Seventh Framework Research Articles

Transnational access to European seismic research facilities

The experimental research in this special issue on seismic design of timber buildings has been carried out in the context of seismic engineering research infrastructures for European synergies (Series), a project funded by the European Union's (EU) seventh framework programme for research. During its 4·5 year course, Series established a seamless and sustainable platform for cooperation between Europe's research infrastructures in earthquake engineering. Series partners enhanced their potential by jointly developing novel seismic testing techniques. Moreover, they advanced their outreach to the European community of science, technology and practice in earthquake engineering by providing (free of charge) access to their experimental capabilities and research outcomes. This was, indeed, the main goal of Series: to open up select research infrastructures for transnational access (TNA) and use by European groups of researchers. Advanced experimental work was jointly conducted by 27 user groups, after peer review and evaluation of research proposals. The portfolio of infrastructures offering TNA included the unique reaction wall/pseudodynamic testing at the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment at the Joint Research Centre, the four largest shaking table facilities and the leading laboratories for centrifuge testing in Europe. After providing general information about the TNA activities within Series, the paper highlights the outcomes of selected TNA projects on buildings, including on timber buildings.

Methodologies to characterize uncertainties in regional reanalyses

Abstract. When using climate data for various applications, users are confronted with the difficulty to assess the uncertainties of the data. For both in-situ and remote sensing data the issues of representativeness, homogeneity, and coverage have to be considered for the past, and their respective change over time has to be considered for any interpretation of trends. A synthesis of observations can be obtained by employing data assimilation with numerical weather prediction (NWP) models resulting in a meteorological reanalysis. Global reanalyses can be used as boundary conditions for regional reanalyses (RRAs), which run in a limited area (Europe in our case) with higher spatial and temporal resolution, and allow for assimilation of more regionally representative observations. With the spatially highly resolved RRAs, which exhibit smaller scale information, a more realistic representation of extreme events (e.g. of precipitation) compared to global reanalyses is aimed for. In this study, we discuss different methods for quantifying the uncertainty of the RRAs to answer the question to which extent the smaller scale information (or resulting statistics) provided by the RRAs can be relied on. Within the European Union's seventh Framework Programme (EU FP7) project Uncertainties in Ensembles of Regional Re-Analyses (UERRA) ensembles of RRAs (both multi-model and single model ensembles) are produced and their uncertainties are quantified. Here we explore the following methods for characterizing the uncertainties of the RRAs: (A) analyzing the feedback statistics of the assimilation systems, (B) validation against station measurements and (C) grids derived thereof, and (D) against gridded satellite data products. The RRA ensembles (E) provide the opportunity to derive ensemble scores like ensemble spread and other special probabilistic skill scores. Finally, user applications (F) are considered. The various methods are related to user questions they can help to answer.

A Systematic Content Analysis of Policy Barriers Impeding Access to Opioid Medication in Central and Eastern Europe: Results of ATOME

ContextReliable access to opioid medication is critical to delivering effective pain management, adequate treatment of opioid dependence, and quality palliative care. However, more than 80% of the world population is estimated to be inadequately treated for pain because of difficulties in accessing opioids. Although barriers to opioid access are primarily associated with restrictive laws, regulations, and licensing requirements, a key problem that significantly limits opioid access relates to policy constraints. ObjectivesTo identify and explore policy barriers to opioid access in 12 Eastern and Central European countries involved in the Access to Opioid Medication in Europe project, funded by the European Community's Seventh Framework (FP7/2007–2013, no. 222994) Programme. MethodsA systematic content analysis of texts retrieved from documents (e.g., protocols of national problem analyses, strategic planning worksheets, and executive summaries) compiled, reviewed, approved, and submitted by either the Access to Opioid Medication in Europe consortium or the national country teams (comprising experts in pain management, harm reduction, and palliative care) between September 2011 and April 2014 was performed. ResultsTwenty-five policy barriers were identified (e.g., economic crisis, bureaucratic issues, lack of training initiatives, stigma, and discrimination), classified under four predetermined categories (financial/economic aspects and governmental support, formularies, education and training, and societal attitudes). Key barriers related to issues of funding allocation, affordability, knowledge, and fears associated with opioids. ConclusionReducing barriers and improving access to opioids require policy reform at the governmental level with a set of action plans being formulated and concurrently implemented and aimed at different levels of social, education, and economic policy change.

A METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUS AERIAL AND TERRESTRIAL GEODATA ACQUISITION FOR CORRIDOR MAPPING

Abstract. In this paper, we present mapKITE, a new mobile, simultaneous terrestrial and aerial, geodata collection and post-processing method. On one side, the method combines a terrestrial mobile mapping system (TMMS) with an unmanned aerial mapping one, both equipped with remote sensing payloads (at least, a nadir-looking visible-band camera in the UA) by means of which aerial and terrestrial geodata are acquired simultaneously. This tandem geodata acquisition system is based on a terrestrial vehicle (TV) and on an unmanned aircraft (UA) linked by a 'virtual tether', that is, a mechanism based on the real-time supply of UA waypoints by the TV. By means of the TV-to-UA tether, the UA follows the TV keeping a specific relative TV-to-UA spatial configuration enabling the simultaneous operation of both systems to obtain highly redundant and complementary geodata. On the other side, mapKITE presents a novel concept for geodata post-processing favoured by the rich geometrical aspects derived from the mapKITE tandem simultaneous operation. The approach followed for sensor orientation and calibration of the aerial images captured by the UA inherits the principles of Integrated Sensor Orientation (ISO) and adds the pointing-and-scaling photogrammetric measurement of a distinctive element observed in every UA image, which is a coded target mounted on the roof of the TV. By means of the TV navigation system, the orientation of the TV coded target is performed and used in the post-processing UA image orientation approach as a Kinematic Ground Control Point (KGCP). The geometric strength of a mapKITE ISO network is therefore high as it counts with the traditional tie point image measurements, static ground control points, kinematic aerial control and the new point-and-scale measurements of the KGCPs. With such a geometry, reliable system and sensor orientation and calibration and eventual further reduction of the number of traditional ground control points is feasible. The different technical concepts, challenges and breakthroughs behind mapKITE are presented in this paper, such as the TV-to-UA virtual tether and the use of KGCP measurements for UA sensor orientation. In addition, the use in mapKITE of new European GNSS signals such as the Galileo E5 AltBOC is discussed. Because of the critical role of GNSS technologies and the potential impact on the corridor mapping market, the European Commission and the European GNSS Agency, in the frame of the European Union Framework Programme for Research and Innovation “Horizon 2020,” have recently awarded the “mapKITE” project to an international consortium of organizations coordinated by GeoNumerics S.L.

Services supporting collaborative alignment of engineering networks

Large-scale facilities such as power plants, process factories, ships and communication infrastructures are often engineered and delivered through geographically distributed operations. The competencies required are usually distributed across several contributing organisations. In these complicated projects, it is of key importance that all partners work coherently towards a common goal. VTT and a number of industrial organisations in the marine sector have participated in a national collaborative research programme addressing these needs. The main output of this programme was development of the Innovation and Engineering Maturity Model for Marine-Industry Networks. The recently completed European Union Framework Programme 7 project COIN developed innovative solutions and software services for enterprise collaboration and enterprise interoperability. One area of focus in that work was services for collaborative project management. This article first addresses a number of central underlying research themes and previous research results that have influenced the development work mentioned above. This article presents two approaches for the development of services that support distributed engineering work. Experience from use of the services is analysed, and potential for development is identified. This article concludes with a proposal for consolidation of the two above-mentioned methodologies. This article outlines the characteristics and requirements of future services supporting collaborative alignment of engineering networks.

Problems, challenges and promises: perspectives on precision medicine.

The 'precision medicine (systems medicine)' concept promises to achieve a shift to future healthcare systems with a more proactive and predictive approach to medicine, where the emphasis is on disease prevention rather than the treatment of symptoms. The individualization of treatment for each patient will be at the centre of this approach, with all of a patient's medical data being computationally integrated and accessible. Precision medicine is being rapidly embraced by biomedical researchers, pioneering clinicians and scientific funding programmes in both the European Union (EU) and USA. Precision medicine is a key component of both Horizon 2020 (the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation) and the White House's Precision Medicine Initiative. Precision medicine promises to revolutionize patient care and treatment decisions. However, the participants in precision medicine are faced with a considerable central challenge. Greater volumes of data from a wider variety of sources are being generated and analysed than ever before; yet, this heterogeneous information must be integrated and incorporated into personalized predictive models, the output of which must be intelligible to non-computationally trained clinicians. Drawing primarily from the field of 'oncology', this article will introduce key concepts and challenges of precision medicine and some of the approaches currently being implemented to overcome these challenges. Finally, this article also covers the criticisms of precision medicine overpromising on its potential to transform patient care.

