The Tuscany Regional Programme (RP) ERDF 2021-27 is the main programming tool to promote smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, starting from an analysis of the territory's needs and based on development opportunities in Tuscany.

The RP ERDF strategy is grounded in the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) for research and innovation in Tuscany 2021-27. The S3 supports research and innovation in the field of the 'Green Transition’ Challenge to move towards environmentally sustainable, circular, and renewable energy-based growth and production development models. Concerning the RP ERDF, HYPERION shares the two key challenges of 'a Smarter Europe' (innovative and smart economic transformation) and 'a Greener Europe' (low carbon emissions).

Priority 1: Research, innovation, digitization, and competitiveness, are particularly relevant to the aims of HYPERION as they support research and innovation capacities and the introduction of advanced technologies (Obj A.1)”. Under this objective, collaborative research is funded into new technologies of relevance to the Smart Specialisation priorities. The priority also funds actions to strengthen sustainable growth, competitiveness, and job creation in SMEs through productive investments.
HYPERION is also relevant to Priority 2: Ecological transition and resilience, which aims to promote renewable energies (Obj B.2) and the transitions to a circular and resource-efficient economy (Obj. B.6).

The overall objective of the Regional Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3) for the South-East Region 2021-2027 is to accelerate the development process, by addressing an integrated system of priorities and measures aimed at improving smart specialisation capacities and skills in the region.
It aims to reduce disparities in comparison with other development regions by integrating the principles of smart specialization. It ensures a favorable framework for key actors which, by developing concrete initiatives in smart specialization areas, produce a positive impact on sustainable development of the region.

The following specific objectives (SO) have been set:

• SO. 1 - Strengthening R&I capacities in academic, public and private environments;
• SO. 2 - Increasing competitiveness of areas with potential for smart specialisation, by digitising processes and using information systems;
• SO. 3 - Developing human resources skills for smart specialisation, industrial transition, and entrepreneurship;
• SO. 4 - Adopting advanced technologies (KET) in the fields of smart specialisation.

The smart specialisation areas identified by RIS 3 allow orientation of development priorities in the field of RDI and have a high potential to become regional areas of excellence in the following fields: engineering and shipping; textile industry; agro-food and biotechnologies; aquaculture and fisheries; tourism; ICT. Hydrogen is not explicitly mentioned in the strategy, hence the need for progress in this field.

The European Funds for Pomerania 2021-2027 allocates ERDF/EDF funding to the region for various policy objectives. The programme’s interventions are determined by a need to ensure:

1. environmental & energy security,
2. health security & reduced social vulnerability,
3. education & social capital,
4. economy, labour market, tourism & leisure offerings,
5. mobility & communication

H2 is a horizontal priority for the Pomerania region and is relevant to the Axis for a smarter and greener Pomerania.

Within HYPERION, the principle focus is Priority 1 - European funds for a competitive and smart Pomerania (total EU funding allocation 183M€)/ i) Developing and strengthening research and innovation capacity and exploitation of advanced technologies. HYPERION can feed into this objective, with a focus on R&I and the exploitation of advanced H2 technologies. Indeed, Priority 1.i funds activities that range from proof of concept of innovations to collaborative R&D projects, technology transfer, and development of R&D infrastructures. Eligible target groups include enterprises (from micro to large), research centres, high schools, and clusters.

The Policy also includes Priority 2 – European funds for a Green Pomerania (total EU funding allocation 342M€) / i) energy efficiency and reduction of GHG and ii) promotion of renewable energy. Given the focus on H2/green H2, this objective is of relevance in terms of the uptake of advanced technologies in this field (e.g. green H2 from offshore wind).

The provincial spatial policy plan 'Make room for East Flanders 2050' was adopted by the provincial council on 22 March 2023. The Strategic Vision takes a look to the future and identifies 4 major challenges (loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services / Finite resources, energy and space / Societal growth and change / Climate change) and long-term strategic objectives that together form the framework for sustainable use of space.

The 4 strategic objectives are:

• enhance the physical-natural system, and biodiversity, and strengthen ecosystem services
• think and act in a circular and integrated way
• achieve sustainable societal growth
• be climate-healthy.

The plan will safeguard space to ensure, now and in the future, that the province becomes a climate-healthy living environment. In this context, the Province develops regional spatial energy system visions that design future energy systems at the regional level. They envision (through extensive research and analysis) what installations should go where to reach a renewable, low-carbon energy system in the most cost sustainable efficient way with minimum unwanted impact. Industrial sites have a special purpose as energyHUBs (EHUBts). The vision indicates the logical places, due to energy and spatial conditions, where hydrogen can be applied and through what kind of installations. It also sets the space for H2 project development and facilitation of projects to connect H2 initiatives across the province.

