ADVANCED MICROTURBINES SRL

Their core work

Advanced Microturbines SRL is an Italian SME based in Genova that designs and develops small-scale microturbine systems for decentralized, off-grid electricity generation. Their core product is the AirWatt microturbine — a compact power generation device aimed at locations where grid connection is impractical or uneconomical. They progressed from feasibility validation to full product development within the H2020 SME Instrument programme, indicating a technology readiness trajectory from concept to market. Their work sits at the intersection of distributed energy resources and mechanical engineering for standalone power applications.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Advanced Microturbines has a short but coherent H2020 track record confined to 2014–2018, with both projects dedicated to the same product — the AirWatt microturbine. The progression is linear: SME-1 in 2014 validated feasibility, and SME-2 in 2016 funded full innovation and market development, reflecting a deliberate product-to-market journey rather than a broadening of research scope. No keyword data is available to trace thematic shifts, so it is not possible to determine whether their technical focus evolved beyond off-grid microturbines after 2018.

Their trajectory through the SME Instrument suggests a company moving from prototype to product; whether they continued developing or scaling the AirWatt technology post-2018 is unknown from available data.

How they like to work

Advanced Microturbines acted as coordinator on both of their H2020 projects, meaning they drove the agenda and took accountability for project delivery rather than joining as a supporting partner. Their consortium footprint is extremely small — just 2 unique partners across 2 projects, all within Italy — suggesting they operate as a tight, product-focused team rather than building broad research networks. This profile is typical of technology SMEs using EU funding to de-risk a specific product, not to co-develop with large academic or industrial consortia.

Their H2020 network is minimal: 2 unique consortium partners, all based in Italy, across 2 projects. This reflects a highly focused, domestic collaboration pattern consistent with SME Instrument projects, which are typically led by a single company with limited consortium requirements.

What sets them apart

Advanced Microturbines is one of the few Italian SMEs that successfully secured both phases of the H2020 SME Instrument for the same microturbine product, demonstrating validated commercial potential recognised by EU evaluators. Their specific focus on compact, off-grid microturbine technology — rather than large-scale turbines or grid-connected generation — occupies a niche relevant to remote energy access, island systems, and industrial sites without reliable grid connections. For consortium builders needing a specialist hardware SME with a real product in the distributed energy space, they offer focused technical depth rather than broad research capacity.

Highlights from their portfolio

• AirWatt
  The Phase 2 SME Instrument grant of EUR 496,250 is the larger and more significant award, funding full innovation development and commercialization of the AirWatt microturbine for off-grid electricity generation.
• AirWatt
  The Phase 1 feasibility study (EUR 50,000) is notable as the starting point of a rare SME Instrument Phase 1 → Phase 2 progression, confirming the technology passed EU-level commercial viability assessment.