Triangulum

What Triangulum does

Triangulum is a European Smart Cities and Communities Lighthouse Project funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 646578. The project ran for five years (February 2015 to January 2021) and was coordinated by Fraunhofer IAO with project management handled by Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum, both based in Stuttgart, Germany. Triangulum assembled 22 partners from industry, research institutions, and municipalities to demonstrate, disseminate, and replicate smart city solutions across three Lighthouse Cities—Manchester (UK), Eindhoven (Netherlands), and Stavanger (Norway)—with three Follower Cities (Leipzig, Prague, Sabadell) adopting and replicating demonstrated solutions, and Tianjin (China) participating as an Observer City.

The project's technical core is a Smart City ICT Reference Architecture enabling interoperability across heterogeneous urban technology stacks, supported by demonstration data platforms including Manchester-I (9 real-time data feeds, 307 users, 427 downloads), the Eindhoven Urban Data Platform, and the open-source Sentilo IoT platform deployed in Sabadell. Demonstration technologies span energy (microgrid controllers, virtual power plants, solar PV, 56 smart gateways in Stavanger), mobility (5 battery buses, 67 e-cars and e-vans, 14 EV charging stations, and the WoonConnect digital renovation platform used by 284 households in Eindhoven), and ICT and digital services (the Blink video communication system tested across 100 homes, a gym, and a nursing home in Stavanger; the MOD3L 3D model prototype). Across 26 implemented modules in Lighthouse Cities, the project finalized 257 impact indicators documenting outcomes including more than 2,000 tons of CO2 savings, an 87.5% CO2 reduction at Stavanger's Central Energy Plant (500 tCO2 per year), and a 20% GHG reduction at Eindhoven's Eckart-Vaartbroek social housing renovations.

Triangulum's business model is non-commercial: it is funded entirely by the EU Horizon 2020 grant with no commercial pricing, subscriptions, or paying customers. Its go-to-market approach is demonstration-driven knowledge transfer—Lighthouse city demonstrations, Follower City training missions including seven structured webinars, on-site visits, workshops, and international conferences—aimed at enabling replication without further public funding. The project belongs to the SCC1 Network of 14 European Smart Cities and Communities Lighthouse Projects, 40 Lighthouse Cities, and 50 Fellow Cities, with dissemination outputs including the Smart City Decision Making Tool, a three-pillar Replication Framework, scientific publications, newsletters, and a public deliverables repository.

Name

Triangulum

Legal name

Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum (Steinbeis-Stiftung für Wirtschaftsförderung)

Website

https://triangulum-project.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Triangulum was a European Union Horizon 2020-funded smart city demonstration project (2015–2021) coordinated by Fraunhofer IAO that deployed ICT, mobility, and energy solutions across three Lighthouse Cities (Manchester, Eindhoven, Stavanger) and supported replication in three Follower Cities, with no commercial revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Smart City Solutions and Urban Sustainability Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Smart Cities & Urban Innovation Programs (Digital Planning, Civic Tech for Cities) (BPAIANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure (BPADALAL), Traffic Management & Intelligent Transportation Systems (Signals, TMCs, Congestion) (BPAIALAC), Asset Management & Infrastructure Resilience Agencies (State of Good Repair, Climate Adaptation) (BPAIALAK)

Keywords

• Smart city solutions
• Urban mobility
• Energy efficiency
• ICT infrastructure
• Urban sustainability

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. EU Horizon 2020 Research Grant: Funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 646578. The project ran for five years (2015-2020/2021).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Triangulum is a five-year European Smart Cities and Communities Lighthouse Project funded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme, demonstrating, disseminating, and replicating integrated smart city solutions across energy, mobility, ICT, and business innovation in three Lighthouse Cities and three Follower Cities. Its core outputs are frameworks, tools, and methodologies (including an ICT Reference Architecture, the Smart City Decision Making Tool, and the Replication Framework) that enable cities to adopt proven urban sustainability solutions without public funding.

