Innovation Challenges

Eva Schramm

We are always on the lookout for new ideas that can help us accelerate the energy transition.

Are you a startup? Do you have an innovative approach to solving a problem in the electricity industry? You might have an idea that will revolutionize how we manage the electricity grid, or maybe you know how to make our current system work even better.

Elia Group Innovation Challenge – is the place and time, you can share your idea and become part of the future of the energy! The OIC winners, along with prize money, get the unique opportunity to run a proof of concept for their project with the support of Elia Group mentors.

On this page, we will find information about previous major challenges organized by Elia Group, as well as announcement on upcoming challenges.

Want to learn when the next OIC will take place? Let’s stay in touch!

Furthermore, even if no current challenge is running, you can always get in touch with the Innovation Team to tell us more about your game-changing technology or product in the energy field.

Upcoming challenges

Open Research Challenge
Accelerating speed from Research to (System) Operations

The growing challenges in system operations, including monitoring, control, data management, forecasting, and grid analysis (such as accelerated load flow calculations), demand a faster and more agile approach to collaboration with research institutions.

We want to shorten the time from R&D to operational implementation. To do this, we propose a new agile and dynamic way of cooperation between TSOs and researchers.

Open Innovation Challenge 2024
Accelerating CAPEX delivery: constructing the future grid

The annual Open Innovation Challenge (OIC) allows Elia Group to maintain close ties with a broad ecosystem of start-ups and SMEs from across the world. Its aim is to stimulate and accelerate innovation as society moves towards net zero.

This year, the OIC is committed to breakthrough innovations in the field of CAPEX delivery, and is focused in particular on solutions related to project planning and design; project management; procurement and supply chains; and onsite and offsite execution. This underscores the Group’s commitment to improving the efficiency, reliability and sustainability of its transmission infrastructure projects as it drives the decarbonisation of society.