INSTITUTULUI NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU INGINERIE ELECTRICA ICPE-CA BUCURESTI

Their core work

ICPE-CA is Romania's national research institute for electrical engineering, based in Bucharest. Their H2020 portfolio reveals two distinct activity lines: providing innovation management support services to SMEs in Romania's macro-region 1 (Transylvania), and contributing electrical engineering expertise to large-scale energy transition projects focused on positive-energy districts and decarbonisation. Their core institutional competence lies in applied electrical engineering research, which they bring to EU consortia tackling grid flexibility, renewable energy integration, and urban energy systems.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

From 2015 to 2020, ICPE-CA's H2020 activity was dominated by the recurring InnoCap Transylvania programme — small-scale coordination support actions helping Romanian SMEs improve their innovation processes. In 2020, they made a significant pivot by joining RESPONSE, a large Innovation Action tackling energy positive districts, decarbonisation, and grid flexibility. This shift signals a move from innovation brokering toward substantive technical contribution in the energy transition domain, aligning their electrical engineering roots with EU Green Deal priorities.

ICPE-CA is pivoting from lightweight innovation support roles toward deeper technical engagement in energy systems, decarbonisation, and positive-energy urban districts — expect growing capacity in smart grid and renewables integration.

How they like to work

ICPE-CA has never coordinated an H2020 project, consistently serving as a participant partner. Their 66 unique partners across 13 countries — mostly accumulated through the large RESPONSE consortium — suggest they function as a contributing specialist rather than a project driver. Their repeated participation in InnoCap Transylvania shows loyalty to established programme structures, while RESPONSE demonstrates willingness to join large, ambitious consortia.

ICPE-CA has collaborated with 66 unique partners across 13 countries, though the bulk of this network comes from the large RESPONSE consortium. Their geographic reach spans multiple EU member states, with natural ties to Romanian and Central-Eastern European partners.

What sets them apart

ICPE-CA offers a rare combination for Romanian partners: deep institutional expertise in electrical engineering (as a national research institute) paired with hands-on experience in SME innovation ecosystems. For consortium builders targeting Romania, they bring both technical credibility in energy systems and regional knowledge of the Romanian innovation landscape. Their dual profile — technical research institute with innovation brokering experience — makes them useful for projects requiring both R&D contribution and local dissemination in Romania.

Highlights from their portfolio

• RESPONSE
  By far their largest H2020 project (EUR 200,000, running to 2026), addressing energy positive districts with a broad scope covering decarbonisation, grid flexibility, and coal region transition
• InnoCap Transylvania
  Four consecutive editions (2015-2021) show sustained commitment to building SME innovation capacity in Romania, though with very modest funding (EUR 1,900-4,200 per cycle)