1. Project no: 241325
Project acronym: C-ENERGY +
Project title: Connecting Energy NCPs Plus
A Pro-Active Network of National Contact Points in the Seventh Framework Programme under the
Energy Theme
Funding scheme: Coordination Action
Programme: FP7 Energy
Deliverable 1.1 Meeting report
Due date of deliverable: Month 12
Actual submission date: Month 15
Start date of project: May 1st, 2010
Duration: 3 years
Organisation name of lead contractor for this deliverable:
Partner 1, APRE
Dissemination level of this deliverable:
Confidential
3. Introduction
The meeting took place in the Permanent Representation of Estonia where a room was dedicated. Between
25 and 30 representatives of the Energy NCPs took part in the meeting.
The objectives of the meeting were:
• Review of the activities of the C-Energy + project
• Reflection and first steps for the next actions
• Reinforcement of the network dynamic
Euracle conceived and structure the meeting with modules easing the cooperation between participants and
enabling the cross-pollination.
Euracle provided APRE with the following documents issued from discussion with APRE representatives:
• Agenda,
• Presentation
• Follow up sheet
The meeting took place from 10.00 to 18.00 on July 6, 2011.
II. Agenda
Timing Session
10.00 – 10.15 1. Welcome by EC and Apre
Welcome by the EC – Martin Huemer and Apre – Chiara Pocaterra
10.15 – 10.45 2. Introduction
Description of the meeting development; objectives included
10.45 – 11.15 3. Activity report presentation
Main activities undertaken in previous years described by Apre
Presentation by Chiara Pocaterra
11.15 – 11.30 4. Icebreaker: Let’s investigate
Icebreaker based on the search of personal properties of the participants – 8
questions to answer!
11.30 – 11.45 5. Coffee break
11.45 – 13.00 6. Awareness of the network
The objective is to get the participants aware of the importance of the network
for their activities and to identify what could be the obstacles and success
factors to the development of the network. The participants are grouped into
subgroups of 4 persons.
3 steps are used here:
1. Presentation: the participants present themselves and inform
the 3 other participants on their objectives towards this meeting
2. Obstacles: participants list the serious obstacles that may
destroy the network. Reporting of the obstacles!
3. Successes: participants list the crucial success factors to
ensure the success of the network. Reporting of the success
factors!
The idea here is to make aware the participants of the importance of their
contribution to ensure the success of the network and then of the project. The
information will remain available to the participants for the rest of the day. It will
4. Timing Session
be also used in the round tables module!
13.00 – 14.00 7. Lunch
14.00– 14.45 8. Round table discussions
The discussion during the round tables will be based on the results of module 6
(meaning of the network) and should allow the participants to find possible
solutions to the obstacles that can jeopardise the operations of the network. It
will be also an occasion to share ideas in order to reach the success factors.
14.45 – 15.15 9. Reporting on Round table discussions
The work package leader will report the main highlights of the round table
discussions.
15.15 – 15.30 10. Coffee break
15.30 – 16.45 11. Action plans
Based on the action plans of C Energy +, the participants will be split in
subgroups to define the action plans with the following information:
• Title
• Objectives
• Steps
• Owner
• Deadline
• Name of the reporter
A process with individual brainstorming, categorisation and action plans will be
implemented. A reporter for each action (work package coordinator) will be
identified for the reporting session (Gallery Walk).
16.45 – 18.00 12. Reporting session – Gallery Walk
The room will be organised into a “gallery” visited by the participants. Each
reporter will present his/her action to the other groups. Each visit will last 15
minutes and a shift rotation system will be implemented.
In this session, the participants will have the opportunity to enrich the
presented action plan and also to propose to be a mentor in case he/she thinks
capable to assist the others in the implementation of the action.
20.30 13. Working dinner
III Results
III.1 Awareness of the network
Obstacles
1. Project
• Involvement (different levels of members’ involvement in the network)
• Decision-making process
• Not enough meetings
• Too many tasks
• Lack of coordination overlap of events (meetings…)
• More clarification on expected deliverables
• High level of efforts to complete the project
2. Human resources
5. • Turnover
• Inexperience
• Do not assume that people (members) know everything
• More proactivity
3. Communication
• Lack of email communication
• Communication with other networks
• Communication with programme committee
4. Budget/national support
• Reform in national policies
• National budget cuts
• Participation of third countries should be foreseen in budget
• Heavy workload at national level
Successes
1. Networking
• Exchange of experiences/practices
• Personal contacts
• Multi-cultural exchanges (meetings…)
• Website – our communication platform
• Informal information
• Quality of staff (experiences, competences) guidance and assistance
• Various choices of partners (associated partners…)
2. Training
• Positive impact of the mentoring
• Positive impact of the training
3. Coordination of the project
• Project management
• Overall performance of the project
• Flexibility
• Funding
4. More information on EU policies
5. Events
• information on events
• better coordination of the Brokerage Events with the Infodays
III.2 The outputs of the meeting
3 themes of actions were defined after the discussions of the group:
1. Communication
a. Forum/ social network: which option?
b. Email management: rules
c. Code of conduct: structure
2. Training
a. Matrix of competences: structure
b. Mentoring: action plan
3. Networking
a. Workshops: 5 W
1. Communication (reporter: Julian)
6. To be completed by Julian:
The subgroups proposed to use the Cordis Partner Search as it can be considered as a social network tool,
it covers the email functionalities and then rules will have to be edited in this context.
The Cordis Partner Search allows structuration of messages. In this context, the project can have different
groups in relation with the project activities: project management, networking, communication, profile
validation group…
The decision of the subgroup is that every member of the project updates its profile at 90 % for mid-
September.
2. Training/mentoring (reporter: Borja)
• Step 1: Questionnaire for a complete map of competences and needs (Bea from MCST)
based on persons and organisation! every members should have filled in the
questionnaire by mid-September
• Step 2: Mapping of the capacities and needs based on questionnaire with the identification
of mentees and mentors!
• Step 3: identification of existing training/mentoring materials already existing in the network
For the mentoring:
• Identification of possible mentors during the meeting: Italy, Poland, Malta, Estonia,
Portugal, Spain.
• Identification of content and organisation (agenda, dates…)
3. Networking (reporter: Mari)
Application to a workshop to organise in Ispra:
• Who: NCPs and researchers
• What: workshop
• When: Spring 2012
• Where: Ispra (Other option: Güssing, Wells…)
• Why: JRC – new technologies…
III Next meeting
Date: end of October (to be confirmed)
Location: Brussels
Themes: review of operations and reinforcement of the network
