration, up-date existing technology roadmaps, cover the entire research and innovation chain from basic research to demonstration and support for market roll-out, and identify clear roles and tasks for the various stakeholders.

Horizon 2020 is the financial instrument implementing the Innovation Union, a Europe 2020 flagship initiative aimed at securing Europe’s global competitiveness. Running from 2014 to 2020 with a budget of just over €70 billion, the EU’s new programme for research and innovation is part of the drive to create new growth and jobs in Europe. Horizon 2020 will combine all research and innovation funding currently provided through the Framework Programmes for Research and Technical Development, the innovation related activities of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).