Energy competence centres now in all seven action areas

Berne, 05.05.2014 - In the middle of this year two new 'Efficiency' energy competence centres will begin their work. This means that appropriate Swiss Competence Centres for Energy Research SCCER now exist in all seven action areas defined in the Coordinated Energy Research in Switzerland Action Plan, the programme with which the Federal Council and parliament aim to promote research into energy over the coming years. CHF 10 million has been earmarked for establishing the required research capacities and running the Efficiency action area between 2014 and 2016. The SCCER Steering Committee, comprising members of the Commission for Technology and Innovation CTI and the Swiss National Science Foundation SNSF, approved the two applications at the end of April.

Decisive factors in awarding the SCCER included the composition of the research teams involved and the skills they demonstrate, research activities planned in cooperation with the private sector and how well the applications were developed. Together the two SCCER cover the key themes of the action area. The Leading House of the Future Energy Efficient Buildings and Districts - FEEB & D SCCER is the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa), and that of the Efficiency of Industrial Processes - EIP SCCER is the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH).

The two SCCER complement each other in terms of the themes they deal with: The FEEB & D SCCER covers research in the field of energy efficiency in buildings and decentralised energy systems, whilst the EIP SCCER is responsible for capacity expansion in research into energy efficiency in industrial processes.

The two SCCER cover with the last of the seven action areas with which the Federal Council and parliament intend to boost energy research in the coming years. Six competence centres in the other action areas already began their work at the beginning of this year (see table).

The applications received in the first call for the ‘Efficiency' action area did not fully meet the CTI quality criteria. A new call was therefore launched in mid November 2013. Applications could be submitted to the CTI up until 17 March 2014.

SCCER promote research into energy

The Swiss Competence Centres for Energy Research (SCCER) are a central feature of the Coordinated Energy Research in Switzerland Action Plan and are being developed in seven action areas. CHF 72 million has been set aside for this task between 2013 and 2016. The SCCER will continue to be run into the next funding period (Dispatch on Education, Research and Innovation 2017-2020), provided they continue to meet expectations.

Capacity expansion in energy research

Up until 2016 higher education institutions will receive funding from the CTI to expand their research capacities and launch new, innovative research activities. The SCCER are required to match this funding with their own funds and third-party funding from the private sector and the administration. The private sector is involved in order to encourage the efficient transfer of research findings to the market. The Evaluation Panel and SCCER Steering Committee will carry out annual reviews in order to establish the progress being made in the research work and to ensure that all requirements are being met.

Address for enquiries

Eliane Kersten or Kathrin Hausammann
CTI, Communication
Tel.: 031 324 19 95
media@kti.admin.ch
www.kti.admin.ch/energie