Annual Data Collection

Data Collection Methodology

The annual data collection exercise from projects is mainly performed via the internally developed data collection platform TRUST (Technology Reporting Using Structured Templates) mostly for technology related information. From 2023, this is complemented via the Project Fiche containing mostly qualitative information. Projects are invited to provide their data in Year N+1 concerning results generated in Year N.

Data collected allow the benchmarking of the technology progress reported by the projects against the SoA and the Clean Hydrogen JU targets, as defined in the SRIA. Moreover, the annual iterations of the data collection exercise provide the necessary input for the development of a database of project results over time.

The Data Collection exercise constitutes a crucial element of the Programme Review exercise and the ability of the Clean Hydrogen JU to report on its significantly increased monitoring and reporting obligations brought with the Horizon Europe Programme. The continuous reporting performed by the projects is not sufficient for this purpose, as it focuses mostly on data related to resources and actions – reflecting the Horizon Europe KPIs – but not touching technology progress and outcomes, which are linked to the Clean Hydrogen JU KPIs. Nevertheless, the JU tries to minimise overlaps and avoid requesting the same information twice from the projects.

Public (non-sensitive) / Confidential (sensitive) data

The Clean Hydrogen JU is committed to respect data confidentiality (according to the conditions setup by the Grant Agreement) and will only use them in the respect of this attribute: confidential data will not be disclosed as such, but only in aggregated form and in a manner that ensures anonymity of their origin. Although the projects are allowed to request information to be characterised as confidential (or sensitive), this request still needs to be confirmed by the project officers of the Clean Hydrogen JU.

The characterisation of data collected as “public” does mean that these data will actually be published. Data collected from the JU are very rarely published as such. The standard practice is to anonymise and aggregate the data, before reporting on them.

The characterization of data as public though does allow to use them in cases such as:

It’s the only reported value for a specific KPI ;
The JU wants to report on a specific achieved value.

TRUST

Technology Reporting Using Structured Templates (TRUST) tool was developed within Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking (FCH 2 JU) to support the Knowledge Management department in the annual data collection exercise. TRUST is a showcase of a structured dynamic database targeting hydrogen and fuel cell technologies serving as a data repository of Clean Hydrogen JU project results. TRUST is a proprietary tool belonging to the Clean Hydrogen JU.

The requirement for an in-house, tailor-made tool to collect techno-economic operational and descriptive data aligns with the Strategy for common dissemination and exploitation of Research and Innovation (R&I) data and results (established in 2015, further enhanced in Horizon Europe). The need for consolidated information in a structured format, where further analysis and elaboration of the provided results is allowed was identified as one of the key priorities within the Knowledge Management activities.

Data collected in TRUST are collected and further analysed for: (1) a comparative analysis of projects achievements versus Clean Hydrogen JU KPIs, (2) benchmarking against the international state of the art, and (3) for providing concrete input to policy makers as part of feedback to policy.

Reporting in TRUST is a grant agreement obligation for the JU projects’ consortia. A dedicated clause in the Grant Agreements specifies the obligation to report in structured templates within pre-defined timelines is provided, in complementarity with the Work Package deliverables.  

TRUST encompasses a database containing reported data from JU projects in the context of the annual data collection exercise. Data have been collected since 2015. Data are collected through templates, “questionnaires” representing different technologies and/or applications assigned to different “Research Objects” linked to the respective projects.

Project Fiche

The Project Fiche was introduced in 2023, as a means to centralise all information for each project across the different Commission and JU platforms, containing also historical information for each project, while also making it possible to follow the changes that took place over time for the different variables. 

The overall objective of the new Project Fiche is to integrate all important project related information and data available in the different platforms and tools, as well as stand-alone information coming from the projects or the project officers following them.  

The full version of the Project Fiche is confidential with restricted access only to the JU users. There is another layer of accessibility solely for the concerned project data providers to submit all the additional input that will come during and after the project lifetime. A shorter version without basic information will be publicly available in the future via the Clean Hydrogen Knowledge Hub, as is the case today with the project posters in the Programme Review Report.

The Project Fiches were originally prepared in EXCEL format, all Project Fiches transitioned to a custom platform in 2024, specifically designed for this purpose using the open-source SuiteCRM platform. SuiteCRM has been implemented to replace the old method of data gathering utilising Excel files, ensuring a more streamlined and contemporary approach. Aligned with the structure of previous Excel files and to simplify the transition for users, the new platform offers to project coordinators a familiar framework for updating and monitoring project information, focusing solely on sections relevant to project management and data collection, ensuring data confidentiality, as each user is granted access only to their respective records, safeguarding sensitive project information.

Annual Data Collection

Data Collection Methodology

TRUST

Project Fiche

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