CTI approves four further energy competence centers (SCCERs)

Berne, 16.12.2013 - At the beginning of 2014, four further Swiss Competence Centers for Energy Research (SCCERs) are due to be launched. The Steering Committee, made up of representatives from the Commission for Technology and Innovation CTI and Swiss National Science Foundation, has approved funding for the energy competence centers operating in the action areas ‘Grids and their components’, ‘Efficient concepts, processes and components in mobility’, ‘Bi-omass’ and ‘Economy-environment-law-behaviour’. This means that the Steering Committee has been able to set up an appropriate SCCER for six of the seven action areas defined in the Coordinated Energy Research in Switzerland Action Plan. A call for bids for the final action area, Efficiency, was relaunched in mid-November.

The four energy competence centers initially submitted their applications in July 2013; following a revision of the applications and two hearings, the Steering Committee has now been able to give its approval. Funding in the amount of CHF 39 million is available to the SCCERs.

The following applications were approved by the Steering Committee:

  • Grids and their components: Leading House: Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne (EPFL), Budget: CHF 10 m
  • Efficient concepts, processes and components in mobility: Leading House: Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich (ETHZ), Budget: CHF 10 m
  • Economy-environment-law-behaviour: Leading House: University of Basel, Budget: CHF 11 m
  • Biomass: Leading House: Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Villigen, Budget: CHF 11 m

Applications to establish SCCERs for ‘Storage’ (budget of CHF 11 million)  and ‘Power supply’ (budget of CHF 12 million) were already approved following the first Steering Committee hearing in October 2013. The PSI is the Leading House for the ‘Storage’ SCCER, and the ETHZ for ‘Power supply’. 

Call for ‘Efficiency’ SCCER relaunched
The applications received so far in the action area ‘Efficiency’ did not meet the CTI’s quality criteria in full. For this reason a call for bids in this action area was relaunched in mid-November. It is hoped to find one or more competence centres to cover the topics of ‘Power supply’ and ‘Rational energy use’. About CHF 10 million francs have been earmarked to develop the necessary research capacities and operate the ‘Efficiency’ SCCER between 2014 and 2016. Applications in this action area can be submitted to the CTI up until 17 March 2014. 

Developing capacities in energy research
CTI funding is distributed to the higher education institutions involved in an SCCER to develop research capacities over the coming three years. The SCCERs are required to match these funds with their own money and funds received from businesses. By involving businesses, the aim is to ensure that research findings are transferred to the market. Annual reviews by the Evaluation Panel and the Steering Committee will ensure that research is progressing, and that targets and content requirements are met. 

The Swiss Competence Centers for Energy Research are a key component in the Federal Council’s Coordinated Energy Research in Switzerland Action Plan, designed to promote energy research over the coming years. CHF 72 million francs have been earmarked to develop the competence centers between 2013 and 2016. They will continue to operate in the next ERI Dispatch period (2017 to 2020), provided the SCCERs meet expectations.


Address for enquiries

Kathrin Hausammann, CTI, Communication, Tel.: 031 324 19 95, media@kti.admin.ch



Publisher

Commission for Technology and Innovation - as of 1.1.2018 Innosuisse – Swiss Innovation Promotion Agency
http://www.kti.admin.ch

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