Boosting innovation in the water sector--the role and lessons learned from collaborative projects.

A key worldwide challenge in most sectors is to boost the effective adoption of innovation, as underpinned by the new European Union research programme Horizon 2020, which focuses on increasing innovation in Europe from 2014 to 2020. This is particularly relevant in the water sector, often perceived as conservative and averse to change. This paper discusses the role that collaborative knowledge-transfer projects can play in effectively rolling out R&D in the water industry. LNEC (Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil) has designed a structured model based on a phased programme and a network of utilities and researchers. The paper presents the core principles, the rationale, the model and methods used, and the theoretical background, as well as the project's impact, outcomes and products. The discussion highlights the lessons learnt and provides a formal analysis of the advantages of focusing on middle management as an effective entry point, even if innovation is needed across the organization. Making training materials, guidelines, use cases, data and software publicly available after the project's end has proven to have a decisive multiplying effect. The paper also argues in favour of the collaborative model as a basis for R&D sustainability, and details on-going and planned developments.

SEAS-ERA: An overarching effort to coordinate marine research policies across Europe

The aim of the SEAS-ERA initiative (2010–2014), developed within the European Union Framework Programme (EU FPVII) (contract 249552), was to coordinate the structure of national and regional marine and maritime research programs to empower and strengthen marine research all across Europe. A major goal was the development and implementation of common research strategies and programs related to European seas basins. To achieve this goal, SEAS-ERA was applied at two different levels, regional and pan European, to identify common priorities and needs in five areas, namely strategic planning (marine research agendas), joint research activities (common programs and joint calls), marine research infrastructures and human capacity building to reduce imbalances among regions. SEAS-ERA was also strongly committed to enhancing public awareness of marine and maritime scientific and policy issues in Europe.

Evaluation of the role of miR-31-dependent reduction in dystrophin and nNOS on atrial-fibrillation-induced electrical remodelling in man

BackgroundThe management of atrial fibrillation remains a challenge. This condition remodels atrial electrical properties, which promote resistance to treatment. Although remodelling has long been a therapeutic target in atrial fibrillation, its causes remain incompletely understood. We aimed to evaluate the role of miR-31-dependent reduction in dystrophin and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS, also known as NOS1) on atrial electrical properties and atrial fibrillation inducibility. MethodsWe recruited 258 patients (209 patients in sinus rhythm and 49 with permanent atrial fibrillation) from the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK; written informed consent was obtained from each participant. We also used a goat model of pacing-induced atrial fibrillation (24 with atrial fibrillation vs 20 controls in normal sinus rythm) and nNos-knock-out mice (n=28 compared with 27 wild-type littermates). Gene expression of miR-31, dystrophin, and nNOS was assessed by quantitative RT-PCR; protein content was measured by immunoblotting; NOS activity was evaluated with high-performance liquid chromatography; action potential duration (APD) and rate dependent adaptation were assessed by single-cell patch-clamping, and atrial fibrillation inducibility was evaluated by transoesophageal atrial burst stimulation. FindingsWe found that atrial-specific upregulation of miR-31 in human atrial fibrillation caused dystrophin (DYS) translational repression and accelerated mRNA degradation of nNOS leading to a profound reduction in atrial DYS and nNOS protein content and in nitric oxide availability. In human atrial myocytes obtained from patients in sinus rhythm, nNOS inhibition was sufficient to recapitulate hallmark features of remodelling induced by atrial fibrillation, such as shortening of APD and loss of APD rate-dependency, but had no effect in patients with atrial fibrillation. In mice, nNos gene deletion or inhibition shortened atrial APD and increased atrial fibrillation inducibility in vivo. Inhibition of miR-31 in human atrial fibrillation recovered DYS and nNOS, and normalised APD and APD rate-dependency. Prevention of miR-31 binding to nNOS 3′UTR recovered both nNOS protein and gene expression but had no effect on the DYS protein or mRNA level (consistent with the mRNA degradation of nNOS by miR-31). Prevention of miR-31 binding to DYS 3′UTR increased DYS protein but not mRNA is consistent with translation repression of DYS by miR-31; recovery of DYS protein increased nNOS protein but not mRNA in keeping with a stabilising effect of DYS on nNOS protein. In goats, a reduction in dystrophin and nNOS protein content was associated with upregulation of miR-31 in the atria but not in the ventricles. InterpretationThe findings suggest that atrial-specific upregulation of miR-31 in human atrial fibrillation is a key mechanism causing atrial loss of dystrophin and nNOS; this loss leads to the electrical phenotype induced by atrial fibrillation. FundingBritish Heart Foundation (BHF) Programme grant (for BC and XL), BHF Centre of Excellence in Oxford (SR), Leducq Foundation (in part for BC and SR), the European Union's seventh Framework Programme Grant Agree.

