The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) is launching its first initiative on Smart Specialisation in the domain of Fuel Cells and Hydrogen technology together with the European Commission and the active support of Rhône-Alpes region.

The workshop will take place on 22 and 23 April 2015 at the Hôtel de Région in Lyon, France. It is hosted by Région Rhône-Alpes and organised in collaboration with CEA and the JRC Smart Specialization Platform, Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS).

   The Smart Specialisation activity of the European Commission (EC) is a strategic approach towards economic development through coordinated and targeted financial support for Research and Innovation (R&I) activities in order to access to the European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) interventions. Special attention is devoted to reinforce synergies between ESIF and other EC funding programmes like Horizon 2020 (of which the FCH JU program is a part).

   This workshop aims at bringing together those regions interested in Fuel Cells and Hydrogen as part of their Smart Specialisation Strategies. It will focus on the role of Fuel Cells and Hydrogen technologies on regional development for both clean transport (cars, buses, captive fleets, etc.) and sustainable and low carbon energy (stationary power generation, energy storage and grid balancing, etc.). The objective is to initiate practical cooperation between European Regions including the industry and research partners in the field of Fuel Cells and Hydrogen by coordinating the Smart Specialisation Strategies.  The workshop will gather regional stakeholders to:

• Share motivations towards Fuel Cells and Hydrogen technologies, exchange experiences, best practices and feedback about local initiatives;
• Increase the visibility of Fuel Cells and Hydrogen products and services and reinforce EU industry operating in the sector;
• Identify common projects to be implemented between regions.

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