The SET-Plan roadmap stresses the importance of fostering basic science as a way to obtain breakthrough for future emerging technologies, and as a source of fundamental problem-solving during technology development. A potential Basic Science for Energy Joint Programme, aiming at these two goals, was the subject of a first seminar in Paris (May 3rd, 2010), after which a first document was produced and an awareness event was organised to widen the interest in this Joint Programme initiative (November 23rd, 2010). According to discussions in the first three meetings (January, March, June 2011), it turned out that the most interesting topics, and those where European research would be the most effective, would be about basic materials science, physical chemistry of processes, heat and mass transfer phenomena and dedicated powerful tools to characterise materials and energy devices (especially on large scale facilities). The Joint Programme was renamed: AMPEA, which stands for Advanced Materials and Processes for Energy Applications.

Structure (sub-programmes)

The Joint Programme AMPEA has organised its work in 3 sub-programmes:

• SP1: New materials
• SP2: Physical modelling
• SP3: Characterisation platforms for materials and devices