Research Centres for Environment-friendly Energy Research (FME) September 2016 Division for Energy, Resources and the Environment The Research Council of Norway
Centre schemes The Centres of Excellence scheme (SFF) 21 centres dedicated to long-term, basic research aimed at enhancing the quality of research. The Centres for Research-based Innovation scheme (SFI) 24 research groups working in close alliances with innovative enterprises. The Centres for Environment-friendly Energy Research scheme (FME) 11 centres which conduct concentrated, focused and long-term research in order to solve specific challenges in this field.
RCN s main instruments for energy R&D ENERGIX (450 MNOK annually) Renewable energy and energy efficiency CLIMIT (120 MNOK annually) CO 2 Capture and Storage Centres for Environmentalfriendly Energy Research - FME (150 MNOK annually) Grants for research infrastructure/ equipment - 45 MNOK per year in 2009, 2010, 2011 3
Centres for Environment-friendly Energy Research (FME) - a strong initiative in the energy sector Concentration of the best Norwegian competence in a long-term and concentrated effort of high international standards Increase the efforts in areas where Norway can make a difference due to resources, industry, competence and potential for innovation Stimulate cooperation between education, research and industry Bridgehead for international cooperation 4
Research Centres for Environmentfriendly Energy Research BIGCCS, International CCS Research Centre NOWITECH, Research Centre for Offshore Wind Technology CENSES, Centre for sustainable Energy Studies NORCOWE, Norwegian Centre for Offshore Wind Energy SUCCESS, Norwegian Centre for Subsurface CO 2 storage CEDREN, Centre for Environmental Design of Renewable Energy ZEB, The Research Centre on Zero Emission Buildings SOLAR UNITED, The Norwegian Research Centre Solar Cell Technology CICEP, Strategic Challenges in International Climate and Energy Policy CREE, Oslo Centre for Research on Environmentally Friendly Social science CenBIO, Bioenergy Innovation Centre
FME some numbers (2015) Turnover - all 11 centres in 2015: 340 MNOK FME I (whole period) : Total turnover 2,2 billion NOK RCN funding 1,00 billion NOK Industry funding Partners all 11 centres in 2015 180 in total 115 are user partners FME I: 130 in total 83 user partners
Scientific results Scientific quality was one of the main criteria in the selection of the centres The midterm evaluation stated that: The research at the centres is largely of high scientific quality, with clear potential to achieve international level and recognition They engage highly competent scientists Active in international R&D-cooperation FME I - Nearly 2000 scientific publications in journals etc so far. - Several «best papers» and «best posters» - A number of scientists have been awarded prizes
Increased cooperation between science and industry The FMEs are excellent arenas for long term cooperation between science and industry. One of the most important benefits is the network created and developed through the centres. In several of the centres, the engagement from the industrial partners has increased during the centre period. The pilot projects in FME ZEB - Have been the main arenas for cooperation between science and industry in the centre - The first projects were finished in 2014 (Powerhouse Kjørbo and Multikomfort Larvik)
Education Education is an important task and a success criteria for the centers More than 200 PhD students have worked or still work in the centres. About 100 have been financed through the center funding A large number of master students has done their MSc thesis in the centres High completion rates Large activity with summer schools, excursions, seminars etc. Industry partners are engaged in education of students
Important meeting places for research, industry and education The centres have hosted hundreds of events: International conferences Seminars Centre days Workshops Excursions
Communication and visibility The centres are active and visible through: - Webpages - Newsletters - Annual reports - Media - Social media (twitter, webinars, blogs etc)
FME summing up The centres are active and visible spearheads within their topic areas Strong clusters formed between researchers and industrial partners across disciplines and institutional borders. The centres have strengthened energy research in Norway by more and closer cooperation and interaction between actors in research, education and industry The centres are important hubs in international research cooperation. We have also learnt that: The merging of long-term research and innovation within a centre might be challenging, and that expectations from partners must be clarified very early in the centre period. 12
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