EVALUATION

AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF THE LCNF
6.6 Summary of international learning
The UK programmes cover the whole range of TRLs from EPSRC funding of academic
research through to the high TRL levels where Innovate UK and DECC initiatives fund
innovation. In respect of programmes focused on the distribution networks the NIA and
NIC fit well into the TRL levels. The recent NIA and NIC fit in a similar space, but have a
requirement for at least TRL2 as a starting point and cover transmission and distribution of
both gas and electricity. This leaves TRL 1 as a space for the academic determination of
basic principles.
There is little detail about specifics of governance arrangements internationally, with a
range of funding mechanisms such as a prize fund, a loan programme and a partially
funded initiative in a regulatory environment. This review has found some relevant
observations from the European funding programmes:
• innovation focus should be on critical challenges and opportunities in the global
context;
• ‘Smart-Grid’ innovation and investment represents an opportunity for wider industrial
research and development, and collaboration, in France this is recognised through
inclusion in the ‘New Industrial France’ initiative;
• an industry agreed strategic direction for next steps should be developed, as seen in
Denmark;
• overall programme monitoring would ensure the learning in each technology area is
readily available;
• cross industry collaboration could be improved, such as between electricity, heat and
gas, or between energy and transport. Such linkages will help stimulate transition to
a low carbon economy, given expected changes in the heat and transport sectors;
• projects should be encouraged to not only focus on the technical considerations, but
also include institutional, regulatory, investment, political or social dimensions;
• requirements for funding opportunities should be simplified as far as possible to
enable small companies and research groups to be involved; and
• encouragement of project participants to have young staff or students working on the
projects would be an investment for the future.
PÖYRY MANAGEMENT CONSULTING
October 2016
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