Closing knowledge gaps and reducing uncertainties to support the EU’s green industrial transition
Workshop at CEPS – Closed door event
Date: 22 October 2024
In her guidelines for the next European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen announced that strengthening the EU’s industrial competitiveness, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal, will be a top priority of the next European Commission. Specifically, she announced plans to introduce a new Clean Industrial Deal for competitive industries and quality jobs, as well as an Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act to support industries and companies through the transition and a Circular Economy Act to create a market for secondary materials. However, there is still limited understanding of the complex, crosscutting implications the twofold transition towards a circular and carbon-neutral economy will entail for European industry. This generates uncertainties, particularly in energy-intensive sectors, which ultimately affect investment decisions. Modelling tools can help industry and policymakers navigate these uncertainties and close knowledge gaps. However, state-of-the-art modelling is not yet able to fully capture the interplay of these agendas. Two EU-funded Horizon Europe – Cluster 4 projects, TRANSIENCE and AMIGDALA, are tasked with developing new modelling capacities and providing evidencebased support for the European industry transition. In this endeavour, we jointly organise a workshop to bring together key stakeholders from policy, industry, research, and civil society and to discuss and identify key transition challenges. Collaboratively, we will explore realistic options to advance the EU industry’s transition through improved modelling. Our aim is not to present an abundance of findings or to offer a rigid research process, but rather to engage in and facilitate a genuinely productive and honest exchange of concerns and ideas with European industry and policymakers and other stakeholders. We will focus on a set of priority topics, with the aim to listen to and tailor our scientific support to real-world decision-makers, also in consideration of the need for clear roadmaps and enabling environments. We plan to address a diversity of questions: what is the strategic importance of maintaining basic industrial production capabilities within Europe’s borders? What are the major technological challenges and solutions for a low-carbon and circular industry? How does that political dimension (ambition and support) fit in, at the EU level? What are the most pertinent uncertainties, risks, lock-ins, and other factors jeopardising the current industrial status in Europe and/or hindering the effectiveness of a more sustainable, low-carbon, and circular paradigm? What business opportunities are there for industry to operationalise Europe’s ambitions through global investments and regrets?
Agenda
13:00 – 14:00 Welcome, registration, and sandwich lunch
14:00 – 14:10 Opening remarks
Edoardo Righetti, Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS)
14:10 – 14:40 Keynote speeches
• Vicky Pollard, Head of Unit at DG CLIMA, European Commission
• Florie Gonsolin, Director of Industrial Transformation Projects, CEFIC
• Ludo Diels, Chair of P4P and former Scientific advisor, VITO (TBC)
Followed by Q&A
14:40 – 14:55
Overview of TRANSIENCE: new modelling capacities for transitioning to a low-carbon, circular, and sustainable European industry
Alexandros Nikas, National Technical University of Athens
Followed by Q&A
14:55 – 15:10 Overview of AMIGDALA: decision-driven pathways to competitive sustainability for European industry Frank Wubbolts, TNO
Followed by Q&A 15:10 – 15:20
Pitch of the topics for the breakout sessions
15:20 – 15:40 Coffee break
15:40 – 17:00 Breakout sessions (2 rounds of 40 minutes each)
• Political dynamics as a transformation barrier and the role of EU ambition & leadership Facilitated by Miriam Ruß, Wuppertal Institute
• Technological challenges and solutions for a low-carbon and circular European industry Facilitated by Iñigo Muñoz Mateos, Tecnalia
• Business opportunities for global industries to operationalise the green transition Facilitated by Joel Naeve, Deloitte
• Key uncertainties for policy makers and for businesses of the basic industry
Facilitated by Wouter Nijs, VITO
17:00 – 17:20 Plenary feedback of key takeaways from each breakout discussion
17:20 – 17:40 Reflection on key takeaways from the projects
17:40 – 18:00 Summary, concluding remarks

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