12. Multidisciplinary Energy-Efficiency Think Tank for Supporting a Multilevel Governance Model in Energy Policies and Measures: MEETHINK Energy Project: Topic-6

MEETHINK Energy is a European research project headed by the Tuscany Region under the Horizon 2020 call for proposals involving 30 municipalities in 6 European countries (Albania, Greece, Italy, Serbia, Slovenia and Spain). The project will stimulate a multilevel governance model by joining regional and local authorities and involving policymakers, technicians and stakeholders in a bottom-up integrated approach. The core of the project focuses on the definition of a common protocol and on the identification of common criteria and energy-efficiency performance indicators, as well as on a pilot phase during which the multilevel governance model will be tested in collaboration with small and medium-sized city partners. Several potential scenarios will be evaluated, and the multilevel governance model will make it possible to improve the quality and effectiveness of energy policies and measures as well as establish or strengthen connections among different key actors and levels of government. A common information and communications technology (ICT) platform, supported by a peer-to-peer methodology, will be structured with three different access levels (free access, policymakers, technicians) and will include a data-sharing tool, open data repositories, a decision support system and a communication Web site. This platform will support public authorities in monitoring and evaluating the current situation with the aim of identifying its strengths, weaknesses and opportunities in order to determine the most suitable policies and measures. The platform will allow for the involvement of public/private stakeholders and promote a multidisciplinary think tank network across the European Union. With a focus on three thematic priority areas (energy efficiency in buildings and districts, in particular public buildings; renewable energy sources and distributed energy generation; and energy in urban mobility), the aim of the project will be achieved by sharing activities through large-scale networking, peer-to-peer learning and best practices, assessing the training gaps and needs of the participating municipalities in reference to energy-efficiency planning and implementation and developing a detailed capacity building strategy for public authorities at different levels of government.