SOLTILES SAS

Their core work

SOLTILES SAS is a French technology SME developing building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roof tiles — solar panels designed to replace conventional roofing materials rather than sit on top of them. Their core product is a roof-integrated solar tile system that generates distributed solar electricity while functioning as a structural roof element, targeting cost-effective small-scale power generation at the building level. The company progressed through the full EU SME Instrument track, starting with a Phase 1 feasibility study in 2015 and securing a Phase 2 commercialization grant of over €1.2M in 2016, indicating they moved from concept validation to full product development. Based near Toulouse, they represent a pure product company rather than a research organization.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

SOLTILES has a single, tightly focused trajectory: developing one product from feasibility to commercial scale. Their 2015 Phase 1 project was a short feasibility and market study for the solar tile concept, while the 2016–2019 Phase 2 represented full R&D, prototyping, and market preparation. There is no meaningful shift in technical focus — the organization pursued the same product over its entire H2020 participation. The evolution is one of maturity and investment scale, not of changing direction.

SOLTILES appears to have been on a single-product commercialization trajectory through 2019; whether they have continued R&D or entered the market post-project is unknown from available data, making them an uncertain but potentially interesting partner for BIPV or roofing innovation consortia.

How they like to work

SOLTILES consistently acted as project coordinator in both of their H2020 grants, suggesting a self-directed company that drives its own agenda rather than joining other teams' projects. Their consortium is very small — only 2 unique partners across 2 countries — indicating they prefer lean, focused teams rather than broad multi-partner consortia. For a potential collaborator, this suggests a hands-on, founder-driven organization where decision-making is likely fast but external partner roles would be limited in scope.

SOLTILES has a minimal network, with only 2 unique consortium partners across 2 countries over their entire H2020 history. Their collaboration footprint is among the smallest possible, reflecting either early-stage company status or a deliberate preference for tight, proprietary development over open partnership.

What sets them apart

SOLTILES occupies a specific niche within solar energy: the intersection of roofing materials and photovoltaics, a segment that remains underdeveloped compared to conventional rooftop solar. Unlike research institutes or large industrial players, they are a dedicated product SME that took a single idea through the full EU innovation funding pipeline — from feasibility to over €1.2M in development funding. For a consortium needing a small, committed BIPV product specialist with proven EU project leadership, they represent a focused asset.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SolTile
  The Phase 2 SME Instrument grant of €1.218M is the largest single award the company received and represents the full commercialization push for their roof-integrated solar tile product.
• Soltile
  The Phase 1 feasibility project demonstrates the classic SME Instrument pathway — a €50k study that successfully unlocked the much larger Phase 2 investment, showing a validated concept.