ESEIA Holds its 33rd General Assembly Meeting
On 16 April 2026, ESEIA convened its 33rd General Assembly (GA) in an online format, bringing together members from across Europe to review progress, align strategic priorities, and reinforce collaboration across research, innovation, and education in sustainable energy. A key highlight of this edition was the participation of Ágota Dávid, a distinguished guest from the European Commission, offering valuable insights into evolving European policy directions on strengthening EU–Western Balkans cooperation in Research and Innovation.
The Assembly welcomed Ágota Dávid, Policy Officer at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), who delivered an invited presentation on the Western Balkans Research & Innovation (R&I) Strategy.
Her intervention provided a comprehensive overview of how the European Union is deepening cooperation with Western Balkan partners as part of the broader enlargement and innovation agenda.
Key messages included:
- Full association to Horizon Europe for all six Western Balkan partners, enabling their active participation in EU-funded research and innovation programmes
- The EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, supporting economic convergence through reforms, investment, and dedicated R&I actions
- The role of Smart Specialisation Strategies and innovation ecosystem support in strengthening regional capacities
- The importance of policy coordination platforms, such as the Western Balkans Steering Platform on R&I, fostering structured dialogue between the European Commission, Member States, and partner countries
The presentation also highlighted strong participation results in Horizon Europe, with over €183 million secured across more than 500 projects, particularly in areas such as climate, energy, mobility, and agri-food systems .
The discussion that followed reaffirmed the relevance of these developments for ESEIA members, particularly in the context of widening participation, international collaboration, and the integration of emerging innovation ecosystems into the European Research Area.
ESEIA’s Strategic and Operational Priorities for 2026
Beyond the keynote session, the General Assembly addressed a series of core organisational and strategic topics.
The Assembly formally adopted the ESEIA Annual Report 2025, reflecting a year marked by continued growth in project acquisition, member engagement, and impact across the sustainable energy landscape.
A central component of the meeting was the progress update from ESEIA’s Thematic Working Groups. These updates highlighted ongoing project activities, new proposal submissions, and the strengthening of cross-sector collaboration within the Alliance’s innovation ecosystem.
The Assembly also reviewed and approved financial and governance-related matters, including the audited accounts for 2025 and the financial outlook for 2026, ensuring transparency and continuity in ESEIA’s operations.
The session concluded with forward-looking discussions on upcoming milestones, including the ESEIA International Conference 2026 in Lisbon, continued development of EU-funded projects such as INITIATE, EMERGE, and ToFuel and strengthening ESEIA’s presence at European level, including engagement with policy processes and international partnerships
The next General Assembly meeting is scheduled to take place on 23 November 2026 in Lisbon, in conjunction with the ESEIA International Conference 2026, offering an opportunity for in-person exchange and further consolidation of the Alliance’s activities
The 33rd General Assembly once again confirmed ESEIA’s role as a connector between research, policy, and industry, facilitating dialogue on key European priorities while supporting its members in navigating the evolving landscape of sustainable energy innovation.
