Horizon Europe
OPENTUNITY Joins the Energy Nexus Cluster
We’re excited to announce that OPENTUNITY has officially joined the Energy Nexus Cluster, a dynamic collaboration platform bringing together cutting-edge EU-funded projects committed to shaping the future of the European energy system.
What is the Energy Nexus Cluster?
The Energy Nexus Cluster is an initiative that unites Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 projects with a shared ambition: to drive the digitalisation, decarbonisation, and integration of energy systems across Europe. By fostering cross-project collaboration, the cluster aims to align technical developments, harmonise research outcomes, and jointly communicate the transformative impact of EU innovation on energy systems.
This cluster supports knowledge exchange, co-creation opportunities, and joint dissemination efforts across projects working on smart grid flexibility, data spaces, local energy communities, AI integration, and user-centric energy solutions.
Collaborative Projects with Shared Vision
The Energy Nexus Cluster brings together a diverse group of forward-looking European projects. RESONANCE focuses on facilitating interoperable data exchange and cross-sector services, while STREAM aims to enable real-time flexibility for smart grids. SENERGY NETS works on integrated energy networks for decarbonisation, and REEFLEX enhances grid stability with flexibility services. BEFLEXIBLE and ELEXIA both empower stakeholders with advanced demand-side flexibility tools and market mechanisms. ENFLATE demonstrates scalable flexibility services across Europe; GLOCALFLEX, addressing local energy flexibility markets and social engagement strategies, and INDEPENDENT designs intelligent systems for local energy management. GEOFLEXheat focuses on geothermal energy and flexibility, contributing to low-carbon heating solutions. Now, OPENTUNITY joins these initiatives, bringing its expertise in federated data spaces, local flexibility markets, and demand-side engagement to the cluster.
Why This Matters for OPENTUNITY
Joining the Energy Nexus Cluster marks a strategic step forward for OPENTUNITY. It strengthens our engagement with other key players in the European innovation landscape and:
- Amplifies the visibility and impact of our work across the EU energy research community.
- Enables synergies in areas such as standardisation, digitalisation, and flexibility market design.
- Facilitates collaborative opportunities for joint events, deliverable alignment, and policy dialogue.
- Ensures that the outcomes and innovations of OPENTUNITY can both contribute to and benefit from broader discussions shaping Europe’s energy transition.
As we work to develop scalable solutions for interoperable data spaces, local flexibility markets, and end-user empowerment, OPENTUNITY is proud to collaborate with likeminded projects through the Energy Nexus Cluster. Together, we’re building the future of Europe’s smart, green, and resilient energy system.
If you want to learn more about the Energy Nexus Cluster or join us in this collaborative group, you can find more information here: https://glocalflex.eu/energy-nexus/
OPENTUNITY at ECESCON 16: Engaging Next Generations of Engineers
From April 25–27, 2025, IPTO, one of the key partners of the OPENTUNITY project, took part in the 16th Electrical and Computer Engineering Student Conference (ECESCON) held in Thessaloniki, Greece. During the event, IPTO had the opportunity to introduce the OPENTUNITY project to a vibrant and dynamic audience of engineering students, presenting its goals, innovations, and potential impact on the future of the energy system.
ECESCON is the largest student-led conference in the field of electrical and computer engineering in Greece. Since its inception in 2007, it has become a well-established platform for sharing technological advancements, encouraging networking among students and professionals, and fostering the spirit of innovation. Organized annually by and for students, the conference travels to different cities across the country and attracts participants from all Greek engineering departments.
The conference offered a wide range of activities including lectures, workshops, research paper presentations, competitions, and career events.
As part of OPENTUNITY’s commitment to capacity building, education, and youth engagement, IPTO’s presence at ECESCON aimed to inspire the next generation of engineers and raise awareness of the importance of digitalisation, data exchange, and flexibility in the future energy system. Students learned how OPENTUNITY’s innovative tools—such as federated data exchange infrastructure and smart grid-user cooperation models—can help accelerate Europe’s green and digital energy transition.
OPENTUNITY’s participation also aligns with ECESCON’s broader objectives:
- Promoting collaboration between students, researchers, and industry professionals.
- Highlighting emerging technologies in critical areas such as flexibility, energy data, and smart grid management.
- Encouraging diversity in engineering and creating more inclusive learning spaces.
By joining events like ECESCON, OPENTUNITY continues to strengthen its links with academia and future talent, helping ensure the energy systems of tomorrow are shaped by innovative, well-informed, and engaged professionals.
OPENTUNITY at the BRIDGE General Assembly 2025
OPENTUNITY is proud to participate in the BRIDGE General Assembly 2025, an essential gathering that brings together key players from EU-funded projects in the fields of smart grids, energy storage, islands, and digitalization. This annual event serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and strategic alignment to accelerate the European energy transition.
What is BRIDGE?
