UnternehmerTUM launches Energy Innovation

Cross-industry collaboration. With partners such as Accenture and SAP, Energy Innovation connects players from energy, mobility, research and politics.

Munich, April 3, 2025 - UnternehmerTUM, Europe's center for innovation and start-ups, is launching Energy Innovation, an initiative to develop new solutions for the energy infrastructure. The aim is cross-industry collaboration between energy suppliers, grid operators, technology companies, research institutions and political players. The initiative was presented today at the UnternehmerTUM forum. The founding partners include Accenture and SAP.

Challenges and opportunities of the energy transition

Germany is facing the task of decarbonizing its energy supply. The increased use of renewable energies poses challenges for the electricity grid, particularly due to grid bottlenecks and rising costs for intermediate storage and grid expansion. At the same time, the digitalization and flexibilization of the energy system is creating new market opportunities for innovative business models.

In order to develop scalable solutions for a cross-sector energy transition, close cooperation between different sectors is required. Energy Innovation creates a structured framework for this that enables effective exchange and targeted implementation.

Dr. Johanna Bronisch, Head of Energy Innovation at UnternehmerTUM

The initiative connects partners from the energy industry with companies from the mobility and heat supply sectors, start-ups and research institutions. The focus is on developing practical solutions for a resilient and cost-efficient energy system.

Close cooperation for rapid implementation

Energy Innovation is closely linked to the mobility network of the Digital Hub Mobility.

The collaboration between SAP and UnternehmerTUM has already produced numerous innovations. With Energy Innovation, we want to extend this approach to the energy sector and develop AI-supported solutions for the energy industry.

Stefan Wager, Managing Director SAP Munich

The Energy Innovation partner network includes companies such as Bayernwerk, BMW Group, E.ON Group Innovation, Ionity, EWE NETZ, LEW, MAINGAU Energie, Octopus Energy Germany, TenneT, The Mobility House and TransnetBW. Research institutions such as the Forschungsstelle für Energiewirtschaft e. V. (FfE) and RWTH Aachen University are also involved. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection is supporting an ongoing project to integrate electric vehicles into the electricity grid.

Pilot projects and initial results

The initiative is based on a practical approach: project partners are to develop and test specific solutions within six months. Previous pilot projects have included the development of an electricity congestion forecast for grid relief, which will be tested in practice from the summer with partners such as Bayernwerk, EWE NETZ, LEW, Octopus Energy, Maingau and Mobility House.