The EPN Consulting Newsletter No. 107 | July 2019
The Editorial
Dear Colleague, 
Some weeks ago in a bookshop at Gatwick airport I bought "The Passengers" by John Marrs, attracted by the lines on the cover: Eight self-drive cars set on a collision course. Who lives, who dies? You decide. I started reading it and it is actually compelling as expected. It is described with a good amount of details how a self-driving car works... Read more
Paris' e-scooters experiment demonstrates dangers of failing to regulate tech
If you want to see an example of how failing to properly regulate a new technology can be bad for companies, users, and communities, look no further than Paris.
Last year, the city allowed dockless electric scooters to begin operating in the city using a light-touch approach to regulation. The result of this experiment in lax regulations was what the mayor of Paris recently declared to be “anarchy".
2020 EU Budget: Council agrees its position
EU ambassadors agreed the Council's position on the 2020 EU draft budget. Once formally adopted by the Council, this will serve as a mandate for the presidency in negotiations with the European Parliament. In total, the Council's position for next year's budget amounts to €166.8 billion in commitments and €153.1 billion in payments.  Read more
EU
Guidance for Cycling Projects in the EU
The intended users of the guidance are practitioners in city authorities with responsibility for cycling and/or sustainable transport. It is hoped that it is also of interest and use for other stakeholders connected to cycling in cities.
Where appropriate, high level advice is supported by the use of city case studies, which have been developed for the purposes of this guidance. Read more
EU
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT): Commission proposes strategy for 2021-2027
The proposals adopted will align the EIT with the EU's next R&I programme Horizon Europe (2021-2027) delivering on the Commission's commitment to further boost Europe's innovation potential. With a proposed budget of €3 billion, which represents an increase of €600 million or 25% compared to the current Strategic Innovation Agenda (2014-2020), the EIT will fund activities on existing... Read more
EU
The European Patent Office (EPO) publishes Strategic Plan 2023
The idea behind the EPO's Strategic Plan is to create " a roadmap for achieving a more sustainable patent office for Europe, better equipped to succeed in an evolving IP landscape".
The Strategic Plan (SP2023) got adopted on the 26th of June focuses on five goals: 1) Build an engaged, knowledgeable and collaborative organisation; 2) Simplify and modernise EPO IT systems; 3)... Read more
EU
The Website of the Month: The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE)
The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) located in Brussels, Belgium, is the leading member-supported association representing organisations active across the entire energy storage value chain. EASE supports the deployment of energy storage to support the cost-effective transition to a resilient, low-carbon, and secure energy system.

EASE was established in 2011 and currently represents almost 40 members including utilities, technology suppliers, research institutes, distribution system operators, and transmission system operators. Together, EASE members have significant expertise across all major storage technologies and applications. This allows us to generate new ideas and policy recommendations that are essential to build a regulatory framework that is supportive of storage.

Upcoming Professional Events - find many more in our Events Section
03 Sept 2019 – Deadline to submit proposals to H2020 [FETPROACT-EIC-05-2019] call (RIA – FET Proactive: emerging paradigms and communities)

03 Sept 2019 – Deadline to submit proposals to H2020 [FETPROACT-EIC-06-2019] call (RIA – EIC Transition to Innovation Activities)

03 Sept 2019 – Deadline to submit proposals to the H2020 [LC-SC3-EC-1-2018-2019-2020] call (CSA – T he role of consumers in changing the market through informed decision and collective actions)

03 Sept 2019 – Deadline to submit proposals to the H2020 [LC-SC3-EC-2-2018-2019-2020] call (CSA – Mitigating household energy poverty)

03 Sept 2019 – Deadline to submit proposals to the H2020 [LC-SC3-EE-1-2018-2019-2020] call (IA – Decarbonisation of the EU building stock: innovative approaches and affordable solutions changing the market for buildings renovation)

03 Sept 2019 – Deadline to submit proposals to the H2020 [LC-SC3-EE-2-2018-2019] call (CSA – Integrated home renovation services)

Please note: last chance ever to submit SME Instrument Phase 1 proposals by 05 Sept 2019
Events
19-23 Aug 2019 – Leicester (UK) – 2019 IEEE SMART WORLD CONGRESS

04-05 Sept 2019 – Millbrook (UK) – CENEX-LCV 2019 (Low-Carbon Vehicle)

09-13 Sept 2019 – Trento (IT) – ICIAP 2019 – 20th International Conference on Image Analysis and Processing

11-12 Sept 2019 – London (UK) – European Fleet Management Summit 2019

11-12 Sept 2019 – Birmingham (UK) – RWM 2019 – Recycling and Waste Management Exhibition

12-13 Sept 2019 – Brescia (IT) – LWC (Living and Walking in Cities) 2019 – XXIV International Conference – PEDESTRIANS, URBAN SPACES and HEALTH

16-17 Sept 2019 – Brussels (BE) – Horizon 2020 Info Days on Societal Challenge 5 “Climate Action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials” – 2020 Calls

16-20 Sept 2019 – Budapest (HU) – CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) 4th General Assembly
EPN CONSULTING
Based in London. Engaged with Europe