DISCOVERY, IDENTIFICATION, APPLICATION, AND MONITORING OF DEVELOPED SOLUTIONS FOR INNOVATION FUND

Project Information

DIAMONDS4IF

Grant agreement ID: 101138004

DOI

10.3030/101138004

EC signature date 27 November 2023

Start date 1 January 2024

End date 31 December 2026

Funded under

• Climate, Energy and Mobility

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 901 734,27

Coordinated by

PNO CONSULTANTS GMBH
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - DIAMONDS4IF (DISCOVERY, IDENTIFICATION, APPLICATION, AND MONITORING OF DEVELOPED SOLUTIONS FOR INNOVATION FUND)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

DIAMONDS4IF is an EU-funded project (2024–2026) that bridges the gap between Horizon 2020 research results and IF deployment in the renewable energy sector. It identifies promising H2020-based innovations and helps them become IF-ready projects by addressing technical, financial and regulatory barriers and guiding applicants through the IF process.

The project sets up a continuous selection scheme to find high-potential H2020 participants and project ideas, and applies a structured toolbox to assess project viability and organisational readiness (innovation intelligence, stakeholder mapping, team formation). It supports candidates through tailored tools, workshops and capacity-building on key IF application elements such as business plans, GHG calculations and feasibility studies, while providing targeted advice on risks, funding strategies, stakeholder engagement, financial modelling and compliance. DIAMONDS4IF also promotes cross-sector collaboration and exchanges with other EU projects, industry and public authorities, and delivers feedback to CINEA on recurring barriers and possible improvements to IF procedures.

By doing so, DIAMONDS4IF aims to:

- Enable at least five mature IF applications during the project,
- Establish a replicable methodology and toolkit for future IF applicants, and
- Accelerate the market uptake of climate-relevant renewable energy innovations, contributing to EU climate targets, REPowerEU objectives and the transformation of EU industrial and energy systems.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

1) Selection approach and framework: Development of a structured approach to identify and prioritise candidates for IF applications.
2) Initial list of IF candidates: Compilation of an initial list of potential IF applicants and project ideas (see Annex 3), in line with WP1–WP2 objectives and the GA milestone (at least three candidates by month 6).
3) Interactive Map for DIAMONDS4IF: Creation of an Interactive Map, developed with DIALOGBILD GmbH, illustrating the key steps of the IF application process within an organisation.
4) Viability Check Questionnaire: Design of a questionnaire to collect key data from interested applicants, support an initial readiness check and prepare the Kick-off meeting.
5) Viability Check Protocol: Provision of a protocol summarising degree of fulfilment, potential scoring, main gaps and recommendations to refine the project scope in line with IF evaluation criteria.
6) Initial Self-Assessment: Development of an online self-assessment questionnaire enabling candidates to perform an early, independent review of their project idea.
7) Video Tutorials: Production of short video tutorials explaining the IF application process and practical requirements, published on the DIAMONDS4IF YouTube channel and promoted via the website and LinkedIn.
8) IF Guidelines: Preparation of IF Guidelines that follow the tutorial structure and provide more detailed explanations and visual aids on key IF topics.
9) Workshops: Organisation of dedicated workshops (STEP 3) for candidates who passed STEP 1 of the Viability Check, to support cross-functional teamwork and the preparation of core IF application documents.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Key results include:

1) Selection framework and scoring model: Identification of IF-ready projects from the H2020 database using Wheesbee, an AI-based innovation intelligence tool.
2) Challenges and decision points catalogue: Lessons learned from past IF applicants, including insights from a short online questionnaire (available on the DIAMONDS4IF website), translated into guidance for future candidates and recommendations for CINEA and national authorities.
3) Interactive Map: Visualisation of the IF application process to support internal coordination across departments.
4) Capacity-building tools: Tailored video tutorials, written guidelines and self-assessment questionnaires to clarify IF requirements.

Potential impact:
- These tools reduce entry barriers to IF, especially for industrial actors unfamiliar with EU funding. By improving project maturity, aligning documentation with funding expectations and promoting knowledge transfer, DIAMONDS4IF increases the chances of successful IF applications and accelerates the deployment of climate-relevant innovations.

DIAMONDS4IF Interactive map