Energy EfficiencyTHE PATH TO TRANSFORMATION: EUROPEAN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION DAYS 2024
Summary
The European Research and Innovation Days (R&I Days) concluded its fifth edition, emphasizing the critical role of European research and innovation in achieving the goals of the European Green Deal. Discussions focused on decarbonizing Europe’s industries and maintaining global competitiveness through integrated efforts in research and innovation. The event showcased success stories, most notably the RETROFEED project, which aligns with EU ambitions by retrofitting industrial plants to reduce carbon emissions. Speakers stressed the importance of turning research and innovation results into practical applications to expedite the transition to greener industries. Despite some backlash, the sentiment for collaborative action to address climate goals was strong. The R&I Days served as a platform for engagement and a call to unite in the journey towards sustainability, setting the stage for future collaboration in European research and innovation.
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THE PATH TO TRANSFORMATION: EUROPEAN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION DAYS 2024
The European Commission's flagship annual event, the European Research and Innovation Days (R&I Days), just concluded, marking a significant step towards shaping Europe's future in research and innovation. Over the course of three days, the fifth edition of this event unfolded both in person at Tour and Taxis, Brussels, and online, bridging distances and bringing together a global audience.
Central to the discussions was the role of European companies in the transformation to meet the overarching goals of the European Green Deal. It's clear that decarbonization is not a solitary venture but requires a comprehensive government approach to transform industries fundamentally. For Europe to lead in global competitiveness and stay at the forefront of development, there is an unwavering need for research and innovation.
The second day of the event, during the "Energy Intensive Industries: From R&I to Deployment" session, a video created by EEIP for the RETROFEED project was showcased. This video served as a introduction, setting the stage for the subsequent discourse on the critical role of research and innovation in the decarbonization of energy-intensive industries.
The RETROFEED project, as highlighted in the EEIP video, is at the forefront of developing and implementing innovative solutions to enhance the sustainability of industrial processes. By focusing on retrofitting existing industrial plants with advanced technologies, RETROFEED aims to significantly reduce their carbon footprint, aligning perfectly with the session's emphasis on the urgent need for scalable and sustainable industrial transformation.
Speakers like Henriette Spyra, Director General Innovation & Technology at Austrian Federal Ministry , and Ilse Kenis, Chief Carbon Officer at GM Carmeuse Technologies emphasized the importance of integrating research and innovation results into practical applications, speeding up the transition towards greener industries. This talk highlighted that deployment is a puzzle and that to meet the ambitions of the Green Deal, turning over every stone is imperative.
Backlash against the Green Deal was acknowledged, but the sentiment was countered with a strong call for collaboration. The future is dependent on collective action and the R&I Days stood as a testament to the power of united efforts. The conversations and workshops underscored that the road to a sustainable future is through collaboration.
The R&I Days brought to light the success stories of EU-funded research and innovation projects and their societal impacts. It was an invitation to the public to engage in discourse about the value of continued investment in these areas. The 2024 edition didn't just focus on dialogue but was also about taking steps towards collaborative efforts.
