Dowel
DOWEL Innovation is a 7-employee French cooperative consulting firm that helps SMEs, large corporations, research centers, and public bodies access French and European R&D funding, design innovation roadmaps, and manage EU-funded projects across low-carbon energy, sustainable buildings, and knowledge valorisation sectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Dowel does
DOWEL Innovation SCOP SAS is a 7-employee cooperative consulting firm headquartered in Valbonne Sophia Antipolis, France, that provides innovation management services across the full R&D lifecycle — from strategy definition and roadmap development through EU funding application, project coordination, dissemination, and results exploitation. The firm serves SMEs, large corporations, research centers (CEA, CSTB, Mines ParisTech, SuperGrid Institute), industrial federations (ECTP), and public bodies, with a thematic focus on low-carbon energy systems, sustainable cities and buildings, and knowledge valorisation. Dowel is a specialist in navigating French (France 2030, PIA) and European (Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, LIFE, Innovation Fund) public funding instruments, acting as both work-package leader and consortium coordinator across 16+ EU-funded projects with combined budgets exceeding €40M. Its core deliverables are four professional services lines: R&D strategy and roadmap development, R&D project setup and financing, co-design and dissemination, and techno-economic analysis, supported by codified proprietary methodologies including co-design white paper workflows, citizen engagement self-assessment tools, and business model development processes.
The firm was created in 2020 as a spin-off of DOWEL Management (formerly TECHNOFI), reorganizing into a participatory Société Coopérative et Participative (SCOP) with €29,900 of variable capital. It holds ISO 9001 certification, operates without proprietary software products or APIs, and generates revenue exclusively through bespoke fee-for-service consulting contracts. The team is small but senior — combining 20–30 years of European innovation management experience with specialized expertise in techno-economic analysis, regulatory frameworks, and multi-stakeholder engagement across energy, construction, mobility, hydrogen, hydropower, maritime, and cultural heritage verticals.
Dowel monetizes its expertise via multi-year consulting contracts and EU project participation fees, reaching clients through EU consortium membership, BRIDGE and Built4People working group leadership, and thought-leadership dissemination. Its go-to-market is event- and community-driven: it leverages Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 project participation as the primary channel for acquiring and deepening client relationships, supplemented by content marketing (blog, white papers, Zenodo publications), webinar series (e.g., 1000+ participant Smart4RES series), and conference presence. Distribution is direct to enterprise, mid-market, research institutions, and public bodies across France and the broader European Union, with no reseller or marketplace channels.
Dowel firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dowel
- Legal name
- DOWEL INNOVATION SCOP SAS
- Website
- https://dowel.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DOWEL Innovation is a 7-employee French cooperative consulting firm that helps SMEs, large corporations, research centers, and public bodies access French and European R&D funding, design innovation roadmaps, and manage EU-funded projects across low-carbon energy, sustainable buildings, and knowledge valorisation sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dowel industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Innovation Management Consulting
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital & Technology Transformation Consulting (BPAHACAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)
Keywords
Where Dowel is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Dowel business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Innovation Management Consulting Services: Bespoke consulting engagements serving SMEs, large corporations, research centers, industrial federations, and public bodies across the full innovation lifecycle — from R&D strategy definition to project design, funding application, implementation, and result exploitation. Revenue is generated through fee-for-service consulting contracts, with each mission tailored to the client's specific needs and profile.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Bespoke consulting services — pricing upon request |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Dowel product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DOWEL Innovation is a cooperative consulting firm that helps organizations define R&D strategy, secure French and European public funding (Horizon Europe, LIFE, Innovation Fund, France 2030), set up and manage collaborative R&D projects, and maximize project impact through co-design, dissemination, and techno-economic analysis. The firm operates across energy transition, sustainable buildings, and knowledge valorisation sectors, serving SMEs, large corporations, research centers, industrial federations, and public bodies.
Product overview
Dowel Innovation is a consulting company offering innovation management services through four core offerings: R&D Strategy and Roadmap Development, R&D Project Setup and Financing, Co-design and Dissemination Services, and Technical and Economic Analysis. These services are organized around three thematic sectors: Low Carbon Energy Systems, Sustainable Cities and Buildings, and Knowledge Valorisation. The company operates as a cooperative of 7 employees, supporting clients from R&D strategy definition through project implementation and results dissemination. Dowel does not offer a software product but provides expert consulting for innovation projects, particularly those seeking European and French public funding.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- R&D Strategy and Roadmap Development Consulting services for defining or redefining organizational R&D strategy, including strategic environment analysis, vision development with clear objectives, and actionable plans. Targeted at SMEs, large corporations, research centers, industrial federations, and public bodies.
- R&D Project Setup and Financing Assistance with funding opportunity monitoring, consortium building, proposal writing for national and European funding calls (Horizon Europe, LIFE, Innovation Fund, France 2030), and project management once funded. Designed for organizations seeking to access public R&D financing.
