Th!nk E

What Th!nk E does

Th!nk E is a privately held Belgian consulting and research firm founded in 2011 and headquartered in Leuven, operating as Th!nk-E BV (BCE 0835.518.408). The firm delivers integrated energy transition services across three pillars: technological (smart grids, renewable integration, battery storage, hydrogen, building renovation), social (stakeholder engagement, energy communities, co-creation), and regulatory (policy analysis, compliance, governance, public affairs). Its underlying capability is a multidisciplinary in-house team of approximately 11-50 staff - including engineers, PhDs, project managers, legal experts, designers, and a psychologist - augmented by the Th!nk Europe expert network established in 2022.

The firm makes money through professional services delivered under EU-funded frameworks and direct consultancy engagements. Its revenue streams are EU-funded research projects (Horizon Europe, LIFE Programme, framework contracts), consultancy services (proposal writing, consortium building, project design, coordination), technical assistance to national and regional authorities, and training and capacity building. Pricing is project-based and quote-driven, not publicly listed. Th!nk E operates as both a coordinator and a partner in consortia, building more than 10 consortium teams per year, and has realised 100+ Technical Assistances across Europe and beyond. Its project portfolio spans 39 active EU energy transition initiatives covering PV inverters (IN.SPIRE), prefabricated renovation (FRAIMwork, RENOMIZE), renewables permitting (PERMIT-BOOST), climate resilience (ClimaGen, JustREACH), agrifood energy communities (AgriCom), and the Smart Cities Marketplace and Clean Energy for EU Islands platforms.

Th!nk E's customer base is concentrated in EU institutions - notably the European Commission (DG ENER, DG RTD, DG MOVE), the European Parliament (ITRE committee), and the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking - alongside regional public authorities, energy communities, and research/industry partners such as PPMI/Verian, Tecnalia, and Silicon Austria Labs. Distribution is direct and field-driven through EU project consortia, public authority engagement, and industry partnerships, with supporting marketing via LinkedIn, content/thought leadership, and EU policy events. The firm holds ISO 9001 certification (2025-2028) and is GDPR compliant.

Name

Th!nk E

Legal name

Th!nk-E BV

Website

https://think-e.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Th!nk E is a privately held Belgian energy transition consultancy founded in 2011, delivering integrated technological, social, and regulatory advisory services to the European Commission, European Parliament, public authorities, and industry partners across 39+ active EU projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Leuven

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. EU-Funded Research Projects: Th!nk E participates as partner and coordinator in EU-funded projects under Horizon Europe, LIFE Programme, and other EU framework contracts. They deliver project coordination, technical assistance, and research services.
2. Consultancy Services: Offerings include proposal writing and submission, consortium building and partner matchmaking, project design and implementation planning, and project coordination and management for public authorities, industry, and research institutions.
3. Technical Assistance: Delivers targeted technical assistance to national and regional authorities, communities, and organisations implementing energy transition projects. Has realised over 100 Technical Assistances in Europe and beyond.
4. Training and Capacity Building: Develops and delivers training materials, workshops, summer schools, and capacity building programs for stakeholders across the energy ecosystem.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Th!nk E provides consulting and project services on energy transition policy, market solutions, and community-focused implementation. It delivers integrated Technological, Social, and Regulatory expertise through EU-funded research project coordination, technical assistance to public authorities, and consultancy services (proposal writing, consortium building, project design and management) for European institutions and industry partners. The firm also operates platforms such as Smart Cities Marketplace and Clean Energy for EU Islands.