BRIDGE is an initiative by the European Commission that unites Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects working on smart grids, demand response, energy communities, and digitalization. By fostering collaboration between projects, BRIDGE helps create a coherent regulatory, technical, and market framework that supports innovation and integration across the European energy landscape.
Through dedicated working groups and task forces, BRIDGE facilitates discussion on key topics such as:
- Regulatory framework for new market models.
- Data management and interoperability in digitalized energy systems.
- Business models for flexibility and storage services.
- Consumer and citizen engagement strategies.
The BRIDGE General Assembly: Objectives and Key Discussions
The BRIDGE General Assembly is a key event that brings together all participating projects to:
- Share project results and best practices.
- Discuss policy and regulatory developments impacting the energy transition.
- Align efforts across projects to maximize impact.
- Identify synergies between different initiatives.
This year’s assembly focused on scaling up innovative solutions and reinforcing the role of digitalization and flexibility markets in achieving Europe’s clean energy goals.
Why OPENTUNITY’s Participation Matters
OPENTUNITY is committed to contributing to BRIDGE by sharing insights from our work on flexibility markets, data-driven grid management, and citizen engagement. Our participation allows us to:
- Showcase how OPENTUNITY innovations support DSO-TSO coordination and local flexibility markets.
- Exchange expertise on interoperability, data spaces, and digital energy platforms.
- Strengthen partnerships with other EU-funded projects and stakeholders.
- Influence the policy and regulatory discussions shaping the future of the European energy system.
Looking ahead
Engagement in BRIDGE activities is crucial for ensuring that the solutions developed in OPENTUNITY align with broader European objectives and remain at the forefront of energy system transformation.
12ª Conferencia del Programa Marco de I+I de la UE en España
On November 28, 2024, OPENTUNITY was proudly showcased at the 12th EU Research and Innovation Framework Programme Conference, held in Oviedo, Spain. This event, organized by CDTI (Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology), brought together key stakeholders from research, innovation, and industry to highlight the transformative projects driving Europe’s future under the Horizon Europe framework.
12th EU Research and Innovation Framework Programme Conference
The conference serves as a premier platform to explore cutting-edge advancements in science and technology funded through Horizon Europe, the European Union’s flagship research and innovation program. This year, the event included a poster exhibition, featuring projects coordinated by Spanish entities, selected based on their excellence, impact, and collaboration. CDTI’s meticulous evaluation process emphasized the scope of the projects, public-private partnerships, and their contributions to advancing key EU priorities.
OPENTUNITY’s Participation
ETRA I+D represented OPENTUNITY at the poster exhibition, engaging with numerous attendees who expressed interest in the project’s objectives and innovations. The poster presented how OPENTUNITY is driving the energy transition through:
- Decentralized flexibility solutions that empower system operators and flexibility service providers.
- Tools that enhance public-private collaboration within Spain’s energy ecosystem.
- Innovative approaches to support a sustainable and resilient energy grid across Europe.
The event provided a valuable opportunity to connect with stakeholders, exchange ideas, and further promote OPENTUNITY’s contributions to modernizing energy systems and supporting the EU’s climate and energy goals.
OPENTUNITY_POSTER_CDTI
The Role of CDTI
As the organizer of the event, CDTI plays a pivotal role in fostering innovation and research in Spain. By supporting initiatives like OPENTUNITY, CDTI helps bridge the gap between research and industry, ensuring that cutting-edge technologies are applied to real-world challenges.
Looking Ahead
OPENTUNITY’s presence at the conference reaffirmed its importance in the Horizon Europe framework and highlighted the potential of its innovative solutions. As the project continues to advance, it remains committed to driving Europe’s energy transition and promoting collaboration across sectors and regions.
Celebrating Progress: OPENTUNITY Project's 1st Review Meeting in Lugano
Celebrating Progress: OPENTUNITY Project's 1st Review Meeting in Lugano
10/06/2024
Last week, the OPENTUNITY project consortium gathered in Lugano, Switzerland, for a significant milestone: their 1st Review Meeting with the European Commission. Hosted by the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland and Azienda Elettrica di Massagno (AEM) SA, the meeting was an opportunity to showcase their progress over the past 16 months.
The consortium was delighted to present the strides made in their innovations across the four pilot sites. During the meeting, consortium members and European Commission representatives visited the Arena Innovation Community, a more advanced energy community than the Motta District, where OPENTUNITY innovations will be tested. This visit highlighted several key innovations, including the V2G charging station linked to the local car-sharing service, which demonstrated their advancements in vehicle-to-grid technology. Additionally, the biomass-powered district heating system showcased sustainable heating solutions within the community, while the high voltage substation, connecting to the 15 kV network, ensured efficient energy distribution. Various photovoltaic (PV) systems within the energy communities underscored their commitment to renewable energy.
This review meeting was crucial not only for presenting their achievements but also for receiving valuable feedback from the European Commission. This input will be instrumental in guiding their efforts to implement improvements and achieve the excellence they strive for in the OPENTUNITY project.