- Co-design and Dissemination Services Project communication, dissemination, and exploitation services including website development, webinar facilitation, event organization, and implementation of participatory co-creation methods. Used by EU-funded research consortia to maximize project impact.
- Technical and Economic Analysis Economic viability assessment and profitability analysis services including business model development, business plan creation, and legislative/regulatory framework analysis for innovation projects. Targeted at energy, construction, and sustainability innovation projects.
- Low Carbon Energy Systems Consulting Advisory services for decarbonizing energy systems, supporting smart grids, renewable energy forecasting, energy storage, cogeneration, and grid flexibility solutions across European projects.
- Sustainable Cities and Buildings Consulting Advisory services for transforming urban areas and buildings toward sustainability, resilience, and energy efficiency, including renovation solutions and digital technologies integration.
- Knowledge Valorisation Services Services connecting disciplines and sectors to create social and economic value from research results, including multidisciplinary collaboration, arts-based communication, and stakeholder engagement methods.
Quantifiable outcome
- Supported the development of a Research and Innovation 2030 roadmap with contributions from 85+ sector professionals for the European Construction Technology Platform.
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Dowel
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Dowel technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Dowel partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- NORCE ResearchcoreNORCE coordinates MARINER (EU-funded via Clean Hydrogen Partnership), developing 1MW PEM fuel cell systems for zero-emission maritime shipping. Dowel serves as Innovation Manager, leading communication, dissemination, exploitation, and IPR management.
- EPU-NTUA (Energy Policy Unit, National Technical University of Athens)coreEPU-NTUA coordinates SE-Hydro (~3.5 years), developing flexible and environmentally sustainable hydropower solutions. Dowel serves as Innovation Manager, leading communication, dissemination, exploitation, and IPR activities.
- ClerensminorClerens coordinates H2IF (3 years), supporting H2020 projects in energy storage and hydrogen sectors toward the Innovation Fund. Dowel defines roadmap and action plan for proposal submission.
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbHcoreAIT coordinates Sleeping Beauty (€5.3M, Jun 2025–May 2029), transforming neglected spaces using Nature Based Solutions and NEB values. Dowel leads exploitation activities and NEB-NBS business model development.
- NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)coreNTNU coordinates NEB Junction (€1.7M, May 2025–Oct 2027), the NEB hub for results and impact. Dowel leads the 'NEB Gems' work package, designing and implementing NEB knowledge management.
- NOBATEKcoreNOBATEK coordinates STAR*track (€1.8M, May 2024–Apr 2027), supporting market access for construction and renovation innovations. Dowel leads the work package on improving access to private financing and public funds.
- BRIDGE Initiative (European Commission)coreBRIDGE is a European Commission initiative uniting Horizon 2020/Europe smart grid, energy storage, islands, and digitalisation projects. Dowel participates actively in the Regulation Working Group (co-chaired by Karine Laffont-Eloore) and Business Models Working Group, contributing to cross-cutting synthesis reports.
- World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) EuropecoreWorldGBC Europe supports outreach for the NEBULA project, with Green Building Councils in Croatia, Greece, Finland, Poland, and Serbia hosting awareness events. Stephen Richardson, WorldGBC Director for Europe, is quoted supporting the project.
- Dowel Innovation (self-coordination)flagshipDowel coordinates InteractionSeeds (Jan 2024–Jan 2026), connecting research and the arts. Dowel is responsible for implementing 20+ interaction schemes in Sophia Antipolis, maintaining the seeds repository, and producing labelling strategy.
- CEA (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives)coreCEA coordinates CALECHE (Oct 2023–Oct 2026), focused on cultural heritage renovation. Dowel leads co-creation processes, advisory committee relations, and user experience evaluation.
- Dowel Innovation (self-coordination)flagshipDowel coordinates NEBULA (€1M, Oct 2022–Mar 2025), bridging the Built4People EU partnership with the New European Bauhaus initiative. Dowel coordinates the entire project, leads the finance helpdesk, and organizes peer exchanges on the NEB.
- Fundacion TeknikercoreFundacion Tekniker coordinates SUINK (€4.5M, Sep 2022–Aug 2026), developing inkjet-printed self-charging power systems. Dowel coordinates exploitation activities and the innovation roadmap.
- Fundacion CARTIFcoreFundacion CARTIF coordinates LocalRES (€7M, May 2021–Apr 2025), focused on renewable energy communities. Dowel leads exploitation, business models, regulatory assessment, and BRIDGE initiative coordination.
- R-Tech GmbHcoreR-Tech GmbH coordinates RECIPROCITY (Feb 2021–Sep 2023), accelerating replication of innovative mobility solutions. Dowel led exploitation activities, business model workshops, and stakeholder surveys.
