The activity of the Knowledge Economy, Energy and Waste Division in JASPERS is closely linked to projects directly related to the Europe 2020 Strategy and in particular with projects related to the flagship initiatives A Digital Agenda for Europe, Innovation Union, and An Agenda for New Skills and Jobs (in the case of the Knowledge Economy Sector), and Resource Efficient Europe (in the case of the Energy and Waste Sectors). Other main reference points for projects in the Division are the Energy 2020 Strategy (with definition of priorities for the next ten years in the fields of competitiveness, sustainability and security of supply) and the Waste Framework Directive (with definition, together with other relevant directives, of the standards to be achieved in the Waste Sector).

Scope of work in the Knowledge Economy Sector

The term "knowledge-based economy" (KBE) captures the central place that knowledge and technology have in modern economies. The creation, transfer and application of knowledge are pillars of increased productivity, competitiveness and economic growth. Developing a KBE requires investments in intangible capital (R&D, Information and Communication Technology, and education) that often exceed the level of investments in fixed capital. Developing modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is a pre-requisite for countries and their citizens to participate in the KBE, based upon worldwide interdependency and connectivity. However, the success of a KBE economy depends primarily on people and, thus on comprehensive policies and investments in education and life-long learning to guarantee up-to-date skills jobs and to create and preserve employment.

Projects handled by the Division in relation to the Innovation Union flagship initiative aim at improving framework conditions and access to finance for research and innovation so as to ensure that innovative ideas can be turned into products and services that create growth and jobs. In the case of A Digital Agenda for Europe, the aim is to speed up the roll-out of high-speed internet and reap the benefits of a digital single market for households and firms. Finally, with regards to An Agenda for New Skills and Jobs the focus of the Division is on education.

 In this context, a dedicated Knowledge Economy team in the Division provides technical expertise for R&D infrastructures, science and technology parks, higher educational and vocational training, infrastructures for specialized healthcare, and ICT including broadband, information technologies, and e-society projects. Some examples of JASPERS assignments in this sector are:

-         Academic centres pre-clinical research in life sciences
-         Science and technology parks
-         Research centres for natural sciences (nanotechnology, energy, laser technology)
-         Specialised, clinical hospitals (e.g. in oncology care)
-         Broadband projects for urban and rural areas.
-         Super-computing facilities

Scope of work in the Energy Sector

The focus of the JASPERS support to energy projects aims at achieving the following objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy: 20% of reduction of greenhouse emissions, 20% increase in the share of renewables, and 20% improvement in energy efficiency. These objectives are also consistent with the objectives of the Resource Efficient Europe flagship initiative in terms of achieving energy savings of 20% by 2020 and becoming a low-carbon economy in 2050 by cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95%, as part of global efforts to fight climate change. In addition to this, the priorities of the Energy 2020 Strategy are also being taken into account: (i) achieving an energy efficient Europe; (ii) building a truly pan-European integrated energy market; (iii) empowering consumers and achieving the highest level of safety and security; (iv) extending Europe's leadership in energy technology and innovation; and (v) strengthening the external dimension of the EU energy market. For the longer term, there is also a focus on the commitment by the European Council to the decarbonisation path with a target for the EU and other industrialised countries of 80 to 95% cuts in emissions by 2050.

This criteria is being applied to the projects coming for review in the existing Operational Programmes, and is about to become much more relevant and explicit for the definition of priority axis and projects for the programming period 2014-2020. This is consistent with the estimate in the Energy 2020 Strategy in the sense that “over the next ten years, energy investments in the order of € 1 trillion are needed, both to diversify existing resources and replace equipment and to cater for challenging and changing energy requirements.”

 The Energy team in the Division provides technical expertise for a wide range of energy projects like oil and gas transmission pipes and storage facilities, power transmission lines, reduction of emissions in power plants, renewable energy sources, and energy efficiency. Some examples of JASPERS assignments in this sector are:

-         Underground gas storage facilities
-         Gas pipelines
-         Power interconnection between Member States
-         Flue gas cleaning (i.e. reduction of SO₂, NO_x, and dust) in power plants
-         Wind farms
-         Geothermal energy
-         Improvement of energy efficiency in transmission lines

Scope of work in the Waste Sector

Projects in the waste sector aim at achieving compliance with the relevant EU standards (which refers to adequate disposal of waste, increase of recycling of materials and reduction of biodegradable waste going to landfills for final disposal) and also at reducing environmental and health risks in polluted areas (which refers to containment or cleaning of hazardous industrial pollution in land). These standards can be achieved in a number of different ways, so a detailed case by case analysis of the proposed solution is required.

Differently from the case of Knowledge Economy or Energy, waste projects have been a common feature in the Operational Programmes of the New Member States given the urgency to bring the sector in to the required standards and the clear commitments normally taken in the Accession Treaties. With a significant effort being made during this programming period, it is likely that the objective of future projects will shift from 'compliance with standards' to the achievement of the targets of the Europe 2020 Strategy and in particular the Resource Efficient Europe flagship initiative, which refers to the need “to make the EU a 'circular economy', based on a recycling society with the aim of reducing waste generation and using waste as a resource.” This idea is reinforced by the Waste Framework Directive in its new targets for recycling. That is, by 2020, Member States must recycle or prepare for reuse 50% of waste including paper, glass and similar waste, and reuse, recycle or recover 70% of construction and demolition waste. In order to reach these targets, local authorities will have to make new investments in resources and facilities. The Waste Framework Directive also makes it clear that the EU considers energy-efficient waste incineration to be a recovery operation, which will make it easier for Governments and industries to meet recovery targets by burning waste to recover energy and heat.

 Some examples of JASPERS assignments in this sector are:

-         Closure of illegal dumpsites
-         Improvement of waste collection and sorting
-         Waste treatment in mechanical-biological treatment plants
-         Thermal treatment or residual waste
-         Construction of compliant landfills
-         Rehabilitation of areas polluted by industrial and radioactive waste

Type of support provided at the project level

As for any other division in JASPERS, in order to receive the support for a project, it is required that: (i) the project is eligible for EU funding within the context of an Operational Programme in the corresponding Member State; and (ii) JASPERS and the Member State have agreed to include the assignment in the annual Action Plan that defines the workload for the year.

The support given by the Division in these sectors to its counterparts (Managing Authorities and project beneficiaries) is not limited to project preparation, but covers also other areas like horizontal studies, capacity building and implementation as presented in the chart below:

In addition to this, the experts in the Division produce from time to time working papers and publish relevant report that can be of the general interest of Managing Authorities, beneficiaries and consultants. These working papers are available here.

Assignments for the year 2011

 In the Action Plans being prepared for the year 2011, the Division has a total of 98 assignments between the three sectors (as of May 2011), with a total project cost of approximately EUR 7.5 bn . The distribution by sector and country is shown in the chart below.