TH!NK E

Their core work

TH!NK E is a Belgian SME specializing in smart energy systems, energy community development, and citizen engagement in the energy transition. They bridge technical energy infrastructure (smart grids, buildings, storage) with social science approaches to help communities and citizens actively participate in decarbonization. Their work spans energy modeling, interoperability of smart home and grid systems, and designing collective action frameworks for local energy communities.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

TH!NK E started with technically-oriented energy infrastructure work — energy storage in distribution systems (STORY, 2015) and smart energy system planning tools (MUSE GRIDS, 2018). From 2019 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward the human and social dimensions of energy: interoperability for end-users in smart homes (InterConnect), community-driven energy actions (DECIDE, which they coordinated), and inclusive citizen engagement in decarbonization (ENCLUDE). The trajectory shows a clear move from engineering energy systems to empowering people within those systems.

TH!NK E is moving toward the social and participatory side of the energy transition — expect them to pursue projects on energy democracy, just transition, and inclusive community energy models.

How they like to work

TH!NK E primarily operates as a participant (4 of 5 projects), stepping into coordination once with DECIDE, suggesting they are building toward more leadership roles. With 137 unique partners across 23 countries, they work comfortably in large EU consortia and have a broad, non-repetitive network — this signals adaptability and an ability to integrate into diverse teams rather than relying on a fixed circle of partners.

TH!NK E has built a wide European network of 137 unique partners spanning 23 countries, indicating deep integration into the EU energy research ecosystem. Their partnerships are diverse rather than concentrated in any single geography or institution cluster.

What sets them apart

TH!NK E occupies a rare niche at the intersection of smart energy technology and social science — they understand both the technical systems (grids, storage, interoperability) and the human factors (citizen engagement, collective action, mixed methods research). For consortium builders, this makes them a valuable bridge partner who can translate between engineering workpackages and societal impact workpackages. As a Belgian SME with coordination experience and a 23-country network, they bring both agility and credibility to proposals.

Highlights from their portfolio

• DECIDE
  Their only coordinator role, focused on energy communities and collective actions — signals their recognized leadership in citizen-driven energy.
• InterConnect
  Large-scale interoperability project connecting smart homes, buildings, and grids — positions them at the digital-energy crossroads.
• STORY
  Their largest single funding (EUR 1,033,824) — a major energy storage project that established their presence in the smart grid space.