SET Plan progress report 2026

This report highlights the role of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) in aligning European and national research and innovation (R&I) priorities, and reviews the main developments over the past year. At a time when energy security, industrial competitiveness and strategic dependencies are increasingly intertwined, coordinated European R&I is essential for Europe’s growing technological and industrial capacity.

In 2026, the SET Plan entered a new phase. Following the reinforcement of its governance under the Net Zero Industry Act, the focus has shifted from defining the revised framework towards its implementation. The SET Plan Steering Group, together with the Commission, now provides the strategic direction, while the Implementation Working Groups have developed their new technology-specific Thematic Visions, which will form part of the Common Implementation and Investment Plans (CIIPs).

These new instruments aim to provide a more coherent framework, linking long-term technology objectives with R&I priorities, investment needs and implementation. The new approach is intended to strengthen cooperation between SET Plan countries, the Commission, industry and the research community, while connecting clean energy innovation more closely with manufacturing, market uptake, competitiveness and wider European energy and industrial policy.

The 2026 SET Plan Progress Report draws extensively on contributions from across the SET Plan community and presents developments in clean energy R&I investment and cooperation, alongside the progress, challenges, investment needs and emerging priorities of the Implementation Working Groups. As the working groups transition towards the new CIIP framework, this report also provides the final snapshot of their activities in the outgoing reporting configuration.

Of the roughly 200 SET Plan activities, many have achieved significant success, producing tangible results in virtually all technology areas. These are outlined below, along with shared visions of future momentum and collaboration.