AERIS GROUP HOLDING SRL

Their core work

AERIS GROUP is an Italian SME that developed and commercialized a proprietary Induction Humidification System (IHS) for the textile manufacturing industry. Their core technology uses electromagnetic induction to generate humidity more efficiently than conventional steam-based systems, reducing both water and energy consumption in textile production processes. They pursued the EU SME Instrument pathway — first a feasibility study, then a full-scale demonstration project — suggesting they were at the commercialization stage of a mature internal invention rather than early-stage research. Their base in Clusone, Lombardy, places them at the heart of northern Italy's textile and industrial machinery cluster.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

AERIS GROUP's two projects span 2016 to 2020 and both address the exact same technology — the Induction Humidification System for textiles — so there is no genuine thematic evolution to report. What did evolve is their stage of development: Phase 1 (SME-1, €50K) validated commercial feasibility, and Phase 2 (SME-2, €1.73M) funded full demonstration and market launch. This is a single-technology company that used EU funding as a structured commercialization path rather than as a research diversification tool. There is no evidence of a pivot or expansion into new areas within the H2020 timeframe.

AERIS GROUP used H2020 funding specifically to bring one product to market; if they are now active, they are likely in commercial operation with IHS rather than pursuing further R&D — making them a potential technology licensor or industrial partner rather than a research collaborator.

How they like to work

AERIS GROUP led both of their EU projects as coordinator, suggesting they are comfortable in the driver's seat rather than as a supporting partner. Their consortium is exceptionally small — only 3 unique partners across 2 projects, all within a single country — which is characteristic of an SME Instrument approach where the innovating company retains control and limits consortium complexity. Working with them likely means engaging directly with the core technology team, with little bureaucratic overhead but also limited multi-partner network exposure.

Their network is minimal: 3 unique partners across 2 projects, all in Italy. This reflects the nature of the SME Instrument, which is designed for single-company-led innovation rather than broad consortium building.

What sets them apart

AERIS GROUP is a rare example of a product-focused industrial SME that used EU funding not for open-ended research but to de-risk and validate a specific proprietary technology. This means any collaboration with them centers on a defined, tested system rather than exploratory work. For textile manufacturers, machinery integrators, or energy efficiency solution providers, they offer a ready-made technology with EU-validated performance data behind it.

Highlights from their portfolio

• IHS
  The Phase 2 SME Instrument grant (€1.73M, 2018–2020) is one of the larger SME Instrument awards and represents full commercial demonstration of the induction humidification technology at scale.
• IHS
  The Phase 1 feasibility project (2016) shows a disciplined SME Instrument progression — securing validation funding before committing to the larger demonstration grant.