ECHO Synergies with SolarHub Horizon Europe Projects

Synergies between ECHO and SolarHub Horizon Europe Projects.

1. Creating Synergies
Linking ECHO and SolarHub
ECHO Kickoff Meeting,
Istanbul 21 January 2025
Odysseas Spyroglou,
International Development Ireland (IDI) Ltd.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ospyroglou/

2. What is an Excellence Hub?
What are they ?
EU Initiatives fostering innovation ecosystems in regions across
Europe by strengthening collaborations between academia,
businesses, public authorities, and societal actors (the quadruple
helix).
What's their aim?Advance regional development and align with EU policy objectives like the European Green Deal.
Focus on:
•Bridging gaps in research and innovation.
•Supporting less-developed regions.
•Integrating local strengths into broader European and global networks.
•Knowledge sharing, talent development, and cutting-edge solutions.

3. ExHubs Components
From Call Core Components → Project Components
Co-Designing Policies
Cross-border joint R&I
strategy aligned with
regional smart specialisation
and EU policy priorities (Twin
Transition).
Capacity Building
Enhance capacities, citizen
engagement, technology
transfer, entrepreneurship
training, staff exchange,
mutual learning, visibility.
Accelerating Innovation
Innovation
R&I consolidation, Academia
- Industry links, action &
investment plans
Joint R&I
Conceptual design and pre-
planning for pilots and
demonstrators →
exploitable, commercial
assets.

4. Two synergetic Excellence Hubs
Energy Communities Excellence Hubs: catalyzing energy
energy innovation ecosystems
•Excellence hub in Türkiye, Greece, and Portugal to foster
innovation ecosystems, empower stakeholders, and
implement sustainable, resilient and inclusive Energy
Communities (EC) that accelerate the EU's energy
transition goals.
•24 Partners: TR, GR, PT, ES, IE, DE
•4 Years: 2025 - 2028
A Greek-Turkish Solar Energy Excellence Hub to Advance
Advance the European Green Deal
•Excellence Hub to connect and scale up 5 Greek & Turkish
Solar Energy innovation ecosystems in a single, hybrid,
cross-border, interconnected Excellence Hub dedicated to
Solar Energy applications with emphasis on
Agriculture/Agri-food sector.
•21 Partners: TR, GR, IE, DE, BE
•4 Years: 2023 - 2026
5 Common Partners: TUBITAK (TR) | CERTH / ELECTRA / RDFCM (GR) | IDI (IE)

5. A Greek-Turkish Solar Energy Excellence Hub to Advance the European Green Deal
Transform Solar Energy ecosystem : Accelerate Innovation →
{with} STRATEGIES | CAPACITIES | ACTIVITIES → co-create SOLUTIONS

6. Common Objectives
SolarHub Strategic Objectives
Strategy
Policy Development
Co-develop a Hub Strategy and a Joint
Strategic Research and Innovation
Agenda (SRIA) aligned with RIS3 and
Green Deal.
Capacity
Innovation in QH
Engage all players of the quadruple helix
to support R&I and accelerate
innovation.
R&I
Pre-Designs
Implement joint R&I activities to co-
develop solar energy solutions as
innovation accelerators.
Impact
Community Outreach
Maximize project impacts through
dissemination, exploitation, and
communication activities.
ECHO Synergies
1
Strategic Foundations
Assessment frameworks,
regulatory gaps, to promote
sustainable, scalable, and socially
inclusive Energy Communities.
2
Knowledge & Skills
Training, Capacity building
programs for QH for knowledge,
skills, connections to drive EC
development and innovation.
3
Pilot
Projects
Implement projects showcasing
advanced energy services and
solutions to energy poverty, which
align with scalable innovation.
4Market Opportunities
Bridge research outputs with
market opportunities through
Innovation Showcases, IP
support, targeted matchmaking,
and strategic university-industry
partnerships.

