When the European Commission opened its session on the future of energy-intensive industries during the European Research and Innovation Days 2024, the discussion began with a video produced by EEIP for the RETROFEED project.
The inclusion of the video in one of the European Commission’s flagship annual events highlighted the growing importance of European research projects in supporting industrial decarbonisation and demonstrated how effective communication can help bring complex innovation to wider audiences.
Held from 20 to 22 March 2024 in Brussels and online, the fifth edition of the European Research and Innovation Days brought together policymakers, researchers, businesses and innovators to discuss how research and innovation can strengthen Europe’s competitiveness while supporting the objectives of the European Green Deal.
Showcasing Industrial Innovation on a European Stage
The RETROFEED project was featured during the session Energy Intensive Industries: From Research and Innovation to Deployment, which explored how innovative technologies can help transform some of Europe’s most energy-intensive industrial sectors.
To introduce the discussion, organisers selected the RETROFEED project video developed by EEIP. The video presented the project’s work on modernising existing industrial facilities through innovative retrofitting solutions that improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions and increase resource efficiency.
Opening the session with a real project example helped connect policy discussions with technologies already being developed and demonstrated through European research and innovation programmes.
From Research to Industrial Deployment
One of the central themes throughout the session was the importance of moving beyond research and ensuring that innovative solutions are adopted by industry.
While Europe continues to invest heavily in research and development, achieving climate neutrality depends on successfully translating those innovations into practical industrial applications capable of delivering measurable environmental and economic benefits.
RETROFEED exemplifies this approach by focusing on the modernisation of existing industrial plants rather than complete replacement. Through advanced monitoring, process optimisation and resource-efficient retrofitting strategies, the project demonstrates how industries can significantly improve their environmental performance while maintaining productivity and competitiveness.
The project’s inclusion in the programme reflected the increasing attention being given to practical, scalable solutions capable of supporting Europe’s industrial transition.
Communicating Innovation Beyond the Research Community
Presenting technical achievements is only part of a successful European research project. Communicating those achievements in a way that engages policymakers, industry and the wider public is equally important.
The RETROFEED video produced by EEIP was designed to translate complex industrial innovation into a clear and accessible story, illustrating both the project’s technical objectives and its contribution to Europe’s climate ambitions.
By combining visual storytelling with clear messaging, the video demonstrated how communication can strengthen the impact of research by making innovative technologies understandable to audiences beyond the scientific community.
For EEIP, supporting European projects means helping ensure that valuable research reaches the people capable of accelerating its adoption and creating long-term impact.
Collaboration at the Heart of Industrial Decarbonisation
Discussions during the session reinforced a common message shared across the European Research and Innovation Days: achieving climate neutrality requires collaboration across research, industry and policymaking.
Speakers highlighted the importance of creating favourable conditions for innovation deployment, supporting industries throughout their decarbonisation journey and ensuring that research results contribute to practical solutions for businesses operating across Europe.
The event also acknowledged the challenges facing Europe’s industrial transition while emphasising that continued investment in research, innovation and cooperation remains essential for maintaining Europe’s global competitiveness.
Projects such as RETROFEED demonstrate how collaborative European research can help industries reduce emissions while strengthening resilience and long-term sustainability.
Giving European Innovation Greater Visibility
The European Research and Innovation Days provided an opportunity not only to showcase technological progress but also to demonstrate the value that European research projects deliver to society.
For EEIP, seeing the RETROFEED video presented during one of the European Commission’s flagship research events was recognition of the important role that communication plays in helping innovation reach wider audiences.
As European industries continue their transition towards climate neutrality, connecting research with businesses, policymakers and citizens will remain essential for turning innovation into real-world change.
A recording of the session is available for anyone wishing to revisit the discussion and learn more about Europe’s ongoing industrial transformation.
Funding Acknowledgement
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No. 869939.
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
