International cooperation in energy research
International cooperation in the field of energy research has a high priority in Switzerland. Cooperation and exchange of experience within the framework of the International Energy Energy Agency (IEA) is of particular importance. Switzerland participates through the Federal Office of Switzerland participates in various "Technology Collaboration Programs" of the IEA. At the European level, Switzerland is actively involved – wherever possible – in the research programs of the European Union. . At the institutional level, the SFOE coordinates energy research with the Europea Strategic Plan for Energy Technology (SET-Plan), the European Research Area Networks (ERA-NET), the European Technology Platforms, the Joint Technology Initiatives (JTI) and others.
Cooperation in the International Energy Agency IEA
The International Energy Agency (IEA) is a cooperation platform in the field of research, development, market introduction and application of energy technologies. It was founded by 16 industrialised nations as a joint response to the oil crisis in November 1974 and is an autonomous unit of the OECD based in Paris. The IEA's important publications include the «Key World Energy Statistics», the «World Energy Outlook» and various technology roadmaps.
Committee on Energy Research and Technology (CERT): co-ordinates and promotes the development, demonstration and deployment of technologies to meet challenges in the energy sector.
The CERT has established different working parties and expert groups:
- Working Party on Renewable Energy Technologies (REWP)
- Working Party on Fossil Energy (WPFE)
- Working Party on Energy End-Use Technologies (EUWP)
- Working Party on Energy Efficiency (EEWP)
- Fusion Power Co-ordinating Committee (FPCC)
- Experts Group on R+D Priority Setting and Evaluation (EGRD)
(NP = No participation. In these TCPs, Switzerland is not a member).
Participation in energy-related ERA-NETs (European Research Area Networks)
The Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE has been involved in various energy-related ERA-NETs (European Research Area Networks) with its energy research programmes. ERA-NETs are instruments of the European Union that were established in various forms in the 6th and 7th Framework Programmes and under Horizon 2020 in order to pool national research programmes, resources and capacities and to launch joint calls for tenders. As a successor instrument, the Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETPartnership) has been running since 2022.
The Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETPartnership) is a multilateral and strategic partnership of national and regional research, development and innovation (RDI) programmes in European Member States and Associated Countries aiming to boost and accelerate the energy transition and to support the implementation of the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan).
See also Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP) at the Swiss Federal Office of Energy
The objective of ERA-NET Bioenergy is to contribute to the creation of a true European Research Area (ERA) in the field of Bioenergy by stimulating and supporting programme coordination and joint activities conducted at national or regional level, as well as among European organisations, and thus help to develop the common knowledge base necessary for the coherent development of policies.
ACT is an international initiative to facilitate RD&D and innovation within CO2 capture, transport, utilisation and storage (CCUS). Sixteen countries, regions and provinces are working together in ACT with the ambition to fund world class RD&D innovation that can lead to safe and cost effective CCUS technology.
CSP ERANET constitutes a public-public partnership gathering 11 representatives from Member States, Associated Countries and Regions with the common objetive of bridging the gap between research and commercial deployment in the Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology, so this technology can play a main role in the European renewable electricity generation in a medium term.
GEOTHERMICA's objective is to promote research and innovation in geothermal energy to make geothermal energy reliable, safe and cost-competitive. GEOTHERMICA combines the financial resources and know-how of 20 geothermal energy research and innovation programme owners and managers from 16 countries and their regions.
M-ERA.NET is an EU funded network which has been established to support and increase the coordination of European research programmes and related funding in materials science and engineering.
The main objective of this ERA-NET is to stimulate successful practice and facilitate replicability within Smart Cities and Communities projects and also across projects in order to achieve a technological shift in the current energy system and provide smart and integrated solutions for technology, government and society.
ERA-Net SES provides a sustainable, reliable and efficient management structure for multilateral joint programming. The ERA-Net SES Steering Board and Management Board provide the framework for joint planning, decision making and collaborative implementation of joint calls and joint activities. The ERA-Net SES Coordination supports the partners in strategy, decision making and governance, cooperation of programs and partners, communication and dissemination, organisation of joint calls, contractual and financial management.
SOLAR-ERA.NET is a network bringing together RTD and innovation programmes in the field of solar electricity technologies in the European Research Area. The network of national and regional funding organisations has been established in order to increase transnational cooperation between RTD and innovation programmes and to contribute to achieving the objectives of the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) through dedicated transnational activities.