From Prototype to Wave Energy Park with the Help of Horizon Europe

There’s a lot of work behind every application, but it’s possible—and it’s worth it,” says Eunice Silva, Senior Technical Project Manager at CorPower Ocean.

Three Programs – One Common Denominator: Hard Work

CorPower Ocean has received funding from the European programs EIC Accelerator, Horizon EuropE (cluster 5) and Eusostars. But the journey has not been straightforward.

"We had previously applied to obtain EIC Accelerator funding without success,” says Eunice Silva. “The first time we applied for EIC Accelerator, we weren’t ready. It’s not just about having a good idea—the company needs to be at the right stage, with tested technology, documented data, and clear market strategy. Preparations were extensive. CorPower Ocean had its own consultant working solely on creating a strong proposal. They also sought help from EU SME Support via Vinnova, for pitch training and advice. "We had three occasions when we practiced pitching against EU SME Support, who acted as a jury. We received questions, feedback and suggestions that helped us to improve", says Eunice Silva. An application takes three to four months to make for a team of three to four people. The first time they applied funding was in 2022, but they only succeeded two years later.

From a prototype to a wave power farm

With the help of funding, CorPower Ocean has moved from prototype development to demonstration. The company has developed a modular wave energy conceptthat is light and deployed as high density clusters: CorPacks.This makes it easier and cheaper to deploy, as well as easy to maintain.

The next step is to build a demonstration farm with multiple units and establish efficient large-scale production.

"Funding is crucial for us to be able to demonstrate that the technology works at scale and that we can industrialize production", says Eunice.

How to succeed with your proposal

Eunice Silva shares several tips for others who want to apply for funding:

• Use national contact points. They can help you find the right programme and understand the criteria.
• Be prepared to invest time – it takes months to make a proposal that works.
• Get help from specialists who can do the different parts of the application, from detailed life cycle analyses, technical descriptions, and financial calculations to accurate and visually appealing applications.
• Get help from EU SME support for pitch practice.

CorPower Ocean's journey shows that the right support can make a difference – from idea to commercial solution that helps achieve climate goals. Maybe you'll be the next?

CorPower Ocean

CorPower Ocean has developed a compact wave energy converter designed to maximize power capture from ocean waves. The company was founded in 2012 in Sweden, and is now also established in Portugal, Norway and Scotland. They have around100 employees.