TECHNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS LTD

Their core work

Technovative Solutions is a Manchester-based SME specializing in knowledge-based engineering (KBE) and machine learning applied to energy systems, particularly geothermal and thermal storage technologies. They build digital tools — simulation models, data platforms, and advisory systems — that help engineers optimize complex thermal and materials processes. Their work spans from welding knowledge platforms to drilling optimization software, consistently sitting at the intersection of data science and industrial engineering. With EUR 6.5M across 13 H2020 projects, they are a prolific technology partner delivering software and modelling capabilities to large European research consortia.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 participation (2016–2018), Technovative focused on thermal systems and industrial materials — heat pipes, heat exchangers, molten salt storage, and welding platforms. From 2019 onward, a clear shift emerged toward machine learning, geothermal optimization, and knowledge-based engineering tools, with projects like OptiDrill, FORGE, and GEOPRO emphasizing data-driven modelling of complex physical systems. The thread connecting both periods is the digitization of energy and materials engineering — they moved from building platforms to building intelligent systems that learn from process data.

Technovative is converging on machine learning applied to subsurface energy systems, positioning them as a go-to digital partner for geothermal and deep energy projects.

How they like to work

Technovative operates exclusively as a consortium participant — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, instead contributing specialized digital and modelling capabilities to larger teams. With 141 unique partners across 25 countries, they are a high-connectivity node that works with many different organizations rather than repeating the same partnerships. This makes them an adaptable, low-friction partner: experienced in integrating into diverse consortia and delivering defined technical work packages without requiring project leadership.

Technovative has built a remarkably wide network for an SME — 141 unique consortium partners across 25 countries from 13 projects. Their partnerships are heavily European with no obvious geographic clustering, reflecting their role as a versatile digital specialist that different consortia invite for software and modelling tasks.

What sets them apart

Technovative occupies a rare niche: they are a software and data science SME that deeply understands thermal and geothermal engineering. Most ML companies lack domain expertise in subsurface energy; most geothermal specialists lack ML capabilities. This dual competence makes them an ideal bridge partner for consortia that need to digitize complex physical processes — they speak both the engineering and the data science language fluently.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PharmaLedger
  Their largest single grant (EUR 910,625) and a surprising departure from energy — blockchain for counterfeit medicines shows breadth beyond their core domain.
• OptiDrill
  Second-largest grant (EUR 897,405) and the clearest expression of their strategic direction: machine learning for geothermal drilling optimization.
• ComBioTES
  Bio-based thermal storage for buildings represents their thermal storage expertise applied to the built environment and decarbonization of heating.