The Research Centre on Zero Energy Neighbourhoods in Smart Cities (ZEN Centre) is a Centre for Environment-friendly Energy Research (FME) funded by the Research Council of Norway and the consortium partners. The main objective of the ZEN Centre is to develop knowledge, competitive products and solutions that will lead to realization of sustainable neighbourhoods that have zero emissions of greenhouse gases related to their production, operation and transformation. 
The FME status enables long-term research in close collaboration with trade and industry, as well as other research partners. The composition of the consortium is vital in order to enable the transition to a low carbon society by developing sustainable neighbourhoods with zero greenhouse gas emissions. The research is carried out in six work packages (WPs): WP1 Analytical framework for design and planning of zero emission neighbourhoods, WP2 Policy measures, innovation and business models, WP3 Responsive and energy efficient buildings, WP4 Energy flexible neighbourhoods, WP5 Local energy system optimization within a larger system, and WP6 Pilot projects and living labs. 
The Centre is a follow-up of the Research Centre on Zero Emission Buildings, http://www.zeb.no.