• generate ideas
• realise synergies
• identify gaps
• apply knowledge
• provide new understanding/perspectives
• integrate research efforts
• produce useful, influential outcomes which effectively: 
• inform national and/or international policy-related decision-making
• achieve a step change which is of benefit to the UK energy research community and/or moves the UK closer to achievement of a sustainable energy system

The Meeting Place offers:

1.    A professional management and development service 

for activities, including coordinating steering committees, organising logistics, event facilitation and reporting.
 

2.    Flexible event formats

While conferences are at times appropriate, we prefer events that are conversation-based, requiring considerable interaction and dialogue amongst all participants. Formats can range from a half-day seminar to a three day workshop to a series of workshops with off-line work between meetings. Or, it could be some other approach that we haven’t even thought of yet.
 

3.    Venue

The Meeting Place has no physical location and is able to host events where appropriate.  We are, however, based at the University of Oxford, and are able to take advantage of the wealth of conference facilities provided by the Oxford Colleges.
 

4.    Technical support

We can provide technical support in organising video meetings, tele-conferencing, webinars, podcasts, social networking and other online meetings.
 

5.    Financial support

We assess proposals on an individual basis with respect to the finance we will provide. Our assessment of the costs we will cover depends on the nature and quality of the proposed visit and expected outputs. For seminars and workshops, the Meeting Place normally covers the costs of the venue, catering, administration and travel costs for speakers. For more intense research-focussed collaboration activities, travel as well as accommodation costs can usually be met for all participants. We welcome co-sponsorship for the entire events or portions of it.