Health NCP Net 2.0 aims at improving and professionalizing the NCP service, thus achieving a more consistent level of NCP support services across Europe with the final goal to better support applicants and raise the average quality of proposals submitted. HNN 2.0 builds upon the experience and results of the previous Health NCP Net project with the objective of responding to the new challenges that the “Health, Demographic Change and Wellbeing” NCPs face in the new programme Horizon 2020, such as the broadened thematic scope of the Societal Challenge 1, and the enlarged mandate of the “Health” NCPs. An objective of the HNN 2.0 project is to satisfy the needs and priorities of all different types of NCPs, notably newcomers, NCPs with fewer resources, NCPs from EU-13 and NCPs in Third Countries so as to face the challenge of the current heterogeneity of the network The enlarged mandate of “Health” NCPs and the holistic focus of H2020 imply that NCPs need to create expert knowledge and look for it outside the SC1 Network by having a holistic approach and liaising and collaborating with other support structures, projects and programmes. HNN 2.0 will therefore have a real structured coordination with the other NCP and support networks such as Ideal-IST, EEN and Fit for Health 2.0, where collaboration for joint activities like training courses, meet and exchange workshops and brokerage events is established. Main tools towards the objectives: - support and information materials - comprehensive training programme - mentoring programme (staff exchanges, mentoring programme for EU-13, twinning with the European Commission) - Meet and Exchange workshops with NCPs from other disciplines - system of email alert for NCPs about research funding and related policies - information and communication hub for SC1-NCPs (easy access to information and services , exchange of information and opinions between SC1-NCPs) - International brokerage events

The CDT proposal 'Fuel Cells and their Fuels - Clean Power for the 21st Century' is a focused and structured programme to train >52 students within 9 years in basic principles of the subject and guide them in conducting their PhD theses. This initiative answers the need for developing the human resources well before the demand for trained and experienced engineering and scientific staff begins to strongly increase towards the end of this decade. Market introduction of fuel cell products is expected from 2015 and the requirement for effort in developing robust and cost effective products will grow in parallel with market entry. The consortium consists of the Universities of Birmingham (lead), Nottingham, Loughborough, Imperial College and University College of London. Ulster University is added as a partner in developing teaching modules. The six Centre directors and the 60+ supervisor group have an excellent background of scientific and teaching expertise and are well established in national and international projects and Fuel Cell, Hydrogen and other fuel processing research and development. The Centre programme consists of seven compulsory taught modules worth 70 credit points, covering the four basic introduction modules to Fuel Cell and Hydrogen technologies and one on Safety issues, plus two business-oriented modules which were designed according to suggestions from industry partners. Further - optional - modules worth 50 credits cover the more specialised aspects of Fuel Cell and fuel processing technologies, but also include socio-economic topics and further modules on business skills that are invaluable in preparing students for their careers in industry. The programme covers the following topics out of which the individual students will select their area of specialisation: - electrochemistry, modelling, catalysis; - materials and components for low temperature fuel cells (PEFC, 80 and 120 -130 degC), and for high temperature fuel cells (SOFC) operating at 500 to 800 degC; - design, components, optimisation and control for low and high temperature fuel cell systems; including direct use of hydrocarbons in fuel cells, fuel processing and handling of fuel impurities; integration of hydrogen systems including hybrid fuel-cell-battery and gas turbine systems; optimisation, control design and modelling; integration of renewable energies into energy systems using hydrogen as a stabilising vector; - hydrogen production from fossil fuels and carbon-neutral feedstock, biological processes, and by photochemistry; hydrogen storage, and purification; development of low and high temperature electrolysers; - analysis of degradation phenomena at various scales (nano-scale in functional layers up to systems level), including the development of accelerated testing procedures; - socio-economic and cross-cutting issues: public health, public acceptance, economics, market introduction; system studies on the benefits of FCH technologies to national and international energy supply. The training programme can build on the vast investments made by the participating universities in the past and facilitated by EPSRC, EU, industry and private funds. The laboratory infrastructure is up to date and fully enables the work of the student cohort. Industry funding is used to complement the EPSRC funding and add studentships on top of the envisaged 52 placements. The Centre will emphasise the importance of networking and exchange of information across the scientific and engineering field and thus interacts strongly with the EPSRC-SUPERGEN Hub in Fuel Cells and Hydrogen, thus integrating the other UK universities active in this research area, and also encourage exchanges with other European and international training initiatives. The modules will be accessible to professionals from the interacting industry in order to foster exchange of students with their peers in industry.

