Open Innovation Challenges 2026

1 Nov 2025 – 16 Dec 2026 | Thessaloniki, Greece

1 November 2025 - 16 December 2026

Thessaloniki, Greece

Open Innovation Challenges 2026

Registration ended on 13 Oct 2026

Real problems. Real partners. Real industrial pathways.

Welcome to Open Innovation Challenges 2026!

Open Innovation Challenges 2026 is an international matchmaking initiative that brings together companies, public bodies, startups and technology providers to co-create solutions for real industrial challenges.

Our goal is simple: help organisations find breakthrough solutions and give innovators a clear path into the market. We connect real industrial problems with the people who can solve them.

SolarHub SYNERGIES 2026 is the Energy vertical of this programme. Five industrial and research partners have set seven challenges in solar PV manufacturing, solar thermal and industrial heat, agrivoltaics, solar biorefinery and grid integration.

Status: Applications closed on 18 September 2026. Results were announced on 30 September 2026. Selected Solution Providers now agree a Validation Plan with their Challenge Owner and work with them until 20 November 2026.

What we offer

Challenge Owners

  • Ecosystem networking: Meet startups, scale-ups, university spin-offs and research teams directly.

  • Tailored solutions: Receive proposals built around your own business, technological or operational challenge.

  • Co-development and validation: Work with selected innovators during the Validation Stage to test whether the solution fits your needs.

Solution Providers

  • Direct industrial access: A structured working relationship with the partner who owns the challenge.

  • Coaching and support: A Bootcamp (Thessaloniki-based teams) or an online Clarifications Stage (all others), then coaching throughout the Validation Stage.

  • Investor exposure and partnerships: Six finalists pitch online to investors; the best solutions can move on to a field pilot and commercial agreements with the Challenge Owner.

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Posted opportunities

Key Dates & Timeline

Following timeline applies only to SOLARHUB SYNERGIES program:

  • Open Call launch – November 2025

  • Info Day (applications open) – 22 May 2026

  • Submission deadline – 18 September 2026

  • Evaluation results – 30 September 2026

  • Bootcamp (Thessaloniki) or Clarifications Stage (online) – 1–6 October 2026

  • Validation Stage – 6–20 November 2026

  • Pitch deck submission – by 20 November 2026

  • Selection of the six finalists – by 27 November 2026

  • Online Investor Pitch Event – by 4 December 2026

  • Awards Ceremony – 9 December in Ankara (Remote Participation)

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