On Thursday, 23rd March 2023, the SUPEERA and PANTERA projects organized a workshop held at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Bucharest. The workshop, conducted in a hybrid format, was part of a series of events focused on the EU-13 countries. Its main objective was to increase the involvement of Romanian entities in Research and Innovation (R&I) activities.

The workshop aimed to promote knowledge exchange and best practices among Romanian entities actively engaged in R&I. Specifically, the goal was to encourage their participation in the Implementation Working Groups of the SET Plan and related initiatives. Additionally, the workshop featured the presentation of the EIRE platform, developed by the PANTERA project, which serves as a reference point for R&I activities in the energy system, facilitating EU-level collaboration.

Distinguished speakers from various organizations provided insights into Romania's energy sector, including its energy mix, dependencies, and its engagement in the SET Plan, Clean Energy Transition (CET), and H2020. The panel discussion addressed challenges such as the lack of collaboration between national entities, low national investment in R&I, limited resources, and structural issues.

The workshop also highlighted R&I opportunities for collaboration and funding. It shed light on funding options available through the European Innovation Council (EIC), with a particular focus on Clean Tech, and emphasized the importance of collaboration in European projects. The session also introduced the EEA and Norway Grants, showcasing successful proposals and underlining the significance of research quality and collaboration.

Overall, the workshop served as a step forward in enhancing collaboration and promoting research and innovation in Romania. Its aim was to increase the country's participation in EU-funded R&I activities, particularly within the Implementation Working Groups of the SET Plan.