The CNH2 scientific and technical activity is established through its R&D Director Plan, prepared every four years based upon the recommendations that arise in the European Union, the R&D National Plan and from the regions, as well as from the national and international sector, both from the scientific and industrial point of view. The R&D Director Plan 2011-2014 is currently in force. This Plan is based on the strategic lines and technology areas identified by the scientific community and the industry that set the course for the research, development and innovation to be realized at the Centre. The Plan is divided in the following areas:
- Hydrogen production
- Hydrogen Storage
- Transformation of hydrogen into energy
- Integration
- Standards and Safety
- Complementary support actions
The External Relations Unit and the Project Coordination Unit manage this Plan, with the support of other units of the Centre for their annual review. Through this review, the degree of compliance is assessed and new actions and the modification and updating of the existing ones are proposed.
Currently under development is the R&D Plan for 2015-2018. The accomplishment of the objectives of the Director Plan are being reviewed taking into account the results of that review and with the advances in the implementation of the Centre.
External inputs like the R&D action lines put forward by the Spanish Technology Platform for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells (PTE HPC) and the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH-JU) in its MultiAnnual Working Plan (2014-2020), the information provided by many members of the national and international scientific and technological community, the new laboratories and equipment acquired as a result from the implementation of the ERDF allocated to the Centre, the Plan will be the published as a guide for the development of the R&D in the CNH 2 for the next four years.
In its development the Scientific Technical Advisory Committee is involved, evaluating and approving it before it is presented to the Governing Board who is responsible for its final approval. The Plan will be reviewed annually and modified or extended depending on what, in that review, the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee and the Governing Board recommend.
