On 25–26 March 2025, the HARMONISE project joined over 100 representatives from EU-funded smart energy projects in Brussels for the BRIDGE General Assembly 2025, hosted by the European Commission. The two-day event served as a key platform for knowledge exchange, project clustering, and strategic alignment on cross-cutting issues in the energy transition. EnGreen attended in person, and engaged directly with stakeholders, contributing to discussions and networking opportunities.
This annual event, organized by the European Commission, is really important for collaboration in the energy transition, bringing together key stakeholders from across Europe to discuss achievements, challenges, and future directions in the sector.
Day 1: Plenary Sessions and Strategic Outlook
The opening day featured high-level presentations from the European Commission, offering updates on energy policy, digitalisation of energy, and the role of BRIDGE in shaping a unified European energy system.
Key discussions focused on advancing data interoperability, cybersecurity, and consumer benefits through EU-wide frameworks. Presenters also provided insights into the ongoing integration of technical innovation with policy frameworks, ensuring that regulatory developments align with new technologies. Strengthening collaboration among projects and improving the dissemination of outcomes were identified as future priorities for BRIDGE.
The day also included reflections on the achievements of 2024 and introduced a structured approach to tackle 2025 objectives, focusing on interoperability, data modelling, citizen engagement, and cross-project synergies.
Day 2: Collaboration and Working Group Discussions
The second day of the General Assembly was dedicated to parallel working sessions, collaborative exercises, and breakout groups. The morning began with a summary of Day 1 insights, followed by the presentation of the Cluster Data Spaces initiative, which aims to lay the groundwork for a Common European Energy Data Space. Participants then moved into focused working group meetings to define actions, share lessons, and plan for the year ahead. Discussions emphasized the need for inclusive engagement strategies, addressing energy poverty, and the role of AI in citizen engagement. The interoperability and standardisation of energy data also took center stage, with updates to the Use Case Repository and the Data Exchange Reference Architecture playing a crucial role in shaping future collaboration. The Business Model WG outlined the results obtained by the main focus areas addressed during 2024: tools for capturing business ideas and shaping models, methods to quantify the benefits of services across different scenarios, data value chains within BRIDGE project models. For 2025 particular focus has been placed on investigating the role of AI in the definition of business models.
HARMONISE Joins the BRIDGE Community
A major highlight of the event was the official introduction of the HARMONISE Horizon Project to the BRIDGE network. As a new member, HARMONISE took center stage during the “Networking Coffee Session for New Projects” through EnGreen. This session provided a unique space to share the project’s mission, connect with like-minded innovators, and discuss how it can contribute to Europe’s energy transformation. HARMONISE is poised to play an integral role within the BRIDGE community, benefiting from collaboration with policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers to drive meaningful advancements in the energy sector.
Looking Ahead
As HARMONISE continues its journey within the BRIDGE community, the energy transition is not just about technology—it is about building strong partnerships and fostering an ecosystem where innovative solutions can thrive.