Product overview

Triangulum is one of nine European Smart Cities and Communities Lighthouse Projects funded by the EU's Horizon 2020 research programme, running from February 2015 to January 2021. Rather than a commercial product company, Triangulum is a collaborative demonstration project involving three Lighthouse Cities (Eindhoven, Manchester, Stavanger) and three Follower Cities (Leipzig, Prague, Sabadell). The project's 'products' are frameworks, tools, and methodologies for smart city replication: the Smart City Decision Making Tool for identifying relevant demonstrations, the ICT Reference Architecture for interoperability standards, the Smart City Replication Framework for methodology transfer, and various data platforms (Manchester-I, WoonConnect) as demonstration outputs. The project focused on sustainable mobility, energy efficiency, ICT, and business innovation across urban districts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Smart City Decision Making Tool A replication tool enabling cities to identify Triangulum demonstration examples that fit their specific needs, including descriptions, locations, planning and implementation timelines, public participation models, business model details, stakeholders, and lessons learned. Targeted at European municipal governments planning smart city interventions.
• ICT Reference Architecture A standardized framework providing a unified view of ICT strategies, identifying interfaces between components, and enabling exchange and interoperability of smart city solutions across cities and domains. Targeted at cities, technology providers, and integrators building interoperable urban systems.
• Smart City Replication Framework A three-pillar methodology comprising demonstration projects, impact assessment for evidence base generation, and business models that enable replication without public funding in Follower Cities and beyond. Targeted at European cities and stakeholders planning smart city replication.
• Manchester-I Data Platform An open data platform for Manchester hosting 9 real-time data feeds, serving 4 organizational users and 307 general users with 427 data downloads. Post-project, it became the data solution for the Manchester Urban Observatory. Targeted at researchers, municipal staff, and citizens accessing urban data.
• WoonConnect A digital renovation platform and app helping tenants choose energy saving measures and renovation starting dates. In Eindhoven's Eckart-Vaartbroek district, 284 households (29%) used the platform and 174 made a renovation plan. Targeted at social housing tenants and housing associations.
• Blink Video Communication System A secure video communication system developed by Lyse AS providing communication across different screens, tested in 100 homes, a gym, and a nursing home in Stavanger. Successfully replicated in Sabadell and Prague. Targeted at seniors, care recipients, and care providers.
• Sentilo IoT Platform Open-source software for real-time IoT data integration, compliant with the Triangulum ICT Reference Architecture. Beta version implemented in Sabadell. Targeted at cities and integrators deploying IoT-based urban sensing.