Establishing an Iso-Compliant Modern Cancer-Biobank in a Developing Country: A Model for International Cooperation.

King Hussein Cancer (KHCC) is a specialized cancer center that treats both adult and pediatric cancer patients from Jordan and the neighboring countries. KHCC is acknowledged as a leader in cancer treatment in the Middle East and its vision is to maintain its leading position in cancer therapy and research. Hence, KHCC embarked on establishing the first ISO compliant cancer biobank (KHCCBIO) in Jordan.Currently, there are very few biobanks in the Middle East, hence, KHCC wanted to change this situation by establishing an ISO-compliant cancer biobank which would incorporate all current international guidelines and best-in class practices under an approved quality management system for the benefit of researchers in Jordan, its neighboring countries, and throughout the world. The established biobank would follow the highest ethical standards in collecting, processing, storing and distributing high-quality, clinically annotated biospecimens.The strategy used in establishing KHCCBIO was based on taking advantage of international networking and collaboration. This in essence led to knowledge transfer between well established organizations, institutions and individuals from Europe and Jordan, in existing technological innovation and internationally recognized quality standards. KHCC efforts were facilitated by a grant from the European Union under the seventh frame work program.Future aims of KHCCBIO are to develop KHCC's research infrastructure, increase its scope and visibility and improve its competitiveness throughout the biomedical science arena. Moreover, KHCCBIO is aiming to establish a platform for future knowledge transfer and collaborative research; develop partnerships between European and Middle Eastern organizations.

Incidence of invasive group B streptococcal disease and pathogen genotype distribution in newborn babies in the Netherlands over 25 years: a nationwide surveillance study

Group B streptococcus is the most common cause of neonatal infections. We studied the clinical and molecular epidemiology of invasive group B streptococcus infection in children younger than 3 months in the Netherlands over 25 years. We assessed the effect of the Dutch guidelines, introduced in 1999, for prevention of group B streptococcus, consisting of intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis during labour in cases of premature labour, prolonged rupture of membranes, or fever during delivery. We did this nationwide surveillance study with data from 1987 to 2011, from the Netherlands Reference Laboratory for Bacterial Meningitis. We included data for patients aged 3 months or younger with positive blood culture or cerebrospinal fluid culture for group B streptococcus and Escherichia coli infection. Early onset was defined as less than 7 days after birth and late onset was defined as 7 or more days after birth. We did multilocus sequence typing of a random subset of group B streptococcus samples to assess changes in sequence type (Mann-Kendall trend test) and the distribution of clonal complexes (χ(2) and Fisher exact test) before the introduction of prevention guidelines (1987-99) and afterwards (2000-11). We compared incidences and the distribution of clonal complexes before and after the introduction of guidelines. Most cases of group B streptococcus had early onset (696/1075; 65%). The incidence of invasive group B streptococcus infection increased from 0·20 per 1000 livebirths in 1987, to 0·32 per 1000 livebirths in 2011 (p<0·0001). The incidence of early-onset disease increased from 0·11 per 1000 livebirths to 0·19 per 1000 livebirths (p<0·0001). The incidence of invasive Escherichia coli infection was 0·05 in 1987, and 0·16 in 2011 (p=0·17). Early-onset group B streptococcus infection caused by isolates belonging to clonal complex 17 was more common in the post-implementation period than in the pre-implementation period (p=0·002). The introduction of prevention guidelines for invasive group B streptococcus disease in 1999 did not reduce the incidence of disease in neonates. The guidelines should be reassessed and alternative approaches to prevent infant invasive group B streptococcus disease should be sought. National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, the European Union's seventh framework programme, Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development, Academic Medical Center, and the European Research Council.