Product overview

Th!nk E is a multidisciplinary energy transition consulting company offering an integrated platform of three solution pillars: Technological, Social, and Regulatory. The Technological pillar covers energy systems, storage, solar, hydrogen, and flexibility solutions (30+ projects). The Social pillar addresses community engagement, energy communities, and citizen participation. The Regulatory pillar focuses on policy analysis, compliance, and governance frameworks (10+ projects). Beyond these core pillars, Th!nk E manages or participates in major EU-funded research projects including FRAIMwork (building renovation), IN.SPIRE (PV inverters), PERMIT-BOOST (renewables permitting), RENOMIZE (prefabricated renovation), ClimaGen (urban climate resilience), AgriCom (agrifood energy communities), JustREACH (climate adaptation), Increase (integrated photovoltaics), Every1 (digital energy engagement), Define (energy community mapping), Citizen-led renovation, Citizen Energy Advisory Hub, Green Overseas, Unleash (flexibility), and Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking. The company also coordinates platforms like Smart Cities Marketplace and Clean Energy for EU Islands. Additional services include proposal writing, consortium building, project design, and coordination/management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Technological Solutions Applied technological expertise transforming complex energy challenges into practical, innovative solutions covering battery storage systems, hydrogen, solar technologies, thermal energy, and flexibility services, delivered to European institutions, public authorities, and industry partners.
• Social Solutions Services shaping energy futures through social collaboration and participation including stakeholder engagement and communication strategies, participatory processes and co-creation, community and ecosystem building, and social impact and behavioural insights, for communities, public authorities, and EU institutions.
• Regulatory Solutions Services enabling energy transition through actionable regulatory frameworks including policy analysis and recommendations, regulatory compliance and contract review, public affairs and policy-maker engagement, and governance and framework design, delivered to EU institutions, public authorities, and industry.
• FRAIMwork A Horizon Europe project developing a cost-effective prefabrication approach for deep renovation of non-serial, small-scale buildings in Europe, combining robotic systems, augmented reality guidance, and smart prefabricated panels to deliver renovations installed in as little as two working days.
• IN.SPIRE A research project developing next-generation PV inverters for low- and medium-voltage applications, delivering breakthroughs in efficiency, reliability, grid interaction, and cyber-physical resilience including a modular low-voltage hybrid inverter with partial power conversion and grid-forming control per RfG 2.0.
• PERMIT-BOOST An EU LIFE Programme project helping Member States implement Renewables Acceleration Areas under RED III, providing practical guidance and technical support to speed up permitting of renewable energy projects.
• RENOMIZE An EU-funded project developing prefabricated panel innovations for deep renovation, including tools for design decision-making, automation of panel installation, improved anchoring systems, and optimisation of spatio-temporal planning, with demonstration sites across Europe.
• ClimaGen A Horizon Europe project supporting European cities in climate neutrality and climate resilience through nature-based urban transformation, focusing on urban greening and renaturing.
• AgriCom A project assisting pilots in the agrifood and retail SME sector to establish renewable energy communities, increasing renewable energy use and reducing exposure to energy costs.
• JustREACH A project strengthening just climate resilience across European regions by empowering local and regional authorities to design, assess, and implement climate adaptation measures aligned with social justice.
• Increase A project accelerating uptake of integrated photovoltaics through innovations in materials, module design, system integration, and operational optimisation for building-integrated PV solutions.
• Every1 A project facilitating broad participation in the energy transition by creating a framework that empowers stakeholders to engage effectively in the digital energy market.
• Define A project investigating the current landscape, practical functioning, and evolving needs of energy communities across the EU through comprehensive mapping and contextual analysis.
• Citizen-led renovation A project supporting the shift from top-down to bottom-up citizen-led renovation by strengthening the capacity of local actors to organise and manage collective renovation initiatives.
• Citizen Energy Advisory Hub A project accelerating the creation of citizen-driven energy communities across Europe by providing hands-on support, practical tools, and policy insights.
• Green Overseas A project supporting Overseas Countries and Territories in implementing ambitious energy policies by strengthening local capacities and facilitating expertise exchanges.
• Unleash A project harnessing the flexibility potential of decentralised technologies in the residential sector to enable more efficient integration of renewables in Belgium.
• Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking framework contract A framework contract coordinating the European Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, supporting operations through grant management, knowledge management, and Mission Innovation activities.
• Smart Cities Marketplace A European Commission initiative supporting project concepts in clean energy, sustainable urban mobility, and digital solutions to accelerate cities' transition towards climate neutrality through tailored matchmaking services.
• Clean Energy for EU Islands A central platform supporting the clean energy transition of more than 2,400 inhabited European islands, providing technical support, events organisation, and policy monitoring.
