EERA’s SET Plan & Strategic Programming Director delves into the role of the Clean Industrial Deal in tackling Europe's pressing climate and energy challenges
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To support the delivery of the Clean Industrial Deal and defragment Europe’s innovation landscape, EERA’s SET Plan & Strategic Programming Director emphasises the need to scale-up funding mechanisms, limit bureaucracy, ensure regulatory clarity, and invest in key technologies where Europe has a competitive edge.
EERA’s Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan & Strategic Programming Director, Ivan Matejak, recently appeared as a guest on the EU Energy Projects Podcast by Enlit. The conversation, hosted by Areti Ntaradimou, delved into the €100 billion question: Is the Clean Industrial Deal enough to tackle Europe’s energy, climate, and geopolitical challenges?
The Clean Industrial Deal is set to mobilise €100 billion for investment in EU-made clean manufacturing. It has been characterised as a major shift in policy, a renewed commitment to research and innovation (R&I), and a move toward energy independence. However, it remains to be seen whether Europe’s industries can truly benefit from this deal, or whether bureaucracy and slow implementation may play a role in stifling its potential.
Against the backdrop of climate challenges, energy crises and geopolitical tensions, all of which demand bold action, Matejak points out that the proposed funding may be more symbolic than transformational, highlighting that “this €100 billion won’t be enough,’’ particularly when factoring in other financial commitments facing Europe in the current context.
However for Matejak, it is important to stay optimistic in the delivery of the Clean Deal, in which the ''execution will depend entirely on how willing stakeholders are to commit. If member states don’t buy in, it doesn’t matter how ambitious the plan is. It will stall.''
Delving into Europe’s unwavering focus on low-carbon technologies in its industrial strategy, in contrast to competitors like the United States who are still heavily investing in fossil fuels, he makes clear that there is no other choice.
“The 1.5-degree climate target isn’t just a goal – it’s a necessity. Europe is geographically vulnerable, and investing in outdated fossil fuels would only make us weaker in the long run.”
Furthermore, when discussing the defragmentation of Europe’s innovation ecosystem, Matejak affirms that “scaling up funding mechanisms and cutting bureaucracy is critical,’’ alongside investing ''in key technologies where we have a competitive edge.''