Quantifiable outcome

• CO2 savings of more than 2000 tons achieved across the project
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Fraunhofer IAOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2015Project Coordinator institution based in Stuttgart, Germany. Fraunhofer IAO led the overall project coordination, management, and scientific direction of Triangulum.
• Steinbeis-Europa-ZentrumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject coordination office located in Stuttgart, Germany. Responsible for press, communication, and day-to-day project management.
• City of Manchester, UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLighthouse City with 2.6 million population, second largest economy in UK. Focus areas include energy storage with solar PV, building optimization, microgrid study, EV rollout, and Manchester-I data platform.
• City of Eindhoven, NetherlandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLighthouse City in Brainport Region delivering 14% of national GDP. Dutch consortium includes VolkerWessels, Woonbedrijf, TU/e, and KPN. Focus on Strijp-S ICT backbone and Eckart-Vaartbroek social housing renovations.
• City of Stavanger, NorwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLighthouse City, energy capital of Europe, with high-speed digital infrastructure. Focus on Central Energy Plant, battery buses, smart gateways, and Blink video communication system.
• City of Leipzig, GermanymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFollower City that established Digital City Unit in April 2019. Focus on reorganizing internal structures for Smart City and digitization issues.
• City of Sabadell, SpainmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFollower City that received European grant of around 400,000 euros. Implemented Sentilo IoT platform, tested Blink technology, and purchased 67 e-cars/vans.
• City of Prague, Czech RepublicmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFollower City focused on Smart Home Care pilot project for seniors in Prague 7 district. Developed 3D model and URBANIA interactive exhibition.
• Lyse AScoreTechnology or IntegrationStavanger-based energy company that developed Blink video communication system tested in 100 homes, gym, and nursing home. Successfully replicated solution in Sabadell and Prague.
• University of ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner responsible for monitoring and assessment framework. Led development of Manchester-I data platform and Urban Observatory.
• Technische Universiteit EindhovencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner contributing to ICT Reference Architecture and developed MOD3L 3D model prototype with Sabadell.
• University of StavangermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped data hub to process, analyze and visualize large amounts of data. Initiated CityZEN international cooperation and became part of ECIU University.
• WoonbedrijfmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEindhoven housing corporation that developed WoonConnect digital renovation platform. Renovated 195 houses (76% of neighborhood) with 875 solar panels installed.
• Ordnance SurveyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK's national mapping agency collaborated on Innovate4Manchester, improving 3D city models and city stakeholder workshops.
• REMOURBANminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCC1 project focused on regeneration model to transform European cities into Smart Cities.
• Grow SmarterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCC1 project transforming cities for a smart, sustainable Europe.
• Sharing CitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCC1 project providing a proving ground for a common approach to making smart cities a reality.
• SmartEnCityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCC1 project towards Smart Zero CO2 Cities across Europe.
• Smarter TogetherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCC1 project with smart and inclusive solutions for better life in urban districts.
• REPLICATEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCC1 project (Renaissance of Places with Innovative Citizenship And Technologies).
• EIP-SCC (European Innovation Partnership on Smart Cities and Communities)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with EC initiative for matchmaking events, action clusters, and marketplace activities connecting cities with investors and solution providers.
• SCIS (Smart Cities Information System)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU platform for sharing information and monitoring data from smart city projects across Europe.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• FIWARE: Open-source smart city IoT and data platform ecosystem widely adopted across EU SCC1 projects; comparable to Triangulum's ICT Reference Architecture and Sentilo IoT integration approach, but operating as a broader cross-project platform incumbent.
• EIP-SCC (European Innovation Partnership on Smart Cities and Communities): EC-led initiative for matchmaking cities with investors and solution providers, acting as Triangulum's umbrella network alongside SCC1, with overlapping scope in smart city replication and evidence dissemination.
• Open & Agile Smart Cities (OASC): Global network of cities and partners deploying interoperable smart city solutions using minimal interoperability mechanisms (MIMs), directly comparable to Triangulum's ICT Reference Architecture interoperability goals and city-network structure.

Emerging players

• Sentilo: Open-source IoT platform adopted as a core component within Triangulum's ICT Reference Architecture (deployed in Sabadell), making it a direct technology peer for the project's IoT integration layer.

Direct peers

• REPLICATE: SCC1 Lighthouse Project (Renaissance of Places with Innovative Citizenship And Technologies), operating with the same Lighthouse/Follower replication framework and Horizon 2020 grant mechanism as Triangulum, addressing energy, mobility, and ICT integration.
• Grow Smarter: Sister SCC1 Lighthouse Project transforming European cities for a smart, sustainable Europe with a comparable Lighthouse/Follower city model, Horizon 2020 grant structure, and focus on energy, mobility, and ICT integration.
• Sharing Cities: Fellow SCC1 Lighthouse Project providing a proving ground for a common approach to making smart cities a reality, sharing the same EU SCC1 funding stream, demonstration-and-replication methodology, and partner consortium structure as Triangulum.
• REMOURBAN: Another Horizon 2020 SCC1 Lighthouse Project focused on a regeneration model to transform European cities into smart cities, sharing the same EU funding mechanism, Lighthouse/Follower city structure, and replication framework goals as Triangulum.
• SmartEnCity: SCC1 Lighthouse Project aimed at Smart Zero CO2 Cities across Europe, directly comparable to Triangulum's energy and CO2-reduction mandate and operating under the same Horizon 2020 SCC1 program.
• Smarter Together: SCC1 Lighthouse Project developing smart and inclusive solutions for better life in urban districts, sharing Triangulum's district-level energy and mobility focus, EU funding, and Lighthouse/Follower replication model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Triangulum_EU
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCz8QaiHr3z0cK8h0ZnOIYNQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/triangulum-eu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Triangulum