The REALIZE Online Final Event “Market-Readiness in Renewables: Enabling the Energy Transition in Europe” took place on 9 February 2026.
The recording of the webinar is available here and the presentations can be downloaded here.
Fernando Gomez Hermoso (Euro-Funding), REALIZE’s Coordinator, introduced the session by explaining how REALIZE was created, sharing the main challenges faced during the project and reflecting on lessons learned. He explained the selection phase for choosing “project promoters” (candidates from Horizon projects) to support them in applying to the Innovation Fund. He emphasised that there is still a gap between organisations that manage Horizon projects and those that manage Innovation Fund projects, especially on the road to market. Exploitation is often discussed in Horizon projects, but strategies should be stronger on the commercialisation side to clearly define who will deploy and finance the project.
The first session “Two years of helping technologies graduate from Horizon 2020 to Innovation Fund – what have we learned?” was moderated by Maria-Laura Trifiletti (CINEA). She presented the speakers and shared the first question using Slido. The results of the question are available below:
A conversation between the moderator and the speakers followed. David Garcia Arrate (Euro-Funding) reflected on two years of experience supporting innovative renewable energy technologies through the REALIZE project. The core challenge identified was the gap between promising research and market readiness, regardless of the specific renewable sector (wind, solar, tidal, etc.). The project’s approach involved building a practical pipeline: identifying promising assets, validating their alignment with Innovation Fund expectations, and addressing non-technical risks that hinder scale-up. Analysis revealed that while technology developers often possess strong technical backgrounds and pilot data, they frequently lack a mature value chain (suppliers, EPCs, insurers, O&M actors), auditable financial models, credible funding commitments, and commercial maturity—commonly presenting only non-binding letters of intent. Operational and financial immaturity were cited as the most persistent barriers. To address these, REALIZE has conducted due diligence against Innovation Fund criteria, assessed promoter readiness, and helped develop tailored strategies focusing on revenue objectives, ROI, and value chain engagement. The key recommendation was for promoters to shift focus from technical maturity alone to building robust, replicable business models and ensuring investment profitability. In addition, he added that the EIC Accelerator helps professionals to focus on the commercial side, making efforts on IP strategy and CPM business model, helping a project accelerate the non-technical maturity.
In the following discussion, Thomas Garabetian (SolarPower Europe) underscored the EU’s ongoing challenge in converting technological innovations into profitable, globally competitive products, with the Innovation Fund playing a key role—though some funded companies still face difficulties. While current support primarily targets capital expenditures (CapEx), manufacturers also require operational support (OpEx) to thrive. Since 2021, the EU’s funding frameworks, including Horizon Europe and the Innovation Fund, have become more attuned to industry and research needs, despite the persistent complexity and risk in the application process. Progress has been made through better-aligned calls and stronger partnerships, especially in sectors like photovoltaics, batteries, and wind energy, fostering closer collaboration between industry and the Commission. Recent improvements, such as the introduction of modular support and simplified initial application stages by the Innovation Fund and European Innovation Council, aim to reduce the administrative burden on companies. Participants stressed the need for continued engagement from the private sector and research communities to further simplify processes and enhance funding accessibility in upcoming programs.
The second session “Best practices for market scale-up“, moderated by Jan Erik Hanssen (1-Tech) brought together industry companies that have been successful in achieving funding from the Innovation Fund and other instruments.
Nicola Baggio (FuturaSun) shared the company’s experience applying for the Innovation Fund, emphasizing the importance of aligning projects with the company’s history and technical maturity. The project was built on previous Horizon Europe funding, demonstrating a natural progression from early-stage R&D to market-ready solutions. The team opted for a conservative approach, focusing on established solar cell technologies rather than less mature options, and highlighted the slower pace of development in Europe compared to China. They stressed that the Innovation Fund alone is not sufficient for project sustainability and advised applicants to explore additional funding sources. The application process was resource-intensive, requiring a dedicated team and external consultants familiar with the Fund’s requirements. Key lessons included the need for realistic supply chain planning and robust financial modeling reviewed by experts familiar with the Fund’s logic. The company secured over 60 letters of support from customers, suppliers, public bodies, and banks to demonstrate a strong support network. They also praised the flexibility and responsiveness of CINEA and recommended early stakeholder engagement, parallel preparation of application sections, and leveraging experienced advisors and trade associations throughout the process.
Maryline Joanny (HELIUP) presented its innovative ultra-lightweight photovoltaic panel solution, designed to address the challenge that many European buildings cannot support the weight of traditional solar panels. The Innovation Fund’s support was pivotal in transitioning from technical innovation to factory production and now to European market expansion. HELIUP’s project is guided by three core missions: innovation, resilience, and sustainability, aiming to unlock Europe’s solar potential and enable local green energy production.
