Maria Laura Trifiletti

ZABALA Innovation and ETIPs FORUM Facilitator

Operation Coordinator at ZABALA Innovation BRUSSELS office

In my current position as Operational Coordinator of Energy projects management at ZABALA (Brussels Office), I coordinate a team dealing with several EU projects, clients management and writing proposals under several programmes (namely, Horizon Europe, LIFE, INNOVATION FUNDS, CET, ERASMUS etc.). I acted as Coordinator of the European Technology and Innovation Platform Smart Networks for Energy Transition (ETIP SNET), created by the EC within the SET Plan framework, bringing together a multitude of stakeholders and experts from the energy sector (industries, research centers, universities etc…), and the H2020 BRIDGE Initiative (managed via the EU project INTENSY4EU (ended in Sept 2020) and via the EU Service Contract SPRING funded by CINEA and DG ENER. I also oversaw the coordination activities of BRIDGE H2020 and ensure the alignment with ETIP SNET Activities.  My daily tasks included: Bringing and keeping together ~350 stakeholders and experts from the energy sector to: set-out a vision for RI priorities toward energy transition by 2030 and 2050, preparing and delivering Visions, Roadmaps, Implementation Plans and SRIA prepare consolidated stakeholder views on Research and Innovation (RI) and on EU Energy Policy initiatives and coordinate with other National, European and International initiatives; Organising, chairing and driving the Governance Bodies meetings (Governing Board, Executive Board and Working Groups) setting agenda, inviting speakers, preparing PPTs, taking minutes and follow up actions; Organising events, workshops, webinars, video script, e.g. I contributed and organised the following among others: at the European Association of Storage of Energy (EASE) support to the Energy Storage Global Conference organisation in 2016,  the 2021 ETIP SNET Workshops attending also as speaker and moderator 7 sessions at ENLIT event for the EU project zone under BRIDGE initiative umbrella about energy key topics (flexibility, storage, regulation, cybersecurity and data management; Thanks to this current experience (and the previous experience in EASE – The European Association for Storage of Energy), I gained a daily stronger knowledge of  energy policies, Energy Union and external policy – Renewables, Research and Innovation, Energy Efficiency  toward energy transition goals in 2030-2050 pushed forward by DG ENER and mainly with focus on the policies followed by Unit ENER.C.2 about Innovation, clean technologies and competitiveness, Green deal etc…). I currently coordinate the SET-Ind EU project that drive the Secretariat of the Set Plan IWG-Ind in all its activities as well as the ETIPs FORUM that create synergies and common activities with all the ETIPs.  I also currently coordinate the Air4NRG project managed by CINEA  and support the coordinator in manging the BEST project under CINEA and DG RTD. I am starting the coordination of the secretariat supporting the activities of the Large Scale Partnership for digitalisation of skills in the energy system under the Pact for skills under DG Empl, DG Grow and DG ENER.