Independent expert report outlines R&I pathways towards system transitions in energy and mobility

Four independent experts collaborated on a report entitled ‘Addressing European Research and Innovation Challenges for System Transitions in Energy and Mobility’, which was published today. The report offers recommendations and ideas on challenges and priorities for research and innovation (R&I) in the areas of clean energy and mobility. 

The experts set out a vision for future energy and mobility systems that is aligned with the EU’s long-term ecological, economic and social objectives, in particular the aim to become climate-neutral by 2050. In order to bring about this vision, the paper explores nine innovation pathways in energy and mobility systems, selected on the basis of their expected impact to achieve the vision. The pathways range from systems integration enabled by digital technologies to decarbonising electricity production and social innovation.

They are assessed against four contemporary challenges affecting energy and mobility systems, namely (1) low-carbon transitions; (2) competitiveness; (3) security; and (4) social acceptance and justice. These challenges stem from four macro-level contextual changes that affect the environment in which the EU, and the energy and mobility systems, operate. These changes are (1) the shift of low-carbon transitions to the diffusion and deployment stage; (2) the global innovation race; (3) the rise in global geopolitical tensions; and (4) societal contestation around the low-carbon transitions.

The paper also provides broader policy recommendations for EU R&I, going beyond energy and mobility systems, such as:

• Increasing public R&I support strategically;
• Finding a new balance between the protection of existing assets and the creation of new assets; 
• Aligning basic and applied research, and deployment; 
• Taking specific R&I actions regarding social innovations;
• Considering institutional changes; and
• Fostering the contributions of new stakeholders.

The independent experts underscore through their report that European R&I actions have a vital role to play in enabling progress that is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable – and such actions need to take into account the rapidly changing global context.

More information

Event: Clean energy and mobility R&I: Shaping the future