• Consultancy and Project Services Portfolio A portfolio of consultancy services covering proposal writing and submission, consortium building and partner matchmaking, project design and implementation planning, and project coordination and management, offered to public authorities, industry, and research institutions.
• Technical Assistance Services Targeted technical assistance services delivered to national and regional authorities, communities, and organisations implementing energy transition projects, with over 100 Technical Assistances realised in Europe and beyond.
• Training and Capacity Building Training and capacity building programs including training materials, workshops, summer schools, and stakeholder engagement sessions for participants across the energy ecosystem.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trusted by 234+ organisations in EU-wide projects
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe European Commission (including DG ENER, DG RTD, DG MOVE) relies on Th!nk E's expertise to design, manage, and implement impactful energy transition projects. Th!nk E participates in EU framework contracts and Horizon Europe projects as partner and coordinator.
• European ParliamentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTh!nk E provides valuable support to the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) by bridging technical and scientific analysis with European policy considerations, including studies on Direct Air Capture technologies.
• Kamp CcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTh!nk E guided Kamp C through the participation trajectory for their Renewable Energy Community, creating a safe, open and inclusive space for dialogue on complex technical, legal and social questions.
• ZuidtrAntcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTh!nk E reviewed ZuidtrAnt's projects, work processes, impact and organisation, providing critical questions and insights from different angles for sustainable mobility and energy transition.
• Silicon Austria LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTh!nk E was pivotal in producing a successful proposal for the InSPIRE project, employing expertise in constructing proposals aligned with EU-policy and balancing consortium partner needs with advanced research questions.
• PPMI | Part of the Verian GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration for nearly three years with frictionless teamwork, shared positive can-do mindset, and client-focused approach in public policy and energy research projects.
• TecnaliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreparing Horizon Europe proposals under Th!nk E's coordination with rapid identification of key aspects, finding right partners, and structuring proposal frameworks.
• Flanders Investment and TrademinorGTM or Marketing PartnerWebsite development supported by Flanders Investment and Trade as a partner for sustainable energy projects in Flanders.
• Clean Hydrogen Joint UndertakingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTh!nk E coordinates the European Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking framework contract supporting the Clean Hydrogen JU operations through grant management, knowledge management, and Mission Innovation activities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CE Delft: Dutch research and consultancy firm specialising in energy, transport, and sustainability policy and technology for European institutions, governments, and industry. Comparable in mission, EU project portfolio, and multidisciplinary approach to Th!nk E.
• Vito: Belgian Flemish research organisation focused on sustainable energy, sustainable materials, and environmental technology, with extensive EU Horizon project participation. Comparable as a Belgium-based energy research and consulting peer with strong EU institutional ties.
• Trinomics: Dutch-based policy consultancy providing economics, policy analysis, and consulting on climate, energy, and environmental topics for the European Commission and other EU institutions. Closely comparable in size, EU-policy focus, and consulting model to Th!nk E.
• Technalia: Spain-based applied research and technology organisation that collaborates with Th!nk E on Horizon Europe proposals. Comparable in EU energy research project participation, consortium building, and technology-focused energy transition work.
• Enerdata: France-based energy intelligence and consulting firm providing research, data, and advisory services to European energy stakeholders. Comparable in energy transition consulting scope, European institutional client base, and project-based delivery model.
• Fraunhofer ISI: German Fraunhofer institute conducting applied research on energy transition, innovation systems, and technology assessment, with extensive EU project participation. Comparable in energy research and policy consulting delivery for European institutions.
• Wuppertal Institute: German research institute focused on sustainability, energy transition, and climate policy, deeply involved in EU-funded energy research and policy projects. Comparable in EU energy transition research focus and project-based engagement model.

Broad incumbents

• Ricardo Energy & Environment: Large UK-headquartered energy and environmental consultancy serving governments and industry across Europe. Overlaps with Th!nk E in EU energy policy and sustainability consulting but operates at a significantly larger scale with broader service portfolio.
• Guidehouse (formerly Ecofys): Global consultancy with a strong European energy transition practice (inheriting Ecofys). Overlaps with Th!nk E in energy and climate consulting for EU institutions but at much larger scale and broader sector coverage.

Others

• Eurelectric: Brussels-based sector association representing the European electricity industry at EU policy level. Not a direct competitor but an adjacent institutional actor in the same EU energy policy ecosystem where Th!nk E operates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/think-e
• Xx.com/thinke_be

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Th!nk E