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Case

MegaMind: Enabling AI-driven energy distribution with NWO Perspectief grant

Starting question

“Help us get a grant for a research project on digital self-management of electricity systems“

What Enablemi did

  • Creating a business case
  • Finding chain partners
  • Develop project
  • Apply for a grant
  • Compliance
  • Project management
Logo van het project Megamind van onder andere Technische Universiteit Eindhoven en Tilburg University, bij de portfoliocase van Enablemi. - Enablemi

Objective: Grant for research into smart control of energy distribution with AI

An important step in the energy transition

At Eindhoven University of Technology, great ideas are born. To truly bring such an idea to life, funding is a powerful catalyst. That’s why Enablemi was approached by Prof. Koen Kok, Professor of Intelligent Energy Systems at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. Energy, after all, is one of the areas in which we’ve significantly expanded our capabilities over the past decade.

Smart switching based on energy supply

A key requirement for the energy transition: being able to intelligently scale up and down based on energy supply, within the constraints of the various energy networks. MegaMind can provide this.

MegaMind enables local electricity systems at the edge of the energy grid to collaborate at a higher level, and ensures that energy flows are managed automatically and dynamically with the help of artificial intelligence.

This is highly innovative and requires a paradigm shift in business operations. And that requires scientific research.

This was done by Enablemi.

To make significant progress, a substantial research grant would be necessary. Therefore, we recommended the NWO Perspective program. With the requirements of this demanding tender procedure in mind, we critically reviewed the project’s design. We needed to engage supply chain partners and further refine the business case.

Enablemi saw opportunities to increase the project’s social impact by involving Tilburg University’s law faculty. They could address the ethical aspects and assess the project’s compliance with legal frameworks.

MegaMind scored and won

The NWO assessment committee was extremely enthusiastic about the MegaMind project. The collaboration between Eindhoven University of Technology and Tilburg University was highly praised, and the NWO Perspectief grant was awarded.

In addition to the academic collaboration, we have simultaneously organized a strong consortium, with the following parties:

  • Transdev
  • IBM
  • Enexis
  • Alliander
  • PwC
  • EQUANS
  • Smart State Technology
  • Tennet

Thanks to these committed partners, the research results can be quickly applied in the market.

Complex solid collaboration

Forging a consortium is a matter of bidding: you have to show prospective partners what the project will deliver within their own sustainability objectives.

In a project like MegaMind, where research institutions and commercial partners work together, you have to deal with different interests:

  • Researchers go to great lengths in their diligence and see the value of ‘knowledge for knowledge’s sake’.
  • Meanwhile, commercial parties want to maintain momentum and see returns in the form of practical technology or knowledge that they can apply in their business.

Bringing all parties together around a shared interest, while simultaneously accommodating their own interests? Leave that to Enablemi.

We can do this for you too!
Koen Kok - Enablemi

MegaMind is a research program at the intersection of the electricity system, AI, and legislation. Five research institutes and nine companies collaborate, with funding from the research financier NWO and the companies themselves. Enablemi played a pivotal role in designing the program and now assists with management. Especially in connecting companies to the initiative and in program development, they were crucial in securing the funding. Enablemi’s involvement ensured process oversight, allowing the program manager to focus on substantive aspects yielding excellent results. Now that the program is underway, they provide support with the administrative side and serve as a key contact with NWO, the program’s financier.

Koen Kok, Professor TU/e

The MegaMind project contributes to these Sustainable Development Goals

The win-win impact of MegaMind

Thanks to the collaboration between TU/e ​​and Tilburg University, the project is not only technically sound but also legally sound. This established relationship provides TU/e ​​with a wealth of opportunities for future joint projects.

Thanks to their involvement, the commercial partners have the opportunity to benefit from the latest technology and knowledge, within a legal framework that easily passes the test of the House of Representatives.

MegaMind makes using sustainable energy sources like solar and wind much easier. And that’s an important step towards a sustainable future.

Want to know more about energy projects? Ask Erik for advice!

Erik - Enablemi

Erik