Networks for Energy (TEN-E) projects to prioritize clean energy such as hydrogen infrastructure -- including transport and certain types of electrolyzers. 56 out of the 300+ applications for EU funding of clean tech from the Innovation Fund in 2020 were for hydrogen-related projects. The EU’s Innovation Fund aims to create the right financial incentives for companies and public authorities to invest now in the next generation of low-carbon technologies and give EU companies a first-mover advantage to become global technology leaders. For the period 2020-2030, the Fund may amount to about EUR 10 billion, depending on the carbon price. The EU’s Emission Trading System (ETS) provides the revenues for the Fund and also provides the main long-term incentive for these technologies to be deployed in the EU. The EU ETS works on the 'cap and trade' principle.
Besides the Innovation Fund’s focus on low-carbon technologies, the EU also have the Horizon 2020 and the upcoming Horizon Europe that support innovation and research. These programs have supported and will continue to support a variety of smart mobility projects. These early-stage collaborations, such as the Horizon 2020-funded project to develop a prototype hydrogen-fueled train or the ENSEMBLE project for platooning connected-automated trucks, also aim to inform the development of standards and regulations. For example, the ENSEMBLE project helped to identify and establish pre-standard requirements regarding interoperability among the vehicles and with logistics solution providers, to speed up commercialization of the practice, and to harmonize legal frameworks among the Member States. A general safety regulation has been adopted in 2019/2144 which addresses cooperative and connected automated mobility (CCAM), automation, cyber and platooning communication (V2V). One single V2V standard is now adopted throughout the ENSEMBLE project. It is equally important for U.S. companies to be able to participate in these projects or, at the very least, be able to provide input into the resulting standards and regulations to ensure that U.S. products and services will be inter-operable within the EU ecosystem for smart mobility. The U.S. Department of State is leading an interagency effort to discuss with the European Commission how to address challenges to U.S. participation in these projects.
The EU’s Digital Single Market Strategy also plays an important role in the implementation of the EU’s smart mobility strategy. The European Commission aims to make more use of ITS solutions to achieve a more efficient management of the transport network for passengers and business. ITS will be used to improve journeys and operations on specific and combined modes of transport. The European Commission will also work to set the ground for the next generation of ITS solutions, through the deployment of Cooperative-ITS , paving the way for automation in the transport sector.
Opportunites / Best Prospects for U.S. Exports
For More Information about exporting to Croatia contact:
Nina Čerkez
Smart Mobility Commercial Specialist
U.S. Embassy Zagreb, Croatia
Nina.Cerkez@Trade.gov
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European Union