Exploring EU Funding Impact with CIC energiGUNE

1. How do EU-funding opportunities align with CIC energiGUNE´s innovation strategy and long-term goals?

EU funding is key to driving the development of innovative technologies in line with CIC energiGUNE’s strategic goals. It acts as a catalyst for disruptive solutions and research collaborations, reinforcing its leadership in the sustainable energy transition.

2. What do CIC energiGUNE see as the main value of being involved in EU-funded R&I projects?

EU-funded R&I projects enable CIC energiGUNE to collaborate with top-tier partners and accelerate the path to market-ready solutions. These initiatives strengthen innovation, knowledge exchange, and alignment with the EU’s energy transition objectives.

3. What was CIC energiGUNE´s motivation to participate in EIC-Pathfinder calls?

CIC energiGUNE joined EIC-Pathfinder calls to bridge the gap to innovation and enhance European competitiveness by exploring high-risk, high-reward projects aligned with pioneering next-generation energy solutions. CIC energiGUNE is currently coordinating two projects, HIPERZAB focused on long duration energy storage and WASTE2H2 focused in generating clean hydrogen and decarbonized materials from plastic waste.

4. How important is international collaboration to CIC energiGUNE’s innovation process?

International collaboration is essential to CIC energiGUNE’s innovation, providing diverse expertise and global insights that enrich research and boost competitiveness, while enabling technology scaling and alignment with global energy trends and policies.

5. What kind of partners or ecosystems is CIC energiGUNE looking to connect with through these programs?

CIC energiGUNE seeks partnerships across the energy value chain, focusing on advanced materials, batteries, and energy management, prioritizing collaborators committed to sustainability. Together, they aim to build an innovation ecosystem that accelerates commercialization and scaling of breakthrough solutions.

6. How would CIC energiGUNE describe its overall experience participating in EU-funded programs so far?

Since the start of its activity in 2011, CIC energiGUNE has participated in over 50 European projects, serving as coordinator in 11 of them. This extensive experience has provided strategic resources, strong collaboration networks, and synergies with leading institutions across Europe.

Participation in EU-funded programmes has been instrumental in strengthening the center’s research approach, validating emerging technologies, and significantly increasing its international visibility. Overall, this experience has been key in positioning CIC energiGUNE as a reference in energy storage innovation and in driving its continued growth and leadership.

7. What has been the most rewarding aspect for CIC energiGUNE when participating in EU-funded projects?

The most rewarding aspect for CIC energiGUNE in EU-funded projects is collaborating with diverse experts to advance innovative energy storage solutions toward market readiness.
Additionally, contributing to sustainable energy and decarbonization provides strong motivation and meaningful societal impact.