7. Common Ground
5 Common Partners can ensure synergies
SO ECHO Outputs Relevant SolarHub Outputs
Strategy Tailored R&I Roadmaps: Strategic plans (TR, EL, PT) with R&I
priority areas in EC to maximize regional impact.
Policy Recommendations aimed at removing regulatory hurdles
and creating a supportive environment for ECs.
Green Business Plans for entrepreneurs, communities,
policymakers, and organizations. Structured approach to creating,
funding, and implementing green initiatives.
SolarHub Strategic Reports and Policy Recommendations (e.g., Joint
Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda).
Capacities Trained Researchers & Innovators: Increased number of
professionals in TR, EL, PT trained in RES technologies, EC
development, and innovation management
SolarHub training programs (GR, TR) for startups and researchers,
including technical training on solar technologies, entrepreneurship,
and business models​
Pilots & R&I Replicable Energy Community Models: 6 successful pilot EC,
operating under different governance structures and service
models.
Innovative Pilot Sites: At least 3 pilot sites demonstrating and
integrating emerging energy technologies
SolarHub’s focus on developing pre-designs of solar solutions and
scaling them via pilot collaborations​​.
SolarHub’s pilot projects focused on integrating advanced solar
technologies into agricultural and community energy use​​
Innovation
Acceleration
Technology Commercialization Pathways: Clear strategies for
scaling up and commercializing at least 2 technologies
SolarHub acceleration program to support commercialization of
solar technologies through mentorship and investor engagement​

8. SolarHub Acceleration Program
(3 Cycles)
SolarHub Ignition (2024)
•Focus: Early-stage startups, entrepreneurs, researchers & research teams in solar energy.
•Activities: Ideation workshops, basic business model formation, initial market research, mentorship on solar technology and business basics.
•Duration: 6 months.
SolarHub Momentum (2025)
•Focus: Established startups with a defined product or service in solar energy.
•Activities: Advanced business development, market penetration strategies, investor readiness training, mentorship on scaling solar energy solutions.
•Duration: 6 months.
SolarHub Synergies (2026)
•Focus: Mature startups or SMEs with established solar energy products/services.
•Activities: Expansion strategies, advanced market analysis, sustainability and efficiency improvement, partnership and network expansion.
•Duration: 6 months.

9. 4 Pre-Designs
4 distinct pre-designs, each focusing on innovative solar energy solutions
•Leverage pre-designs, integrating them into the innovation ecosystem through the Acceleration Programme.
•Substitute traditional pilots by offering a structured pathway to commercialize research findings and technological innovations, focusing on
market readiness and scalability.
Low Temp Solar Thermal
Solution
Solar thermal solution for low-
temperature heat applications
Hydrothermal Treatment
Solar-aided hydrothermal
treatment solution for agri-
food residual products
PV for Power & Micro-Climate
PV solution for power
production and micro-climate
creation for tree plants
Crop Production (Light +
Water) PV
PV solution for efficient crop
production through light and
water management

10. Where will MOMENTUM Focus?
Advanced Training
Product Design, Business &
Financial Planning, ESG
Industrial Challenges
Match startups with specific
industry problems
Investment Readiness
Mentoring in business,
entrepreneurship, strategy
B2B Brokerage
Organise events for F2F
meetings
Proposal Writing
Direct support in pursuing
financing opportunities
Access to Pre-designs
Initial access to the cutting-
edge pre-designs

11. Our Vision: Heliohub
An enabling framework to engage a comprehensive set of key stakeholders with a compelling story to
create and strengthen a shared vision, aligned strategies, and interconnected activities to accelerate the
Green Transition while synergistically advancing each actor’s interests.

12. A Widening Community
Spring 2025 Pioneering Webinar Series for Widening Projects
•Catalyze inter-project collaborations
•Create new opportunities by reaching new audiences
•Gain competitive advantage by sharing knowledge & best-practices
•Achieve critical mass when engaging with key funding and policy decision makers at institutional,
•regional, and national levels.
Project Title
SolarHub A Greek-Turkish Solar Energy Excellence Hub to Advance the European Green Deal
FINEST TWINSEstablishment of Smart City Center of Excellence
COALition
Promoting Innovation Excellence in Transformation of Coal Regions to Climate-
Neutral, Thriving Economies
ECHO Energy Communities excellence Hubs: catalyzing energy innOvationecosystems
METACITIES MetaCities Excellence Hub in South-Eastern Europe
CARBONICA Carbon Initiative for Climate-resilient Agriculture
HERIFORGE cultural HERitage & Immersive technologies for innovation FORGE
Excel4Pro
Strengthening the Capacity of Excellence Hubs of Türkiye, Greece, and Ukraine to
Support Innovation Ecosystem of Novel Foods Based on Plant Proteins.

13. Thank you.
International Development Ireland Ltd.
Headquarters Ankara Office
The Courtyard Building
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Dublin 18
Ireland
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