The RISEnergy project offers industrial and academic researchers easy, seamless, and free-of-charge access to a selection of the best scientific infrastructures and services related to renewable energy technologies in Europe.
This project supports research and innovation activities across a wide range of renewable energy technologies, including biomass, concentrated solar power, energy storage, hydrogen, information and communication technology, materials for energy, ocean energy, photovoltaics, offshore wind, and smart grids.
Researchers and innovators can gain access to RISEnergy’s state-of-the-art facilities through the Transnational Access (TA) programme which offers opportunities to work on these research areas via a transparent evaluation process and common access modalities.
The full list of the RISEnergy Research Infrastructures (RI) can be found here.
Transnational Access to all RISEnergy RI(s) is provided to the User(s) free of charge. Detailed information on the application procedure for accessing the project’s research infrastructure services can be found below.
For successful applications, provisions for covering travel and subsistence expenses for TA are available through RISEnergy and reimbursed according to the normal internal rules and procedures of the project.
RISEnergy will reimburse the costs of up to two researchers per proposal. If a larger number of researchers is required to achieve the objectives of the TA project, this must be justified in the application form.
RISEnergy covers the following costs of the User(s):
- Travelling cost (for a full overview, please refer to this document).
- Accommodation (for a full overview, please refer to this document).
- Per diem rates: These cover the additional costs incurred by the User(s) during their participation in the TA compared to the usual expenses at home. These costs include expenses at the access location, such as meals and local transportation (bus, tram, metro, taxi, parking fees, tolls, etc.).
- Other eligible expenses: If any other expenses, not mentioned above, should be covered by RISEnergy, a justification has to be sent 6 weeks before the access starts.
RISEnergy does not cover the following costs of the User(s):
- Visa and insurance cost
Application submission
The submission of the TA application to access the project’s RI(s) is simple and fully automated via the RISEnergy website. Applicants must complete the provided template which is available directly on the site. Furthermore, the following guidelines must be observed:
- Applications must be submitted while a call for access is open.
- Applications received after the deadline of the call will need to be resubmitted during the next suitable call.
- For each project, applicants are required to complete the application form, which contains all necessary information such as a description of the work to be carried out, names, nationalities, and home institutions of the applicants. Changing to the travelling persons after acceptance is allowed but must be justified.
- If possible, the planned visit and duration of stay may be discussed between the visiting researcher(s) and the Access Provider before submitting the application. To contact them, please visit the RISEnergy website
- All applications must be submitted electronically here
Moreover, the application form for TA access should be fully completed by the applicants and it must include the following information:
- A detailed description of the proposed research and, when applicable, any other funding available for (part of) the project.
- Information on the potential travelling Users(s) for which the access is required, including their names, nationalities, positions, organisations, employers, experience and any other relevant information.
- Timeframe of the intended research.
- The RI(s) to which access is requested.
- Required assistance and services, such as sample storage conditions, related to the access.
- Applicants must declare the contents of any chemicals, substances or equipment they might want to bring with them to test at any of the RISEnergy facilities. Neither the RI personnel nor the RI(s) itself will be held liable for any damage to or loss of users’ instruments, apparatus, or test equipment, regardless of whether such damage or loss was caused directly or indirectly by their negligence.
- Agreement to comply with all applicable legal obligations, e.g., Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), travel and visas, and local rules.
- Proof of any required insurance.
- Requirements regarding confidentiality, intellectual property, access rights and dissemination of the results.
- Potential risk(s) related to the access.
Applicants may be requested to provide additional information as required by the Access Provider to evaluate the application.
Application review
After the call is closed, the submitted applications will be reviewed by the Selection Panel. Applications will be primarily evaluated in accordance with the European Commission’s principles of “scientific quality, relevance, and uniqueness” and prioritised based on their scientific and technological excellence and their appropriateness towards the objectives of RISEnergy and the concerned RI(s).
For some calls, additional assessment criteria (for example, Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of research) might be applicable. This will be communicated in the respective call.
The main aspects that will be evaluated in the application include:
- The alignment of the application (including the research objectives) with the objectives of RISEnergy and the related TA call (including any prioritised research objectives).
- The significance, innovation and potential results.
- The required time for the research.
- The match between the respective RI(s) and the content of the application,
- The extent to which the conceptual experimental framework, design, methods, and/or analyses are adequately developed, well integrated, and appropriate to the objectives of the application.
- The capabilities, track record and experience of applicants.
- Requirements for scientific and technical support.
- Efficient use of the RI(s) and resources.
- Previous use of any RI(s).
- Any reasonable objections from the Access Provider.
- The project’s funding limitations for access.
Application results
Applicants will be informed by the relevant RISEnergy personnel regarding the evaluation results. The evaluation and decision process can take up to two months.
For accepted applications, an invitation for access, as well as detailed instructions and documents, will be provided to the applicant within one week after the evaluation process has concluded. For rejected applications, feedback will be provided.
A visual summary of the application procedure
Step-by-step in the RISEnergy TA application process
FAQ
A User refers to the rearcher(s), scientist(s) and/or student(s) given access to the RI(s) under the project. If more than one User applies for the same proposal, they may come from the same or different institutions across the EU or its Associated Countries.
RISEnergy will cover the costs for up to two researchers per proposal. If more than two researchers are required to achieve the objectives of the TA project, this must be clearly justified in the application form.
Access typically lasts for up to three months.
If possible, the planned visit and extent of the stay should be discussed between the visiting researcher(s) and the Access Provider before the application is submitted. To get in contact with choosen Access Provider , please visit the RI platform on the RISEnergy website here.
The RISEnergy project does not cover visa and insurance costs.
As a general principle, the User(s) must conduct their work in a country other than the one where the RI is located.
Yes, in light of the UK’s association to Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation framework programme for 2021-2027, applicants from this region are welcome.
Access for a User(s) not working in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe-associated country is limited to 20% of the total amount of Units of Access provided under the RISEnergy grant.
The evaluation and decision process will typically take up to two months after the TA call closes. Please note that the starting point of access depends strongly on the Access Provider in question.
The evaluation process will typically conclude two months after the call has ended. For accepted proposals, further arrangements for conducting the research project will be initiated. An invitation for access, as well as detailed instructions and documents, will be provided to the applicant within one week after the evaluation process has concluded.
Before the User(s) starts the Access, an agreement between the User(s) and the the Access Provider at the RI has to be designed to ensure that certain obligations are met related to conflicts of interest; confidentiality and security; communication, dissemination and visibility; and damages. Considerations must also be made for any additional requests that may take time and delay the start. The template of such agreement will be provided by RISEnergy.
Overall, the starting point of access depends strongly on the Access Provider at the RI(s).
A template for an access agreement will be sent to the User and the Access Provider as soon as access has been accepted.
RISEnergy will publicise TA project results on its website by publishing the associated User(s) reports. For communication efforts coming directly from the TA projects, it must be ensured that all publications (including presentations) which result from the TA at RISEnergy contain the project acknowledgement.
User(s) should also note that the European Commission has the right to publish the list of project titles, User(s) and their home institutions. Additionally, the RISEnergy project reports to the European Commission will contain the names, home institutions and descriptions of the work of the User(s).
Finally, a list of all RISEnergy TA projects including the User(s)’ organisation(s), the research project title, a short description and the RI(s) used will be published on the RISEnergy website.
Within 20 working days after the Access is finalised, the User(s) and the Access Provider have to submit technical and financial reports to the RISEnergy relevant personnel and fill in the EU online survey on the TA.
For further questions, please contact the RISEnergy team here.