Munich, Germany, June 2026

The Foundation for Innovation and Research – Malta (FiR.mt) has successfully concluded a highly productive participation at Intersolar Europe 2026, Europe’s leading exhibition for the solar industry and part of The smarter E Europe, reinforcing its commitment to connecting Malta with the latest international developments in renewable energy, smart grids, energy storage and sustainable mobility.

FiR.mt’s participation was made possible through complementary international support. Research and networking activities undertaken during the event were partially supported through the Horizon Europe GIANTS project, while FiR.mt was also invited to participate in the International Solar Energy Society (ISES) programme as an ISES Corporate Member. This reflects FiR.mt’s growing international recognition within the global solar energy research community.

Throughout the exhibition, FiR.mt engaged with leading manufacturers, technology developers, research organisations and industrial stakeholders to identify emerging technologies and establish new collaborations in:

• Photovoltaic reliability and operation & maintenance;
• Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS);
• Smart grids and grid digitalisation;
• Artificial intelligence for energy applications;
• Digital twins and predictive maintenance;
• Electric mobility and vehicle-integrated photovoltaics;
• Advanced power electronics and monitoring technologies;
• Future Horizon Europe research and innovation initiatives.

The knowledge gained during the visit will directly support several of FiR.mt’s flagship European projects, including GIANTS and MARINEX1.0, while contributing to the Foundation’s expanding Living Laboratories and research infrastructure.

Dr Inġ. Brian Azzopardi, Chair of FiR.mt, commented:

“International events such as Intersolar Europe provide an invaluable opportunity to connect research with industry. Every discussion, demonstration and collaboration contributes towards developing innovative solutions that benefit Malta, Europe and the wider international community. Our objective is not simply to observe technological developments but to translate them into impactful research, industrial collaboration and future European projects.”

The participation also strengthened FiR.mt’s long-term collaboration with the International Solar Energy Society, providing opportunities to exchange knowledge with internationally recognised experts and further reinforcing Malta’s visibility within the global renewable energy research community.

As an independent Research and Technology Organisation, FiR.mt continues to expand its international network while supporting excellence in photovoltaic systems, smart grids, renewable energy integration, digitalisation and sustainable mobility. The Foundation remains committed to transforming international partnerships into research excellence, technology transfer and societal impact for Malta and Europe.

Acknowledgement

FiR.mt’s participation at The smarter E Europe 2026 was partially supported through the GIANTS project funded by the European Commission. Participation in the International Solar Energy Society (ISES) networking programme was made possible through FiR.mt’s Corporate Membership supported by ISES.