EFEPOC is firstly based on a coherent series of three training courses entitled “from solid state electrochemistry to heterogeneous catalysis” during which young researchers will acquire fundamental and practical knowledge, necessary for mastering all aspects of the EPOC field. Teaching is the main goal of each ‘Training Course’ and the attendance will consist, in its vast majority, of young researchers with no expert knowledge of the field. Therefore, each ‘Training Course’ will teach young scientists across all the scientific and technological aspects of the electrochemical promotion of catalysis. This will range from basic notions (i.e., the fundamental science behind the issues) to specific research activities (i.e., up-to-date overview of current research). The series of 3 schools will give to the young participants all these skills over a period of 3 years (one training course per year). This duration was selected because it is particularly adapted to PhD students. The training courses will be organized in three leading laboratories in the field in three different European countries (Greece, Spain and France):

Each training course will only welcome 15 participants. The aim is to immerse these few number of young researchers in the vicinity of a research laboratory in order to favour the contact between young researchers and more established researchers. Each school will include both theoretical and practical courses. The teaching schedule will be divided into two main parts:

The selected key topics and scientific issues will be introduced and taught by keynote speakers from internationally renowned research institutes at the forefront of EPOC. Practical courses are predominant in the success of the training. At least, four hands-on experiences listed below will be offered to the young researchers by small group of 3 or 4 participants. During these practical trainings, the communication between leading scientists and young researchers will be promoted and exalted. The idea is that young participants could benefit from the experience of the scientific leaders of Europe from universities and industries.

Description of the hands-on experiences:

• BASE : Methods for measuring the ionic conductivity and electrode impedance, tubular and planar solid oxide Fuel cell (SOFC) operations, temperature programmed desorption (TPD), scanning tunneling microscopy ( STM ), operation of single cell and monolithic electrochemical and electropromoted reactors.
• BACHH : Discrimination of kinetics models, Atomic absorption spectroscopy measurements, Temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia experiments, Temperature-programmed reduction measurements, Chemisorption measurements using the dynamic pulse technique, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis.
• EPOC : Catalytic activity measurements (GC and MS analysis), Temperature-programmed desorption after adsorption under polarization, Coupling cyclic voltammetry and catalytic activity measurements, Electrical conductivity measurements of nanodispersed catalysts.

The third part of the training courses will be devoted to the individual participation of young researchers through several aspects:

• All students will have to present informally, through posters or short talks, details of their own background and possible achievements in the fields being taught. These presentations will encourage the students to incorporate information provided during the event. Also, with communication being an important aspect of scientific work, the presentation sessions will encourage the students to further develop this skill, which is indispensable for their careers,
• All young participants will have to present and discuss before leading scientists a publication of their choice. The objective is still to induce discussions and scientific exchanges as well as, to help them to acquire more experience in communication of research results,

• The group of young participants will be in charged of the construction of the WEB site of the training course. They will have to select the different parts of the site as well as the information useful for them and the scientific community. They will have the possibility to make video recordings (mp4) and audio (mp3) of the courses and hands-ones experiences.

• The objective will be to strengthen the links between young participants and give them a real example of research management.

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