The Foundation for Innovation and Research – Malta (FiR.mt) actively participated in the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) Workshop 2026 on Photovoltaics & Digitalisation, held on 25–26 February 2026 in Vienna, Austria.

The workshop brought together leading European researchers, technology providers, and institutional stakeholders to discuss the latest advances in photovoltaic (PV) digitalisation, monitoring, and intelligent energy systems. Participation by our Projects Manager Ms Austeja Mockeviciute-Azzopardi and Postgraduate Researcher Mr Brian Bartolo, in this event reflects FiR.mt’s commitment to strengthening European collaboration and advancing digital innovation in renewable energy research.

Poster Presentation — Digital Infrastructure for Renewable and Sustainable Energy in Malta

During the event, FiR.mt presented a poster entitled:

“Digital Infrastructure for Renewable and Sustainable Energy in Malta.”

The poster showcased FiR.mt’s open research infrastructure integrating:

• High-accuracy PV monitoring platforms with Class A sensors
• Testing and calibration facilities for PV modules
• Cloud-based digital platforms and AI-driven analytics
• Distributed living laboratories across Malta
• Research training and knowledge-building activities

This integrated ecosystem enables advanced applications including PV reliability studies, AI-based anomaly detection, digital operations & maintenance optimisation, and grid interaction scenarios such as PV-EV integration.

Supporting Projects and Funding Framework

The infrastructure presented during the workshop has been made possible through strong European and national project support, including:

🔹 Horizon Europe Support

• PV-PROMISE (Grant Agreement No. 101079469)
  Funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence programme, supporting the development of advanced digital infrastructure and research capacity building in photovoltaics.

🔹 National Research Networking Scheme (RNS) Support

• POWER-UP Project (Grant Agreement No. RNS-2024-078)
  Funded by Xjenza Malta under the Research Networking Scheme 2024, supporting international collaboration, knowledge exchange, and research networking activities linked to the workshop participation and dissemination efforts.

🔹 Collaborating Projects & Ecosystem Integration

The FiR.mt infrastructure is designed as an open and scalable platform supporting collaboration with European research initiatives and cross-sector innovation activities in:

• Digitalisation of photovoltaic systems
• Smart monitoring and diagnostics
• AI-enabled energy analytics
• Renewable energy integration and smart grid applications

Strengthening European Collaboration

Participation in the EERA workshop enabled FiR.mt to:

• Engage with leading European PV digitalisation experts
• Share Malta-based living laboratory experiences
• Promote open research infrastructures supporting EU projects
• Strengthen partnerships for future Horizon Europe proposals

The workshop discussions confirmed the growing importance of data-driven and AI-enabled energy infrastructures in supporting Europe’s energy transition and achieving long-term system reliability.

Open Call for Collaboration

FiR.mt’s infrastructure is open for collaboration, welcoming partnerships with:

• Research institutions and universities
• Industry and technology providers
• Startups and SMEs
• European project consortia
• Training and educational initiatives

Researchers and organisations preparing Horizon Europe or other collaborative research proposals in photovoltaics, digitalisation, smart energy systems, and AI-based renewable applications are encouraged to connect with FiR.mt to explore joint opportunities.

📩 For collaboration inquiries, please contact FiR.mt via info[at]FiR.mt.