Swiss applied research university specializing in building energy storage, fuel cell CHP systems, and power electronics for clean energy deployment.
Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts is a Swiss applied research institution focused on energy systems, building technology, and power electronics. Their H2020 work centers on thermal and electrical energy storage, fuel cell-based combined heat and power systems, and smart building retrofitting. They bring practical engineering expertise to demonstration and commercialization projects, bridging lab-scale research with real-world deployment — particularly in residential and building-integrated energy solutions. They also contribute to aircraft electrical systems and plastics lifecycle innovation, reflecting broader engineering competence beyond their energy core.
MiniStor (thermochemical materials, phase-change materials, electrical storage) and Heat4Cool (smart building retrofitting with integrated energy systems) both focus on compact storage for buildings.
PACE targets large-scale commercialization of fuel cell micro-CHP, while QualyGridS addresses electrolyser testing standards — both in the hydrogen/fuel cell value chain.
M-Benefits focuses on valuing multiple benefits of energy efficiency measures, complementing Heat4Cool's smart building retrofitting work.
MISSION develops solid-state electrical power switching for multifunctional aircraft power networks, applying power electronics expertise to aviation.
QualyGridS develops standardized qualifying tests for electrolysers providing grid services, indicating lab and testing infrastructure capability.
In the early period (2016–2017), Lucerne focused on fuel cell micro-CHP commercialization and deployment, hydrogen-related testing, and smart building retrofitting — essentially bringing existing clean energy technologies closer to market. From 2018 onward, their work shifted toward compact energy storage systems (thermal and electrical), power electronics for transport, and broader sustainability topics like plastics lifecycle management. The trajectory shows a move from market deployment support toward deeper technical work on next-generation storage materials and electrical system design.
Moving toward compact, building-integrated energy storage and solid-state power switching — expect future work at the intersection of storage materials and smart grid integration.
Lucerne participates exclusively as a consortium partner, never as coordinator, suggesting they contribute specialized technical expertise rather than driving project management. With 90 unique partners across 19 countries from just 7 projects, they operate in large, diverse consortia — typical of Innovation Actions focused on demonstration and deployment. This makes them a reliable, low-friction partner who integrates well into large European teams without competing for the lead role.
Extensive network of 90 partners across 19 countries built through 7 projects, indicating involvement in large demonstration consortia. Their reach spans most of Europe, with particularly strong connections in the energy and building technology sectors.
As a Swiss university of applied sciences, Lucerne bridges the gap between academic research and industrial application — their project portfolio is heavily weighted toward Innovation Actions (5 of 7 projects), meaning demonstration and near-market work rather than basic research. Their combination of thermal storage, fuel cell CHP, and building energy expertise is uncommon in a single institution. For consortium builders, they offer a Swiss partner with strong applied engineering credentials and no ambition to lead — valuable when you need solid technical delivery without coordination overhead.
