PHAETHON Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence for Intelligent, Efficient and Sustainable Energy Solutions

Informations projet

PHAETHON

N° de convention de subvention: 101059898

DOI

10.3030/101059898

Date de signature de la CE 5 Mai 2023

Date de début 1 Septembre 2023

Date de fin 31 Août 2029

Financé au titre de

• Widening participation and spreading excellence

Coût total

€ 15 000 000,00

Contribution de l’UE

€ 15 000 000,00

Coordonné par

UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS
Cyprus

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PHAETHON (PHAETHON Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence for Intelligent, Efficient and Sustainable Energy Solutions)

Période du rapport: 2023-09-01 au 2025-02-28

Résumé du contexte et des objectifs généraux du projet

The PHAETHON Teaming project was launched in response to the global need for clean, smart, and sustainable energy solutions. It aims to strengthen Cyprus' energy research and innovation (R&I) capacity while addressing climate change, energy resilience, and socio-economic transformation. Aligned with EU priorities, such as the European Green Deal, REPowerEU, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, it also supports Cyprus’ Smart Specialisation Strategy, which prioritises green and digital transitions in energy.
At its core, the project upgrades the FOSS Research Centre at the University of Cyprus (UCY) into an autonomous, internationally competitive Centre of Excellence (PHAETHON CoE). The CoE is envisioned as a regional R&I hub for the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East, and North Africa (EMMENA), connecting local stakeholders with advanced European energy clusters and fostering innovation across the region.
PHAETHON is built on a strong partnership between UCY and three leading institutions: the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), the University of Groningen (UG), and Cyprus Seeds (CS). Together, they bring expertise in energy technologies, socio-economic and geopolitical dimensions of energy transitions, innovation management, and research commercialisation.
The CoE’s interdisciplinary R&I agenda spans renewable energy, smart grids, storage, clean mobility, green hydrogen, and energy digitalisation. In addition, it integrates social sciences to ensure solutions are inclusive, effective, and policy-relevant. Moreover, high-standard governance, a robust quality management system, and principles of open science and innovation underpin the CoE’s operations, enabling transparency, efficiency, and long-term sustainability.
The project’s anticipated outcomes include raising Cyprus’ international R&I profile, enhancing its participation in EU programmes, boosting scientific excellence, strengthening human capital through training and doctoral programmes, and enabling data-driven public policy. It will foster a national-scale research infrastructure, support innovative ecosystems, and embed sustainable governance models. In doing so, PHAETHON contributes to SDGs 7, 8, 9, and 13 (clean energy, economic growth, innovation, and climate action).
In essence, PHAETHON is a transformative national initiative, positioning Cyprus as a regional leader in energy innovation and embedding it within the global green transition.

Travail effectué depuis le début du projet jusqu’à la fin de la période considérée dans le rapport et principaux résultats atteints jusqu’à présent

During the PHAETHON project, the consortium successfully established the PHAETHON CoE as a leading research and innovation hub for intelligent, efficient, and sustainable energy solutions in Cyprus and the wider EMMENA region. Key institutional achievements include the legal and operational formation of the CoE, the establishment of a robust autonomous governance structure (BoD, EMC, IAB), and the recruitment of highly skilled researchers across five thematic Research Units (Rus) covering renewable energy, smart grids, storage, green hydrogen, and socio-economic aspects of the energy transition. Infrastructure developments such as the Smart Energy Campus and advanced test-beds for PV, storage, and hydrogen technologies were initiated, backed by substantial national and European funding.
Scientifically, the CoE developed a comprehensive research roadmap aligned with EU strategic priorities (e.g. EGD, REPowerEU) and launched joint education programmes (PhD and MSc) with its advanced partners (DTU, UG). Hundreds of professionals were upskilled through established training programs, and substantial research funding was secured through competitive projects (>€1.5 mln, excluding Teaming funding). The Innovation Hub was created, integrating services based on ISO 56000 standards and fostering start-up and industrial collaborations. PHAETHON also led the formation of a National Energy Taskforce and contributed to regional innovation networks, strengthening Cyprus’ role in European energy R&I ecosystems.
Overall, the project achieved all major technical and scientific objectives set for the interim evaluation period, laying a strong foundation for PHAETHON CoE’s long-term sustainability and impact.

Progrès au-delà de l’état des connaissances et impact potentiel prévu (y compris l’impact socio-économique et les conséquences sociétales plus larges du projet jusqu’à présent)

The PHAETHON project successfully delivered the results outlined in the proposal over the evaluation period, establishing a fully operational CoE focused on intelligent, efficient, and sustainable energy solutions. Specifically, PHAETHON successfully established an autonomous CoE with a fully independent legal identity, governed by a Board of Directors, an Executive Management Committee, and an International Advisory Board. Clear governance and operational procedures were implemented, ensuring transparency, agility, and long-term sustainability. The CoE operates independently from its founding partners, positioning itself to attract funding, talent, and strategic collaborations at national and international levels.
In addition, the CoE recruited a strong multidisciplinary research team and developed five specialized Research Units aligned with photovoltaics, storage, smart grids, green hydrogen, and energy system integration. The Smart Energy Infrastructure and initiatives to transform the campus to a living lab were launched to support experimental validation and demonstration activities. The project created a comprehensive scientific research roadmap, developed joint MSc and PhD programmes with its advanced partners (DTU and UG), and initiated significant research outputs, including open-access scientific publications, datasets, and software tools.
The Innovation Hub was launched, offering Intellectual Property (IP) support and innovation management services based on ISO 56000 standards. Strategic collaborations with national stakeholders led to the establishment of the National Energy Taskforce, while The CoE actively contributed to European consortia, securing significant external funding and establishing itself in key EU innovation networks.
Overall, PHAETHON’s results provide a solid foundation for advancing energy transition research and driving market-oriented innovation. To this end, PHAETHON achieved its aim of reinforcing Cyprus’ innovation ecosystem in the energy sector, building capacity for long-term scientific excellence, market impact, and socio-economic development.