The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the development of an Integrated Research, Innovation, and Competitiveness Strategy aimed at facilitating the European Union’s (EU) transition to a sustainable, competitive, energy-efficient, and low-carbon economy.

The strategy is linked to the implementation of the Energy Union Communication, which called for more research and innovation to ensure that the energy transition happens through modern, user-friendly, safe, sustainable, and secure solutions to the benefit of EU citizens and businesses. Commitments taken at the COP21 International Climate Conference in Paris in December 2015 reinforce the need to step up efforts for reaching agreed climate targets.

The Commission is inviting all stakeholders and interested parties, including EU citizens, and private and public organizations to share their views on how to achieve the EU’s energy and climate targets, as well as sector-specific research, development, and innovation goals needed for the transformation. The consultation will also look into the competitiveness of EU economic factors and new business opportunities, and examine how transport—one of the main energy users in the EU—can contribute to achieving the overall climate and energy goals.

The consultation will run through May 31, 2016, and its findings will feed into the integrated Research, Innovation, and Competitiveness strategy to be presented at the end of 2016.