Energy efficiency is central to the European Green Deal, the Fit for 55 package and the Clean Industrial Deal. It is a key pillar of REPowerEU, which is targeting a 20% reduction in gas consumption in the short term. In 2025, the Action Plan for Affordable Energy has set the stage for better int...
This report explores the role of local and regional actors in mission-oriented innovation and industrial policies. It examines how current mission-oriented approaches engage regions, cities, and rural communities in mission design and implementation, and whether these policies have the potential...
The European Capitals of Small Retail (ECoSR) awards initiative identifies cities that have achieved remarkable results in supporting small retailers and maintaining vibrant city centres. The awards celebrate success stories of cities that have fostered effective and innovative approaches to sma...
In times of radical socio-technical change, system-level or transformative innovation (hereafter simply system innovation) is necessary in order to achieve, or maintain, economic prosperity, in ways compatible with environmental sustainability and a cohesive society. There is growing policy inte...
The Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) is a European Union fund that supports research and innovation in the coal and steel sectors. Within the coal sector, RFCS focuses on promoting a sustainable and environmentally friendly transition, supporting the development of new technologies and me...
The paper proposes a new approach to policymaking in the, introducing the concept of "policy acupuncture" or "pressure points" to address the complex and interconnected challenges facing Europe. It argues that by identifying and acting on these high-leverage points, the EU can unlock systemic ch...