Johnny Meit (Oceans of Energy) showcased its world-first floating offshore solar farm installed within the Rollandsukes North wind farm off the Dutch coast. The technology, operational for over four years, is designed for harsh marine conditions and delivers 1 MW per hectare, with plans to scale to 200 MW per km². Offshore solar complements wind by generating power in spring/summer, maximizing shared infrastructure and reducing costs. The company aims to integrate 300 GW of offshore solar in the North Sea by 2050, leveraging the REALIZE project to scale up and drive industry growth.
Thomas Hårklau (KiteMill) presented its airborne wind energy technology, which uses kites or drones to harness wind power at altitudes over 300 meters—far above traditional turbines. Beyond energy, the platform supports ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) applications, adding strategic value. KiteMill’s roadmap targets utility-scale deployment, with a 1.2 MW demonstration project (12 x 100 kW units) planned for southern Norway, aiming for operation by 2028. The company is also advancing its KM1 and KM2 systems, with a focus on both energy and ISR markets. The Innovation Fund and new incentives (e.g., Germany’s 2024 feed-in tariffs) are critical for scaling. KiteMill plans to submit a manufacturing-focused Innovation Fund project proposal in April 2026.
Following the presentations, the panellists engaged in a further discussion, exploring practical challenges, funding strategies, and the potential for scaling innovative renewable energy technologies across Europe.
The last session “Bridging R&I to deployment: The role of the Innovation Fund and the Clean Industrial Deal in enhancing industrial competitiveness“ was moderated by Marie Latour (Euro-Funding) and started with two presentations of DG CLIMA on the CID calls and of DG GROW on the European Competitiveness Fund.
The first presentation, by Philip Hawkins (DG CLIMA, European Commission), introduced the new horizontal call under Horizon Europe’s 2026-27 Work Programme, dedicated to supporting the Clean Industrial Deal (CID). This initiative aims to bridge the gap between research and deployment for clean tech and energy-intensive industries, focusing on both decarbonization and competitiveness. The call features two main topics: “Clean Tech for Climate Action” (€290M) and “Decarbonization of Energy-Intensive Industries” (€250M), plus a complementary €50M call under the Research Fund for Coal and Steel. Key innovations of the call include its open, non-prescriptive nature, emphasis on industrial competitiveness and market readiness, and a cross-sectoral value chain approach. Projects must demonstrate industrial leadership and provide a business plan for post-project deployment. Expected impacts align with the Clean Industrial Deal’s goals, including accelerated deployment, enhanced competitiveness, increased EU manufacturing capacity, and reduced energy costs. Both topics are structured around three focus areas, with proposals required to define a “center of gravity” while potentially addressing multiple areas. The 2026 call is open (deadline: 15 September 2026), with a second round in 2027. The portfolio will ensure balanced representation across all focus areas.
The second presentation, by Salvatore Amico Roxas (DG GROW, European Commission), focused on the European Commission’s proposed Competitiveness Fund (ECF), currently under negotiation, aiming to address the rigidity, fragmentation, and insufficient late-stage innovation support in existing EU funding by consolidating €26.2 billion for clean transition (plus €41 billion for the Innovation Fund) and introducing a flexible, seamless investment journey—from research to deployment—using grants, financial instruments, and blended finance. The ECF will unify previously separate programs (e.g., Digital Europe, EU4Health) under a single rulebook, simplify access for beneficiaries, and enable Member State co-financing. New tools include Single Market Value Chain Builder (for supply chain resilience), EU Tech Frontrunners (for scaling tech leaders), and Production Ramp-Up Actions (for manufacturing support), alongside expanded cross-cutting services like Project Advisory, SME support, and skills development. Governance will involve strategic stakeholder and Member State advisory boards, with discussions advancing in both Council and Parliament.
After the presentations, a panel discussion was held, allowing speakers and participants to further explore the opportunities, challenges, and next steps for advancing innovative clean energy and industrial competitiveness initiatives in Europe.
