On 2 December, JP Smart Grids convened at the EERA Office in Brussels for a highly productive day focused on collaboration, strategic alignment, and knowledge exchange. The event brought together members of the JP Smart Grids community to discuss ongoing activities and upcoming Horizon Europe opportunities, reinforcing the joint programme’s commitment to advancing smart grid research and innovation.

Brokerage Event: building the foundations for future collaborations

The day began with a Brokerage Event, designed to stimulate dialogue and foster new partnerships in view of forthcoming Horizon Europe calls. Participants were provided with:

• An overview of the main Horizon Europe calls relevant to smart grids
• A dynamic series of project idea pitches, covering a broad range of smart-grid-related topics
• Interactive discussions and the collection of expressions of interest, aimed at initiating new collaborations

This periodically organised event plays a key role in supporting the formation of strong, value-creating consortia for future project proposal submissions, strengthening cooperation across the JP Smart Grids network.

Steering Committee Meeting: Strategic updates and knowledge sharing

In the afternoon, the JP Smart Grids Steering Committee Meeting continued the momentum with updates on ongoing initiatives, including the PhD Candidate Award, the development of scientific publications, and the preparation of a white paper. A dedicated knowledge-sharing session highlighted several important international and European initiatives, offering valuable insights and perspectives:

• The Green Powered Future Mission (GPFM) and ISGAN, presented by JP Coordinator Luciano Martini
• The RISEnergy project, presented by Venizelos Efthymiou
• IEEE EEM26, presented by Andrei Z. Morch
• The AI4REALNET project, presented by Ricardo Bessa

Strengthening the JP Smart Grids Community

The event provided a valuable opportunity for JP Smart Grids members to exchange updates, explore potential collaborations, and align on current and future activities. Through continued dialogue and coordinated efforts, JP Smart Grids supports knowledge sharing and cooperation within the community, contributing to the development of research and innovation in the field of smart grids.