Castilla y León Energy Efficiency Strategy 2030 is a strategic document to support and plan energy efficiency in industry, buildings, transport, local authorities, and the regional government. It is managed by the Regional Government, with the participation of various departments in charge of actions within their remit. Approved in 2021, it is designed to meet international, EU, and national objectives. Total investment is c.799.1M€, of which 68.6% is private and 31.4% is public.

Particularly relevant to HYPERION, as managed by the General Direction of Industry, are priorities related to (i) industry, (iii) transport, and (vi) RDI.

• For industry (229.6M€), actions encourage investments in energy efficiency, fund technology, and develop pilot projects (R&D&I) and training/dissemination programmes.
• For transport (57.5M€), actions include improving the energy efficiency of technologies and encouraging the use of alternative fuel sources (renewing the vehicle fleet – including 10 H2 vehicles).
• Key R&D&I areas, providing horizontal input, include the production and utilization of green hydrogen from renewable sources.

The Strategy includes the regional Hydrogen Plan, which details the regional context and specific objectives. It aims to provide a tool to identify opportunities in H2 technologies detected in Castilla y León. The proposal is to deploy at least 200 MW of installed capacity in electrolyzers, (centralised installations / decentralised / production projects in industry or transport).

The objective of the Regional Smart Specialisation Strategy for Ostrobothnia is to identify priority areas within business life, research, and new technology in which the region excels and which can create new opportunities and strengths for the region. The strategy guides the regional implementation of the EDRF programmes, functioning as a basis for organising thematic calls for the Operational Programme as well as for prioritizing among project applications to be funded regionally.

During the programming period 2021-2027 Ostrobothnia functions as managing authority and is mostly using funding from priority area one which is linked to implementing RIS3 strategies.
The strategy envisions creating “a world-class innovation system in which education, research, businesses and inhabitants come together to jointly create conditions for globally competitive products and services that allow Ostrobothnia to become a leading region of sustainable development”. It outlines 4 prioritised intervention areas, one of which is “Energy Technology and System Solutions for Renewable Energy Production”.

This intervention area includes development topics such as: transmission and distribution of renewable energy (sector integration, micro grids, offshore grids, grid optimisation), digital solutions and cyber security of smart electricity grids, energy storage, power-to-x-solutions and battery technology, hydrogen, renewable fuels and engine technology, flexibility of energy systems.

The Business and Innovation Strategy in Rogaland is a smart specialisation strategy, providing direction for the county council’s priorities in business development. The document’s dynamic character allows for adjustments in line with arising challenges. Clean energy and maritime future are two of three strategic priorities in the strategy, with competence, adaptation, and collaboration being transversal principles, stimulating innovation.

The strategy itself is a framework document with a small amount of funding which is set aside with the purpose of strategy work and smaller workshops. However, the strategy is a leading document which dictates how the County Council spends their money. There are several funding schemes within the Business Development department, and all of those will have to focus on the areas of interest set in the strategy.

Within the region there are several actors that will benefit from the County Council’s interest in clean energy and maritime sector, and especially if the hydrogen initiative achieves positive impact. Improving the strategy and focusing on hydrogen will further strengthen the region as a whole, when investigating the various ways hydrogen can be applied, for the maritime sector but also for other sectors where the use of hydrogen could be applicable.

The Climate Action Plan 2023-2026 aims to make Ringkøbing-Skjern a climate-robust community by 2050. The municipality aims at being over 100% self-sufficient in renewable energy and 100% fossil-free by 2040.

In the energy chapter of the plan, the emergence of PtX is important. Before 2026, the plan aims to:

• utilize the vast amount of wind energy locally via PtX and sector coupling;
• establish an energy laboratory for new technologies within the production and storage of renewable energy;
• make all district heating renewable by 2030;
• explore biomass to PtX e.g., biochar and high-value products;
• establish local energy communities.

The Climate Action Plan has strong synergies with the municipality’s Business Policy 2023-2027 & Action Plan 2023-2025. These also contribute to the uptake of PtX through attracting qualified labour, expanding digital and traffic infrastructure and expanding the electricity grid so that the municipality can utilise and store more energy locally instead of exporting all of it.