10th FSR Annual Conference | Infrastructure Investment Challenges: reconciling Competition, Decarbonisation and Digitalisation

The Conference on the Regulation of Infrastructures is the annual event that brings together all the Areas of the Florence School of Regulation.

This year’s FSR Annual Conference, which will take place on 10th and 11th June 2021, will focus on ‘Infrastructure Investment Challenges: reconciling Competition, Decarbonisation and Digitalisation’.

Investment has always been a challenge in the network industries. Since the 1990s liberalisation has exacerbated this challenge, owing to the different time horizons between the interests of the private sector, the long-term nature of the infrastructure assets and their public service nature. Climate change and the need to decarbonise the infrastructures, as well as the recent focus on digitalisation have only added to the investment challenges in the different network industries.

How can we ensure investments in the context of competition, decarbonisation and digitalisation? What should be the role of governments and that of the private sector? How should the right incentives be set? These are some of the questions that the 10th FSR Annual Conference will seek to discuss.

More precisely, we are looking for contributions, which cut across the different infrastructure sectors, especially in terms of investment opportunities. Contributions utilising multidisciplinary as well as interdisciplinary approaches to regulation are welcome. Papers linking academia and practice, as well as policy research papers are particularly encouraged.

The conference is intended for academics such as PhD students, PostDocs and Assistant/associate/full Professors, as well as academically minded practitioners.

List of selected authors and titles of their papers:

• Alloisio, I.*, Rubino, A. “The role of PPPs in the energy transition infrastructure financing in Sub-Saharan Africa”
• Astier, N., Ovaere, M.* “Reliability standards and generation adequacy assessments for interconnected electricity systems”
• Bigler, P., Radulescu, D.* “Welfare, Redistributive and Revenue Effects of Policies Promoting Fuel Efficient and Electric Vehicles”
• Bartlett Castellà, E.R.*, Gimeno de la Fuente, C., Majó Casas, C. “Digitalisation at the core of energy networks: the backbone of the energy transition. A brief assessment on the infrastructure investment regulatory framework”
• Couto Ribeiro, B.*, Pereira Ferrero, L.G., Blind, K., Bin, A. “The Effects of RDI Regulation on Energy Sector”
• Crocioni, P.*, Silos Ribas, M. “Could ex ante regulation create incentives for anti-competitive behaviour?” 
• De Maio, M. L.*, Paniccia, I., Vitiello, I. “European strategy on sustainable and smart mobility: what will be the role of economic regulation?”
• Gundes, S.*, Atakul, N.”Public-Private Partnerships in Toll Road Projects: The Case of Eurasia Tunnel”
•  Hernandez, D.*, Gençer, E.  “Modelling Optimal Hydrogen Transmission Network Infrastructure”
• Knieps, G. “Internet of Things and the challenges for infrastructure investment in 5G based-smart network industries” 
• Machado J.T.M.*, Flynn, B. M., Williamson, I. “The national shaping of Europe’s Emerging Hydrogen Strategies: Cooperative or Competitive Hydrogen politics?”
• Parcu, P.L., Rossi, M.A. “Technological neutrality and network neutrality in telecommunications regulation. Policies at the 5G crossroads?”
• Simon, E.*, Cimmino F., M., Genoud, S. “Sector coupling of power and gas with combined heat and power plants: an investment to foster the swiss energy system decarbonisation”

*presenting author

Conference structure:

The format of the FSR Annual Conference is unique, in that it favours quality over quantity:

• Each presenter has 30’, which includes 12’ of presentation, 10’ of qualified feedback and 8’ of discussion with the audience;
• Feedback will be given by senior professors and researchers associated with the Florence School of Regulation who are specifically knowledgeable about the topic at hand;
• Papers retained for publication will receive additional feedback beyond the Conference.

Timeline:

• Submission of the abstract by 1st February, 15th February 2021. We extended the deadline!
• Notification of acceptance by 1st March 2021;
• Submission of the full paper by 16th May 2021; participants who fail to submit a full paper by this deadline will be automatically removed from the programme;
• Conference on 10th -11th June 2021 in Florence (Italy).

Submission of the abstract:

• Step 1: Download the obligatory submission template
•  Step 2: Fill in all required fields: Introduction and Purpose of the Study; Research Design and Expected Results; Keywords. Please pay attention to the word limit!
• Step 3: Fill in the registration form online and enclose the submission template (see Step 2).

For any issues regarding the submission, please contact Ms Irina Lapenkova at FSR.Transport@eui.eu

Publication opportunities:

• Papers will qualify for the Journal Competition and Regulation in Network Industries (SAGE)
• A summary of the 4-5 best papers will have the chance to be published in the dedicated issue of the Network Industries Quarterly (Issue 23, Vol 3, September 2021), which distributes to approximately 4000 people worldwide.

Organising Committee: 

• Prof Simone Borghesi (EUI, Part-time professor and Director of the Climate Area of the FSR; Siena University, Professor)
• Prof Matthias Finger (EUI, Part-time professor and Director of the Transport Area of the FSR)
• Prof Jean-Michel Glachant (EUI, Robert Schuman Chair, Director of the FSR, Director of the Energy & Climate Area of the FSR, Holder of the Loyola de Palacio Chair)
• Prof Juan Montero (EUI, Part-time professor of the Transport Area of the FSR, Professor of Administrative Law and Regulation in UNED University, Madrid)
• Prof Pier Luigi Parcu (EUI, Part-time professor and Area Director of the FSR Communications & Media, CMPF)