Greg Arrowsmith (EUREC) highlighted that the timing of the report “Advice on the Design of Innovation Fund and Adjacent instruments” published as part of the REALIZE project, aligned well with the launch of the CID communication in early 2025 and subsequent discussions over spring and summer, allowing key recommendations—based on interviews with 15 renewable energy companies—to be integrated into the CID call. The CID call will offer EC contributions of €15–20 million, similar to small-scale Innovation Fund projects, but with a significantly streamlined application process: proposals will be based on a standard innovation action template, supplemented by a market readiness strategy and business plan, reducing the burden from the previous average of 600-page submissions. This approach aims to address the historical disadvantage faced by smaller projects, which often received lower evaluation scores due to disproportionate effort and lower company maturity. Notably, the CID call eliminates complex GHG calculations and adopts a more flexible stance on innovation, focusing instead on upscaling and manufacturing existing solutions, aligning with interviewees’ suggestions for a “sovereignty fund” approach. The call’s structure is expected to better support small-scale applicants and accelerate project implementation.
Victor van Hoorn (Cleantech for Europe) emphasised two key challenges for companies scaling beyond first-of-a-kind projects: the historical focus of EU funding instruments on CapEx over OpEx, and the need for faster decision-making and funding deployment to attract private capital. The distinction in EU support—favoring CapEx due to state aid rules—often overlooks the critical role of OpEx in commercial success. Companies emphasize the urgency of streamlined processes to provide clarity and leverage private financing, as lengthy EU procedures have created uncertainty and hindered effective de-risking. The ECF was praised for its flexibility, allowing tailored de-risking instruments (e.g., contracts for difference, price floors, production-based support) to address diverse sectoral needs. Many companies in the deployment phase prefer predictable, low-cost financing (loans/guarantees) over grants, as this maximizes the impact of public funds. The recent Battery Booster package and potential Innovation Fund loans were cited as positive precedents. Finally, participants stressed the need for better integration between funding instruments and broader policy frameworks (trade, competition, regulation) to ensure market readiness, and called for a more cohesive approach to future EU budgets—aligning Horizon Europe, the Innovation Fund, the Industrial Decarbonization Bank, and the ECF to avoid duplication and comprehensively support scaling efforts.
Isabelle Canu (GETFund) noted that clean tech is no longer a hype-driven sector in Europe, with budget pressures now threatening decarbonization and industrial transformation efforts. While the EU Competitiveness Fund sends a strong signal, its success depends on effectively crowding in market actors—especially startups, SMEs, and smaller venture capital funds. Three key design principles were emphasized: avoiding crowding out existing private investors, ensuring a seamless investment journey with stage-appropriate instruments (from accelerators and business angels to venture capital, loans, guarantees, and offtake mechanisms), and mobilizing rather than replacing private capital. The speaker highlighted the critical role of public actors like the EIF in sustaining Europe’s venture industry, which has seen a 60% drop in global fundraising over the past three years. Innovative financing models, such as Germany’s SPRIND, were proposed to boost innovation, alongside calls for greater use of guarantees, risk-sharing, and public procurement to improve risk-return profiles for private investors. The overarching goal is to maximize the impact of every euro by leveraging private capital, fostering competitive pressure, and maintaining innovation diversity to build European champions and competitiveness.
Salvatore Amico Roxas (DG GROW, European Commission) underscored the critical value of flexibility in EU funding instruments, arguing that a one-size-fits-all approach is ineffective and that tailored, market-responsive solutions are essential. Highlighting a significant gap, they noted that only 5% of current EU clean tech funding supports manufacturing capacities—a figure that must rise to meet resilience and reshoring goals. The proposed ECF is expected to address this by mobilizing a broader toolbox and attracting more private investment. The speaker acknowledged recent progress in streamlining financial instruments but emphasized that risk capacity remains a challenge; to this end, the ECF proposal will increase provisioning rates from 40% to 50%, aiming to boost risk appetite. They also affirmed continued support for venture capital (VC) and direct equity investments, recognizing growing interest in these models among implementing partners. Overall, the ECF’s flexibility and enhanced risk provisions are seen as key to bridging funding gaps and accelerating industrial deployment.
During the closing remarks of the webinar, Maria-Laura Trifiletti (CINEA) highlighted the event’s success in showcasing both the challenges and concrete results from the innovation pipeline, as well as inspiring success stories from Innovation Fund projects at various stages of deployment. Key takeaways included:
- the need for companies to adopt an “ownership mindset” early in the innovation journey, integrating exploitation strategies and intellectual property rights (IPR) from the outset,
- a strong call to simplify access to funding, reduce bureaucratic obstacles, and accelerate the transition from research to market.
The importance of listening to industry priorities, with support from European associations, was emphasized, alongside the necessity to shift focus from technology readiness to business and market readiness. Ensuring complementarity among future funding instruments was also underscored. The event provided insights into the European Commission’s future funding approach, notably the proposed ECF and the ongoing CID call, which offers €600 million over the next two years for clean energy technologies and decarbonization of energy-intensive industries. In closing, she urged collective action to accelerate Europe’s path to market.