‘OMICS-based’ Biomarkers for Environmental Health Studies

The development of biomarkers based on high-throughput techniques, cutting-edge biostatistics and bioinformatics tools is revolutionizing molecular cancer epidemiology. Once validated, such biomarkers will open new and promising perspectives for human health risk assessment and identification of at-risk populations. The application of OMICS to environmental health research is currently resulting in the production of large data sets on gene expression, transcription factors, proteins, metabolites, adducts and epigenetic regulation of the genome in relation to dietary and environmental exposures. The assessment of whole genome transcriptomic and epigenetic profiles (where microRNA analysis has raised special attention in recent years) are regarded as potentially powerful approaches to reduce uncertainties in health risk assessments and to improve strategies for disease prevention, which is a shared aim of the new European Union (EU) research programme, Horizon 2020 (http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/). However, to guarantee appropriate application of OMICS, some challenges need to be addressed in the coming years regarding study design, technicalities in methodology and data analysis.

Safety issues of the liquefaction, storage and transportation of liquid hydrogen: An analysis of incidents and HAZIDS

The objectives of the IDEALHY project, which receives funding from the European Union's 7th Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) for the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative under grant agreement No. 278177, are to design a novel process that will significantly increase the efficiency of hydrogen liquefaction and be capable of delivering liquid hydrogen at a rate that is an order of magnitude greater than current plants. The liquid hydrogen could then be delivered to refueling stations in road tankers. This paper describes the scope of the safety work within IDEALHY, focussing in particular on two HAZID exercises and a review of incidents. In particular, an analysis of the causes and consequences of accident scenarios is presented.

Epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease in the Netherlands, 1960–2012: an analysis of national surveillance data

Epidemiological data for invasive meningococcal disease is essential for public health policy and vaccine development. We analysed national surveillance data from the Netherlands for PorA coverage of two PorA-based meningococcal serogroup B vaccines to describe the epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease. We examined national surveillance data from the Netherlands Reference Laboratory of Bacterial Meningitis (NRLBM) for cases of culture-positive invasive meningococcal disease from Jan 1, 1960, to Jan 1, 2013. We included cases with a meningococcal isolate cultured from cerebrospinal fluid, blood, skin biopsy, or all, and cases with a positive cerebrospinal fluid latex agglutination test, counter current electrophoresis test, or positive cerebrospinal fluid PCR for Neisseria meningitidis. To test for completeness of case ascertainment, we compared data of the NRLBM with those of the Dutch National institute for public health and the environment (RIVM) to which notification was compulsory. We did serogrouping by ouchterlony gel diffusion. We tested susceptibility of meningococcal strains by agar dilution and E test. We tested differences between proportions with the Pearson χ(2) test or Fisher's exact test, and differences in frequencies between time periods with the Mann-Whitney U test. We defined penicillin resistance as MIC of 1·0 μg/mL or higher. Annual incidence rates of invasive meningococcal disease per 100 000 population increased from 0·5 in 1960, to 4·5 in 2001, and subsequently decreased to 0·6 in 2012. Median age increased from 1·8 years in 1960, to 6·1 years in 2012 for all serogroups. The proportion of blood culture positive cases increased from 4% in 1960, to 60% in 2012 (p<0·0001). Serogroup B was the most common serogroup over time, 64% of isolates were from ST-41/44 complex. We established PorA finetype of 4133 isolates, 19 of 252 variable regions covered 99% of sequenced serogroup B cases. Coverage of the 4CMenB PorA component was 4% in 1960-65, and 36% in 2006-12. In response to a serogroup C epidemic (1999-2001), serogroup C conjugate vaccine was introduced, which reduced serogroup C disease by 95%. Since 2003, serogroup Y disease emerged and serogroup A disease disappeared. We identified evidence of capsular switching, but not of serogroup replacement. The rate of reduced penicillin susceptibility increased to 37% from 1993 to 2012, but penicillin resistance was not recorded. Incidence of invasive meningococcal disease has decreased, but decreasing rates of penicillin susceptibility and the possible resurgence of this devastating disease remain a threat to public health. Our long-term serosubtyping and porA sequencing data is valuable for the assessment of vaccine coverage and future serogroup B vaccine development. National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, the European Union's seventh Framework programme, Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development, Academic Medical Center, and the European Research Council.

