The programme EOS (Energy Research Strategy) covers research programmes on five levels:

1. Long term research programme (EOS LT);
2. New energy research programme (NEO);
3. Innovation programme collaboration projects (IS);
4. Unique Opportunity Programme (EOS UKR);
5. Demonstration Programme (EOS Demo).

The main focus of the EOS programme concerns focusing publicly funded energy research on a limited number of themes, more efficient use of the available resources and strengthening international collaboration. The publicly funded energy research is concentrated in focal points and import themes. In order to make the R&D portfolio more manageable, focal points and themes are grouped in five research areas:

• Energy efficiency in the industrial and agricultural areas;
• Biomass;
• New gas/clean fossils;
• Built environment;
• Generation and networks.

The environmental objective is to improve efficiency in industry and built environment, to realise new gaseous or clean fossill fuels and up to 30% replacement of fossill fuels by biomass. All together the objective lies in lower emissions and reduction of greenhouse gases. In 2040 the production chains for bioproducts are set up such to exemplify very low emissions and maximum use of all components. The supply of residues has increased significantly and there is a market for semi-manufactured biomass products, where biomass is converted into a concentrated form (usually for logistical reasons).

These semi-manufactured products are converted (fairly close to the market) into final products, e.g. electricity, transport fuel, gas or other products that are produced through fossil-based energy. Producing semi-manufactured items (for further processing) can also reduce the wide variety of biomass characteristics.

The energy objective is broad large-scale application of biomass for energy, fuels and products, primarily based on imported biomass. A 10% sustainable energy use by the year 2020, 5% by 2010. In 2040 bioenergy is expected to make up 30% of the total energy consumption in The Netherlands, i.e. 600-1000 PJ, in a scenario with considerable energy conservation.

The overall objectives of the EOS-programme:

Energy transition aims to develop an energy economy that is both reliable and suitable (on a long-term basis). Above all, it must solve the climate problems caused by burning fossil fuels. There is considerable support among the government, industry, research world and social organisations for this transition to a sustainable energy economy. An optimum breeding ground has been created for sustainable system innovation. Visions of the future have been drawn up for these transition areas and their related transition paths, which will contain certain priorities (recognition). It is expected that the first transition experiments from these recognised transition paths will be start in 2005. These mark the beginning of the 'energy transition' to a sustainable energy economy that, over the coming decades, will evolve into a more specific form. Because energy transition is so important, the research elements from the transition paths, together with the results of the pre-survey and the aforementioned R&D portfolio, have been used as the starting points for defining the long-term research programmes. The transition pathways: Efficient Green Gas, Chain Efficiency, Green Raw materials, Alternative motor fuels and Sustainable Electricity all have something in common with the five EOS research areas.