Strengthening Collaboration for Europe’s Energy Transition
On 23–24 March 2026, the BRIDGE General Assembly 2026 brought together a dynamic community of Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 projects in Brussels and online. As one of the key annual gatherings of the BRIDGE initiative, the event provided a unique platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and strategic alignment across Europe’s energy innovation ecosystem.
A Community driving Real Impact
BRIDGE is a European Commission initiative designed to connect projects working on smart grids, energy storage, and digitalisation. With more than 200 projects and over 1,400 stakeholders involved, it plays a crucial role in ensuring that research and innovation efforts translate into real-world impact.
The 2026 General Assembly highlighted the scale and ambition of this community. With a Horizon energy portfolio exceeding €7 billion and more than 1,100 projects supported by CINEA, the focus is clear: turning innovation into deployment that supports Europe’s clean energy transition.
From Innovation to Deployment
This year’s discussions emphasised the need to move beyond isolated project results and toward integrated, scalable solutions.
Participants engaged in sessions focused on:
- strengthening collaboration across projects
- exploring funding and scaling opportunities
- building new partnerships and consortia
- aligning innovation with policy and market needs
The General Assembly reaffirmed that collaboration is essential to bridge the gap between research and real-world application.
The role of BRIDGE Working Groups
At the core of the BRIDGE initiative are four Working Groups:
These groups serve as collaborative platforms where projects jointly address key challenges and contribute to policy recommendations.
The InterPED project actively contributes to:
- Data Management, focusing on interoperability and data exchange
- Consumers and Citizen Engagement, supporting citizen-centric energy systems
Through this participation, InterPED helps shape discussions on how digitalisation and citizen involvement can accelerate the deployment of Positive Energy Districts.
Aligning Projects, Policy, and People
A key strength of the BRIDGE General Assembly is its ability to bring together:
- European Commission services and agencies
- research and innovation projects
- industry stakeholders and experts
This multi-stakeholder dialogue ensures that technological innovation is aligned with regulatory frameworks, market realities, and societal needs.
Looking Ahead
As Europe advances toward climate neutrality, initiatives like BRIDGE play a critical role in ensuring that innovation is not fragmented but coordinated, scalable, and impactful.
InterPED’s participation in the BRIDGE General Assembly 2026 reinforces its commitment to:
- contributing to European collaboration
- advancing interoperable and citizen-centric energy solutions
- supporting the transition toward Positive Energy Districts
By working alongside a strong network of projects and stakeholders, InterPED continues to help translate innovation into real-world energy transformation.