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31/5

Call 12.2.-31.5.2024

Research funding call 2024 for the new Business Finland program Flexible Energy Systems

In the call, Business Finland is looking for projects that create new knowledge for the development of future flexible and sustainable energy systems.

Contact persons for further information and appointment reservations

Katja Hollmén (presentation of the research idea, networking) katja.hollmen (at) businessfinland.fi


Tero Ijäs
(presentation of the research idea, networking)
tero.ijas (at) businessfinland.fi


Jussi Åkerberg
(responsible for program preparation)
jussi.akerberg (at) businessfinland.fi

Call has ended!

Business Finland is launching a new program called 'Flexible Energy Systems.' The goal of the program is to maximize Finland's carbon handprint by promoting the exports of Finnish flexible energy solutions, supporting innovation development focused on future challenges, and strengthening the networks, ecosystems, and international cooperation of Finnish players.

The program's focus is on solutions that increase the flexibility of the energy system (electricity/heat/fuels), as well as flexible technologies, procedures, processes, and business models that enable the green transition of the energy system and strengthen its resilience.

In this funding call, Business Finland is utilizing its Co-Research instrument for public research. The funding aims for disruptive, strategic projects, as well as projects that develop strategic capabilities with a long-term impact on the development of Finnish industry's international competitiveness. The results of the research projects will serve as a foundation for companies' internal research and development projects, as well as potential Co-Innovation and international collaboration initiatives.

Background

Flexibility is crucial for greening our energy systems and reducing carbon emissions. Energy production is increasingly intermittent, volatile, distributed and coming from multiple renewable and new sources. The incineration is giving way to alternative methods of generating electricity and heat. Electrification of the society, hydrogen economy, sector integration, digitalization and multiple new fuels call for a systemic change and new ways to generate, transfer, distribute, store, control, optimize and consume energy. Flexibility extends beyond adapting to intermittent energy production with storage and demand response; it involves seamless integration of different energy forms and diverse fuels to meet the needs of end customers, enabling effortless transitions between different energy sources. The ongoing change calls for a holistic and interconnected approach to energy systems optimizing the utilization of the varied energy forms available. The transition also paves the way for new digitalized solutions and services along the value chain.

Goals and scope of the funding call

In the call, Business Finland is looking for projects that create new knowledge for the development of future flexible and sustainable energy systems. The objective is to encourage research projects that take a comprehensive look at the future challenges and changes in the energy sector. The projects are expected to enhance the international competitiveness of the Finnish industry in the long run.

Examples of the focus areas include:

  • Multi-energy systems: Combining multiple sources of energy and fuels with a holistic approach across industry sectors, sector integration, energy production optimization, baseload management, and overcoming the challenges of transitioning to multi-energy systems. Also, flexible industrial processes and their adaptability to various energy solutions.
  • Storage and emerging technologies: The role of decentralized storage, virtual power plants, and new technologies (such as SMRs), system efficiency, and sustainability.
  • Digitalization and the role of the new digital technologies such as AI and IoT in enabling flexible energy systems and in the integration of smart technologies for optimized energy production, consumption, and distribution.
  • Future service concepts and business models related to flexible energy systems.
  • Considering the international, societal, economic, legal, environmental, and other challenges in the planning and implementation of future flexible energy systems and related value chains.

Applicant eligibility

In this funding call Finnish public research organizations, such as universities, universities of applied science and governmental research organizations, can apply funding for so called Co-Research projects in accordance with Business Finland's instructions and funding terms and conditions for the public research funding.

Requirements for the public research projects

The Co-Research projects must be planned in close cooperation with companies. The companies must also contribute to the financing of the public research: the goal is that the combined amount of funding from the companies is at least ten (10) percent of the total public research budget. The project should involve several Finnish companies that could utilize the research results, preferably clearly more than the minimum requirement of three companies. The funding call is seeking public research projects that create the basis for companies' own future research and development projects by generating new research knowledge. If the content and goals of the public research project proposal are such that the companies could already have their own parallel research and development projects, Business Finland's Co-Research is not the right application service. In such case, applicants could consider e.g. Business Finland's Co-Innovation funding together with companies.

Instructions for Co-Research funding service

Funding terms and conditions for research organizations, 2024 (pdf)

Funding criteria

Research funding granted based on this call is estimated to be approximately EUR 4 million. The funding is competitive and discretionary, all applicants that meet the minimum criteria will not automatically receive funding. The funding is subject to Business Finland’s normal Co-Research funding criteria. In addition, the following special selection criteria are used in the evaluation of applications:

  • project content compatibility with the goals and scope of the call
  • the international novelty value of the expected research results
  • the potential benefit of the research results for the Finnish national economy
  • the quality and interdisciplinarity of the research consortium
  • the amount and quality of international cooperation in the research project
  • the quality of the research plan
  • the participation and commitment of export-oriented companies in planning, monitoring, and funding the research project.

Preparing and submitting a funding application

The funding applications are completed in Business Finland's online service. All participants applying for the funding use the Co-Research application form. Please read the instructions for filling out the applications. Each participant of the joint project applying for their own sub-project must submit their own participant application. Please enter the project name in the following format: “Flexible Energy Systems – [project name]”. All applicants in the consortium must use the same project name.

Research call schedule

  • We recommend a discussion with Business Finland's experts before submitting applications. Please remember to book an appointment for the presentation of the research idea (Teams discussion) via the contact persons well in advance, preferably at the latest during March.
  • Submit your funding application by May 31, 2024 via Business Finland’s online system. As the evaluation of the applications will start right after this, please submit all application attachments by the deadline.
  • Start of projects no earlier than October 1, 2024.