Are you a startup, SME, or innovation team developing people-first solutions that foster workplace knowledge, safety, culture, or wellbeing? Then the Elia Group Open Innovation Challenge 2025 offers a prime opportunity to showcase your idea, access expert mentorship, and receive up to €50,000 to develop a proof of concept with one of Europe’s leading energy system operators.
The Elia Group Open Innovation Challenge 2025 places people at the heart of transformation, inviting innovators worldwide to propose human-centric solutions that can reshape the future of work within the energy sector.
Key Dates & Timeline
- Challenge Launch: 12 June 2025
- Application Deadline: 24 July 2025
- Mentorship Phase (Round 2): 1 September – 10 October 2025
- Final Pitch Event in Brussels: 4 December 2025
Challenge Focus: “People First”
Applicants are encouraged to submit solutions addressing one or more of the following four areas:
1. Knowledge Management
Enhance onboarding, offboarding, mentoring, and ongoing staff development with innovative digital or social tools.
2. Cultural Change
Promote inclusivity, engagement, and shared values through gamification, social platforms, and leadership-focused initiatives.
3. Security Awareness & Behaviour
Boost employee cybersecurity resilience through behavior-based training, phishing simulations, or internal champion programs.
4. Safety & Wellbeing
Support physical and mental safety, emotional resilience, and health through accessible, intuitive solutions.
Creative solutions that don’t fall neatly within these categories but align with the theme of “People First” are also welcome.
What You Can Win
- Grand Prize: Up to €50,000 in funding for a proof of concept, developed in partnership with Elia Group in Belgium or Germany.
- Mentorship & Visibility: Finalists receive hands-on coaching from Elia experts and present their solution to a C-level audience in Brussels.
Who Can Apply
- Eligibility: Startups, SMEs, and innovation teams from any country.
- Team Size: Typically 2–5 people per team is ideal.
- Stage: Both early-stage and growth-stage innovations are welcome, provided they can demonstrate potential for real-world implementation.
How to Apply
Applications are open now and must be submitted by 24 July 2025. To apply, you will need to:
- Complete a short application form.
- Submit a 3-slide presentation deck outlining your solution, its impact, and implementation strategy.
For more information about the challenge scope, judging criteria, and past winners:
👉 Read more about the programme
🧠 Expert Tip from Grant Database
“For this challenge, clarity is key. Focus on how your solution improves the people experience within energy-sector workplaces. Use metrics, visuals, and simple language to show the problem you’re solving and how your solution integrates into Elia’s existing ecosystem. Judges want to see immediate relevance and measurable impact.”
— Grant Database Proposal Review Team
Ensure your submission includes:
- A clear problem-solution fit
- Defined end-user impact
- Scalable and feasible proof-of-concept steps
- Optional: KPIs or case studies demonstrating viability
Need help drafting or reviewing your submission?
👉 Contact grantsdatabase.org for proposal drafting, refining and review.
Final Thoughts
The Elia Group Open Innovation Challenge 2025 is more than a competition—it’s a chance to co-create a safer, smarter, and more inclusive energy industry. Whether you’re reimagining onboarding tools, building resilience training programs, or gamifying cybersecurity, your ideas could shape the workplace of tomorrow.
Don’t wait. Submit your proposal today and be part of Europe’s innovation future.
