The RePowerSiC project has launched the online platform Sustainable Space with the aim of engaging a broader range of stakeholders in open exchange and collaboration.The platform is built around interactive online forums featuring outreach presentations followed by generous time for questions, discussion, and idea development. By prioritising dialogue, the initiative creates space for meaningful interaction, cross-sector exchange, and unexpected innovation.

RePowerSiC is part of the EIC Pathfinder Portfolio of nine projects in the area of In-Space Solar Energy Harvesting, funded by the European Innovation Council. During its first year, RePowerSiC has focused on establishing its research foundations and strengthening collaboration within the project consortium and across the EIC Pathfinder portfolio. The portfolio runs an internal webinar series for partners and recently held a joint session at Space Tech Expo Europe in Bremen in November 2025. While these formats are highly valuable, they are either limited to project partners or require physical attendance.

To complement these activities and open the dialogue to a wider community, RePowerSiC’s partner Alminica initiated the Sustainable Space platform. The concept builds on experience from the EU FET Open project SiComb, where Alminica contributed an open, interactive silicon carbide platform to the Innovation Radar. Notably, that platform remains active one year after the project’s conclusion, demonstrating the long-term value of open exchange formats. Sustainable Space adopts a highly interactive structure: presentations are followed by dedicated Q&A sessions and extended discussion time.

The online format enables broad participation across Europe and beyond, while the generous interaction time allows for in-depth exchange and the emergence of new ideas. The platform is open to researchers, innovators, SMEs, infrastructure providers, and other EU-funded projects. External stakeholders are warmly invited to contribute outreach presentations, share challenges or expertise, and engage in open discussions with space project partners and the wider community.

Training and Open Workshops for Impact and Exploitation

In addition to open dialogue, Sustainable Space offers training and workshops focused on impact and exploitation in EU projects.

Impact and exploitation are essential elements of competitive Horizon Europe 2026–2027 proposals, and even stronger requirements can be expected under FP10. The number of proposals continues to increase, and competition for funding is more intense than ever. Publishing provides a necessary foundation, but proposals are no longer competitive without a clear and convincing impact strategy. Vague motivations or polished phrases are not sufficient — impact must be credible, concrete, and measurable.

Scientific excellence and publications remain fundamental, but they must be complemented by well-developed and realistic impact pathways. Each case is unique. Successful impact and exploitation require alignment between technology readiness and market conditions, organisational context, individual roles and interests, and the broader European policy and development framework in which impact will be implemented.

Within RePowerSiC, Alminica contributes expertise in knowledge transfer for impact, exploitation, and business development. This expertise is built on long-term experience at the interface of research, innovation, and business creation.

To increase the long-term value and usefulness of EU projects, researchers, innovators, SMEs, and project teams — both within and beyond the RePowerSiC consortium — are invited to participate in an open training and workshop series. These sessions share practices, experiences, and practical tools for impact and exploitation. Reflecting the uniqueness of each project context, the workshops use an interactive format that enables participants to discuss their own challenges, exchange perspectives, and learn from real cases.

The first open workshop will take place on 3 March.

Read more and register: www.sustainablespace.tech/training/