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
Content

Agenda and Minutes   3
Pictures             7
Participants list    9
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
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
•   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)
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
IV Pictures
Welcome by EC and APRE




Awareness of the network
Working dinner
c-Energy+
c-Energy+

c-Energy+

  • 1.
    Project no: 241325 Projectacronym: 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
  • 2.
    Content Agenda and Minutes 3 Pictures 7 Participants list 9
  • 3.
    Introduction The meeting tookplace 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 completedby 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
  • 7.
    IV Pictures Welcome byEC and APRE Awareness of the network
  • 8.