The DECODIT project team had the privilege to attend and engage firsthand with the vibrant community driving the energy transition at the Bridge General Assembly 2025.

Hosted in a hybrid format, the two-day General Assembly brought together policymakers, project coordinators, academics and industry leaders at The Square in Brussels – and virtually – fostering crucial dialogue on the evolution of clean energy technologies.

Day 1: Setting the stage

The Assembly kicked off on March 25 with a compelling keynote by Vincent Berrutto (DG ENER), who underscored the EU’s commitment to competitive and sustainable energy systems. His remarks, supported by insights from Matthias Langemeyer (CINEA) and Enrico Gaspari (BRIDGE Secretariat), framed the overarching themes of digitalisation and innovation for impact.

A particularly valuable session for DECODIT was the spotlight on 2024’s achievements from the BRIDGE Working Groups. Each WG – Consumer & Citizen Engagement, Data Management, Regulation, and Business Models – demonstrated substantial progress, aligning closely with DECODIT’s objectives in promoting interoperability and trustworthy data sharing across Europe’s energy systems.

Following that, the session on the ETIP SNET paper ‘Bridging the Gap from Innovation to Market’ led by Mark Stefan offered pragmatic guidance on transitioning from research to real-world deployment. As a project with a strong focus on digital tools for grid data integration, we found this discussion highly relevant – particularly in understanding how to position DECODIT’s outputs for maximum market uptake.

Later in the day, a standout moment was the panel moderated by Luca Passoni (PwC), focusing on ‘Overcoming barriers for innovation implementation’. The success stories shared by PlatOne and RomeFlex were inspiring and deeply relatable, showcasing how projects can navigate regulatory, technical, and financial challenges to scale their solutions.

The collaborative energy in the room was infectious and re-affirmed the importance of open, honest dialogue between projects and policymakers.

The first day closed with an insightful session on EU funding opportunities – from CEF Energy to the Horizon Results Platform – which will be instrumental as we chart the next phase of DECODIT’s growth.

Day 2: Deep dives and working group synergies

March 26 continued with strong momentum. The morning session introduced the cluster data spaces, a domain where DECODIT’s ambitions are particularly aligned. Antonello Monti from Fraunhofer FIT showcased the efforts of five collaborative projects tackling energy data spaces, offering both inspiration and practical takeaways on governance, architecture, and interoperability – key pillars of our work in DECODIT.

As the day unfolded, we had the chance to attend the Data Management Working Group breakout session. The discussions were dynamic, ranging from metadata harmonisation to secure data access and digital twin technologies. It was refreshing to see alignment across various projects and the growing consensus around common frameworks – a sign that the sector is maturing in its digital journey.

Later, in the Regulation and Business Models sessions, the focus shifted to ensuring that innovation does not outpace policy and market readiness. These conversations highlighted the need for robust regulatory sandboxes and financial instruments that support long-term deployments. DECODIT’s use cases will certainly benefit from the recommendations and perspectives exchanged during these sessions.

Bringing it all together

The final plenary session stitched together the insights from all breakout rooms. Moderators and Working Group chairs shared outcomes that were both strategic and actionable. From data portability and consent management to standardisation and consumer trust, the themes were as diverse as they were interconnected.

Notably, DG ENER representatives offered constructive feedback and acknowledged the need for cross-WG coordination – a point we at DECODIT strongly support, especially given our project’s multidisciplinary nature.

Reflections from the DECODIT team

Participating in the BRIDGE General Assembly was a rich and rewarding experience. Beyond the formal presentations and workshops, it was the informal conversations, coffee break networking and shared enthusiasm that truly defined the event.

We returned with new collaborations on the horizon, a deeper understanding of EU policy developments, and renewed motivation to ensure that DECODIT’s digital innovations are grounded in the realities of the European energy transition.

As we look ahead, we’re excited to continue contributing to the BRIDGE community, pushing for stronger data governance, transparent business models, and citizen empowerment through technology.

Until next year—onward and upward!

DECODIT project team