- HUYGEN Ingenieurs & Adviseurs B.V.coreHUYGEN coordinates Re-MODULEES (€2.1M, Nov 2020–Apr 2024), a European platform for building energy renovation. Dowel defined guidelines for renovation services based on the re-MODULEES platform.
- European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP)coreECTP is the coordinator of the SmartBuilt4EU project (€1.5M, Oct 2020–Mar 2023), where Dowel led community organization, exploitation planning, and the Smart Building Innovation Community portal.
- Ecole Centrale NantescoreEcole Centrale Nantes coordinates POSYTYF (€4.7M, Jun 2020–Nov 2023), focused on Dynamic Virtual Power Plants. Dowel led dissemination and exploitation activities.
- Association pour la Recherche et le Développement des Méthodes et Processus Industriels (ARMINES)coreARMINES coordinates Smart4RES (€4M, Nov 2019–Apr 2023). Dowel led communication, dissemination, and exploitation of project results (WP7).
- BTG (Biomass Technology Group)coreBTG coordinates SmartCHP (€4M, Jun 2019–Nov 2023), developing flexible small-scale biomass cogeneration. Dowel led market assessment, business development, and techno-economic analysis.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Dowel competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- PNO Innovation: PNO Innovation is a European consultancy specializing in public funding advisory, R&D project management, and consortium building for Horizon Europe and national programs — directly comparable to Dowel's service portfolio and target customers (SMEs, research centers, public bodies).
- accelopment Schweiz AG: accelopment is a Swiss-EU project management consultancy that supports proposal writing, project coordination, dissemination, and exploitation within Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 — overlapping directly with Dowel's work-package leadership and coordination services.
- INOVA+: INOVA+ is a Portuguese innovation consultancy delivering R&D project management, dissemination, training, and exploitation services across EU-funded projects — a similarly sized specialist with comparable client base and methodology.
- Trinomics B.V. Trinomics is a Dutch consultancy focused on EU policy analysis, sustainability, and energy transition, frequently supporting European Commission studies and Horizon projects — overlapping with Dowel's energy transition and regulatory advisory work.
- Technopolis Group: Technopolis Group is an international research and innovation consultancy providing policy evaluation, R&D strategy, and impact assessment for the European Commission — closely comparable to Dowel's innovation management and R&D roadmap services, though at larger scale.
- VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH: VDI/VDE-IT is a German innovation consultancy with deep ties to EU framework programs, providing project management, technology transfer, and innovation strategy services — comparable in service mix and EU ecosystem position to Dowel.
Broad incumbents
- Ricardo Energy & Environment: Ricardo Energy & Environment is a large UK-based consultancy delivering energy, climate, and sustainability advisory work, including EU-funded R&D projects — a broader incumbent competing for similar Horizon Europe work packages.
- Wuppertal Institut: Wuppertal Institut is a leading German sustainability research institute conducting energy transition, buildings, and climate research for German and EU clients — comparable in sector focus (energy, sustainable buildings) and EU project participation.
- Fraunhofer ISI: Fraunhofer ISI is a large German applied research institute conducting innovation research, policy analysis, and technology foresight for the EU and German government — overlapping with Dowel's R&D strategy and roadmap work at much greater scale.
Emerging players
- Rütter + Partner SEIDENHOFEN: Swiss-energy consultancy specializing in techno-economic analysis, business model development, and R&D project work in the energy transition — closely aligned with Dowel's SmartCHP techno-economic analysis and energy community business model work.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Dowel social profiles
Digital presenceDowel compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Dowel financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dowel leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Dowel funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dowel M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dowel
What does Dowel do?
DOWEL Innovation is a cooperative consulting firm that helps organizations define R&D strategy, secure French and European public funding (Horizon Europe, LIFE, Innovation Fund, France 2030), set up and manage collaborative R&D projects, and maximize project impact through co-design, dissemination, and techno-economic analysis. The firm operates across energy transition, sustainable buildings, and knowledge valorisation sectors, serving SMEs, large corporations, research centers, industrial federations, and public bodies.
Is Dowel a public or private company?
Dowel is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Dowel founded?
Dowel was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Dowel based?
Dowel is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Dowel make money?
One revenue line is on record: innovation Management Consulting Services.
Who are Dowel's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are PNO Innovation, accelopment Schweiz AG, INOVA+, Trinomics B.V., Technopolis Group and VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH. Broad incumbents are Ricardo Energy & Environment, Wuppertal Institut and Fraunhofer ISI. Rütter + Partner SEIDENHOFEN is listed as an emerging player.
Does Dowel have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dowel.
What industry is Dowel in?
Dowel's product category is Innovation Management Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHACAH, Digital & Technology Transformation Consulting, with a secondary code of BPAIAAAK, Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy). Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.