PRIME-XS, a European Infrastructure for Proteomics

The PRIME-XS consortium is a pan-European infrastructure for proteomics. As a prologue to this special issue of Molecular & Cellular Proteomics on the research activities of the PRIME-XS consortium, we, as the guest editors of this issue, provide an overview of the structure and activities of this consortium, which is funded by the European Union's 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development.

The clear success of hip preservation.

The clear success of hip preservation.

Sustainable Development in a Globalized World

In this special issue of the Journal of Environment and Development, we present results from the research project Globalisation Informed by Sustainable Development (GLOBIS), 2009–2014, funded by the European Union Framework Programme 7. Starting from and focusing on international policies on agriculture, energy, innovation, migration, and transport at both European Union and global levels, the dual aim of the project was to critically analyze interactions between the three major processes and discourses of globalization, development, and sustainability while also identifying and commenting on synergies and conflicts between them.

Facilitating innovation in European research area through pre-competitive EU-funded COST Actions

Abstract The European Union (EU) Heads of States regularly confirm that knowledge and innovation are critical to Europe's growth and agreed to make the EU the most competitive knowledge-driven economy. The EU's ability to facilitate innovation by strengthening its research capacities is central to achieving this goal. Some EU initiatives under this innovation policy integrate research capacities already existing in individual states through pan-European participation in collaborative projects in science and technology. The EU is financing a number of formal pre-competitive networking programs aiming at a better deployment of existing national research capacities via their inclusion in joint research initiatives. Although there is a general consensus that increasing levels of collaboration amongst researchers produce better results, the issue of research networking and of related research outcomes continues to generate debate with a wide variety of views on what roles such programs play and their general implications for research and scientific performance. As the EU Framework Programme 7 is coming to its end, this paper explores whether such formal networking programs contribute to facilitating innovation in the European Research Area by enabling Science and Technology participants to achieve anticipated research outcomes from their involvement in such programs.

Embeddedness of European Regions in European Union-Funded Research and Development (R&D) Networks: A Spatial Econometric Perspective

Wanzenböck I., Scherngell T. and Lata R. Embeddedness of European regions in European Union-funded research and development (R&D) networks: a spatial econometric perspective, Regional Studies. This study focuses on the embeddedness of regions in research and development (R&D) networks within European Union Framework Programmes by estimating how distinct regional factors affect a region's network positioning. Graph theoretic centrality measures in terms of betweenness and eigenvector centrality are calculated at the organizational level to reflect the relevant network structure before aggregation to the region level. Panel spatial Durbin error models (SDEM) reveal that region-internal knowledge production capacities, a region's level of economic development as well as spatial spillovers are important determinants for a region's positioning in the European Union-funded R&D network, but their significance differs depending on the centrality concept.

Efficient strategies for the integration of renewable energy into future energy infrastructures in Europe – An analysis based on transnational modeling and case studies for nine European regions

As a result of the current international climate change strategy, the European Commission has agreed on ambitious targets to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 80% until 2050 as compared to 1990 levels and to increase the share of renewable energy and improve energy efficiency by 20% until 2020. Under this framework, renewable energy generation has increased considerably in the EU and it is expected to keep growing in the future years. This paper presents long-term strategies for transmission infrastructure development to integrate increasing amounts of renewable generation in the time horizon of 2030–2050. These are part of the outcomes of the SUSPLAN project,11SUSPLAN (PLANning for SUStainability) is a project initiated in 2008, and finished in 2011, under the European Union's 7th Framework Program and sponsored by the Directorate General Transport and Energy (DG-TREN). The sole responsibility for the content of this paper lies with the authors. It does not represent the opinion of the European Commission. The EC is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. which focuses on four possible future renewable deployment scenarios in different European regions taking into account the corresponding infrastructure needs, especially electricity and gas grids, both on regional and transnational level. The main objective of the project is the development of guidelines for the integration of renewable energy into future energy infrastructures while taking account of national and regional characteristics. Therefore, the analysis is based on a two-track approach: A transnational modeling exercise (“top-down”) and in-depth case studies for nine representative European regions (“bottom-up”).