ESEIA Celebrates 15 Years, €17.7M in Research Funding, and 1,700+ Trained Experts in Sustainable Energy

ESEIA Celebrates 15 Years of Driving Europe's Energy Transition with the 2024 Annual Report
Graz, Austria - 12 February 2025 - The European Sustainable Energy Innovation Alliance - ESEIA marks 15 years of pioneering research, education, and innovation in sustainable energy. Since its founding in 2009, ESEIA has grown into a leading European alliance with 28 member organizations across 15 EU countries, supported by 300 partner organizations and over 350 experts. The alliance has secured €17.7 million in research funding, delivering 42 training events that have benefited more than 1,700 students and professionals.
The newly released 2024 Annual Report highlights these milestones and presents ESEIA's strategic vision for accelerating Europe's energy transition through cutting-edge research and global collaboration.
15 Years of Innovation, Impact, and Growth
Since its establishment, ESEIA has brought together academic institutions, research organizations, and industry leaders to drive sustainable energy solutions. The alliance has consistently demonstrated strong performance in securing EU research funding, with one in four project proposals receiving support.
Beyond research, ESEIA remains deeply committed to education and training. Over the past 15 years, it has organized 42 specialized training events, equipping professionals and students with critical knowledge to advance Europe's clean energy future.
Expanding Global Reach Through Horizon Europe
ESEIA's global influence extends through two major Horizon Europe projects:
• EMERGE focuses on energy system modeling for Africa, equipping policymakers, researchers, and investors with essential tools for clean energy production and sustainable resource management across the continent.
• INITIATE strengthens the research and innovation capacity of higher education institutions in widening countries, fostering collaboration between European and global partners.
Through knowledge transfer, policy engagement, and institutional reform, ESEIA bridges the gap between research excellence and real-world implementation, ensuring tangible impact at both European and international levels.
Shaping the Future: The Road Ahead
As ESEIA looks ahead, it is actively shaping the next EU Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10). The ESEIA FP10 Position Paper, adopted in 2024, outlines 5 Key Recommendations to:
1. Enhance role of European Alliances
2. Foster Global Eco-System Partnerships
3. Prioritize horizontal topics
4. Ensure actionability of the Framework Programme
5. Provide room for self-organisation and entrepreneurship
 
Voices from ESEIA Leadership
Brian Norton, ESEIA President, emphasized the alliance's role in driving innovation:
"For 15 years, ESEIA has been a driving force in sustainable energy innovation, uniting academia, industry, and policymakers to create real-world solutions. Our success is built on collaboration and a shared vision for a cleaner, more resilient energy future. Looking ahead, we remain committed to empowering our members and expanding our impact globally."
Brigitte Hasewend, ESEIA Director & Co-Founder, highlighted ESEIA's value:
"ESEIA delivers value in three keyways: advancing green innovation through joint research projects, fostering knowledge exchange-particularly in widening countries-and strengthening Europe's role as a global leader in sustainable energy. As we grow, our reach, relevance, and societal impact will only expand."
A Strategic Blueprint for the Future
The 2024 Annual Report is more than a reflection on ESEIA's achievements-it is a strategic roadmap for the future. With a strong foundation in research, education, and policy engagement, ESEIA is poised to expand its global collaborations, drive impactful research, and accelerate Europe's transition to a clean energy economy.
To learn more and access the full ESEIA 15-Year Anniversary Report, visit https://eseia.eu.
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About ESEIA: The European Sustainable Energy Innovation Alliance (ESEIA) is a European association of cross-sector organizations leading the field of sustainable energy systems-from energy provision to energy consumption-in research, education, and innovation. As of 2025, ESEIA represents 21 member organizations across 11 European countries, including: 12 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), 4 research organizations, 5 businesses
Interested in joining ESEIA? Connect with us to become part of a leading European network driving sustainable energy innovation. Contact us at office@eseia.eu

Media Contact
Nicoleta Talpes
ESEIA Dissemination and Communication Manager
E-mail: nicoleta.talpes@eseia.eu

ESEIA in Brussels: Rue d'Arlon 22, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
ESEIA Graz Headquarter: Münzgrabenstrasse 11/ 5, 8010 Graz, Austria

About ESEIA: The European Sustainable Energy Innovation Alliance (ESEIA) is a European association of cross-sector organizations leading the field of sustainable energy systems-from energy provision to energy consumption-in research, education, and innovation. As of 2025, ESEIA represents 21 member organizations across 11 European countries, including: 12 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), 4 research organizations, 5 businesses
Interested in joining ESEIA? Connect with us to become part of a leading European network driving sustainable energy innovation. Contact us at office@eseia.eu

This release was published on openPR.