SOLAR-ERA.NET Cofund will bring together 15 national organisations owning and / or managing major solar power research and innovation programmes throughout Europe, covering photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP). According to the challenges addressed in the work programme on Low Carbon Energy, SOLAR-ERA.NET Cofund has different objectives: • To implement a joint call on subjects of highest priority and European added value in line with the Solar Europe Industry Initiative within the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan • To pool resources and to provide critical mass for transnationally highly relevant and innovative projects • To mobilise 20 MEUR of public funding (national and EC funding), and, together with the resources provided by the private industry sector, a total of 40 MEUR. • To enhance coordination, coherence and networking between national programmes SOLAR-ERA.NET Cofund will contribute to substantial cost reductions of solar power technologies, economic development of the European solar power sector and to reinforce Europe’s strong position in solar power technologies. Reducing technology cost and advancing manufacturing technologies, applications and grid / system integration are essential to increasing the deployment of solar power technologies. This way, SOLAR-ERA.NET Cofund will greatly contribute to: • Acceleration of the time to market by advancing technologies • Affordable, cost-effective and resource-efficient technology solutions • Decarbonisation of the energy system • Sustainable, secure energy supply and completion of the energy internal market • Strengthening the European industrial technology base (growth and jobs in Europe SOLAR-ERA.NET Cofund follows on from SOLAR-ERA.NET project and network and previous PV-ERA-NET network, taking advantage of more than ten years of ERA-NET experience and expertise from all major key stakeholders in the solar research, innovation and industry sector.

NMP TeAm 4 is a proposal for a 27 months continuation of the successful EU projects NMP TeAm 1,2&3. It aims to facilitate transnational cooperation between NCPs within the Industrial leadership Part with a view to identifying and sharing good practices and raising the general standard of support by the NMP NCPs to programme applicants as described in the work programme. NMP TeAm 4 will achieve a consistent, improved and more professional NCP service across Europe, thereby helping simplify access to H2020 calls, lowering the entry barriers for newcomers and raising the average quality of proposals. NNP TeAm 4: - Will create the mechanisms and tools for capacity building of NCPs' skills that will ensure the NCP Network's high and consistent level of services to clients. These will include 4 training events, 4 virtual trainings for less experienced NCPs, 4 twinning schemes and self -assessment through benchmarking. - Will provide the necessary tools to all NMP NCPs so that they can assist their clients to increase their success rate in H2020 and lower the barriers for participation for new applicants. These will include the improvement of the Partner Search Facility of NMP TeAm 1,2&3, organisation of 4 brokerage events at large EU presidency conferences and 8 virtual training seminars for NCPs, stakeholders and clients on H2020. - Will improve the outreach of the NMP NCP Network and maximise the impact of its activities, services and results to a wide audience of clients and stakeholders. This will be achieved through the continuation of the NMP TeAm website, continuous dissemination of information through social media and participation of NCPs at large NMP related events to provides assistance and services on the spot. NMP TeAm 4 will also maintain and create new links with stakeholders at European and regional level like the Enterprise Europe Network, European Technology Platforms, other NCP Networks and key regional stakeholders to reach as many clients as possible. Project website : http://www.nmpteam.com/

Over the last decades manufacturing in UK regions has been exposed to intense global competition, particularly as a consequence of trade liberalisation. At the same time, there is an increasing recognition that regions play a central role in national development, and there are mounting pressures on regions' ability to independently strategise and interconnect globally. These trends are particularly visible in the redistribution of power and funding from national to local government currently occurring through the so-called devolution deals, and through the emergence of Local Enterprise Partnerships that since 2010 have succeeded Regional Development Agencies. The renaissance of industry and manufacturing and the recognition that industry plays a central role in job creation, growth, and regions' economic recovery is also a priority in the policy agenda, with the 'Northern Powerhouse' strategy dominating the political lexicon, and setting the ambition to deliver business and enterprise growth with economic benefits for local communities. However, without adequate technology foresight and the identification of emergent technologies that may lead to innovations in practice, industrial manufacturing regions face the challenge of industrial stagnation and the threats of global outsourcing. Therefore, it is critical for regions to overcome the debilitating problem of poor innovation capabilities reinforced by the frequent overspecialisation of the knowledge infrastructure in these areas. It is also necessary to identify the technology enablers that may lead to opportunities for development and growth: the upgrading or revitalisation of businesses; the development of new business activities in areas related to the existing industries; or new industries based in new technologies. Focusing on Sheffield City Region as an internationally recognised manufacturing hub, and on the Advance Manufacturing and Materials sector, this project will generate new knowledge and procedural solutions to the extremely important issue relating to the enhancement of a region's ability to identify and exploit knowledge of technological innovations, in order to maximise competitiveness and sustainability. Working closely with firms, local enterprise partnerships, policy makers and innovation experts, the project focuses on the understanding and development of concrete regional practices and processes for identifying, transferring and integrating technological innovations. This set of practices and processes includes the identification of relevant emergent technologies, the production of visions concerning their applicability (e.g. ability to generate product, processes or business innovations), and the contextualisation and application of the knowledge produced (brokerage activities) to allow exploitation and use in practice by firms.