1. Mapping existing infrastructure
Workshop Future Needs for Research Infrastructure in Energy
Mapping existing infrastructure
Organisational view
Universities: teaching, specific research
Research labs, like Max Planck in Germany
Applied research labs, like Fraunhofer in Germany; industry funded
National labs, like CEA in France, CIEMAT in Spain, Helmholtz Centers in Germany
Company research centers
Company development
Thematik view
Basic research vs. applied research vs. development and market introduction.
Chemistry, physics, engineering, … need to be linked interdisciplinary, which is not the case yet.
Research vs. verification vs. demonstration
Integration of SMEs in cutting edge technology

2. Mapping existing infrastructure
Workshop Future Needs for Research Infrastructure in Energy
Mapping existing infrastructure
Deficiencies of existing infrastructure:
Interdisciplinary potential of applied research and basic research from universities is not sufficiently drawn on.
Europe is behind the US and Japan in providing cutting edge equipment for research.
Competition between EU countries still prevails cooperation. Networks can be part of creating a new infastructure, yet, it may not be sufficient since in networks the work share is temporary as it is not fixed through equipment.

3. Proposition for infrastucture
Workshop Future Needs for Research Infrastructure in Energy
Proposition for infrastucture
A major facility for fuel cell and hydrogen research is proposed. This shall cover the important issues identified within the SRA, namely:
Polymer membrane research for high temperature polymer fuel cells
Electronics for fuel cells, as map-controlling, power electronics, grid integration
Modelling on materials’ level, for electrochemistry, process engineering, and socio-economics; use of main frame computers, development of new mathematical approaches
Stack development
Process engineering for fuel cells
SOFC materials’ research
Production technology for fuel cells
….(depending on succinct bench-mark within Europe and vs. US, CAN, JPN

4. 2. Proposition for infrastructure, continued
Workshop Future Needs for Research Infrastructure in Energy
2. Proposition for infrastructure, continued
The research facility shall be equipped with cutting edge devices, particularly in analysis. The focus shall be on bridging the gaps between basic research and applied research as well as the gap between applied research and development.
The facility shall fit into Europe’s existing infrastructure and strengthen it it through:
Excellent equipment.
Cutting edge research plus service provided to the community.
Research activities spread over Europe. Therefore, this center might be located at with its topic oriented branches in 4 to 6 locations in Europe. These centers of locations of the center are suggested to be attached to already existing leading centers in the field. The local distribution shall help provide pan-European access.

5. 2. Proposition for infrastructure, continued
Workshop Future Needs for Research Infrastructure in Energy
2. Proposition for infrastructure, continued
Running such a center obliges the operating unit to providing open and equal access for European companies, universities and other developers of all European regions, which will be monitored.
For easy regional access and good distribution over Europe, the local sites of the center might overlap in their technical capabilities and equipment to a certain degree, but not to a degree that creates competition within the center. Tasks are supposed to be shared over the different European locations if applicable.
Investment depends on particular technical assignment as mentioned above, yet 5 to 20 M€ per site may be an incipient figure for investment, mounting up to about M€ in total, tbc.