Eaton welcomes third phase of FEN Research Campus funding, accelerating European energy innovation

September 9, 2025

• Flexible Electrical Networks (FEN) Research Campus to receive €2 million annually in third and final phase of German government funding.
• Funding will accelerate real-world testing and commercialization of direct current (DC) technologies vital to Europe’s energy transition.
• Eaton has been an FEN industry partner since 2018 and is currently supporting eight major R&D projects.

Aachen, Germany – Power management company Eaton today welcomed the third phase of German government funding for the FEN Research Campus at RWTH Aachen University, strengthening one of its most successful innovation partnerships.

Founded in 2014, the FEN Research Campus is one of Europe’s leading hubs for power system R&D—bringing together cutting-edge facilities, elite academic talent, and real-world industry knowledge. The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space has agreed to provide €2 million annually in this final phase of funding, which will allow more extensive research, testing, and validation of Direct Current (DC) power technologies vital for Europe’s energy transition. 

Since joining the FEN consortium in 2018, Eaton has deepened its strategic collaboration with 34 interdisciplinary partners from industry and academia, focusing on the development of more flexible, scalable, and agnostic grid technologies that can accelerate digitalization, electrification, and the integration of more renewable generation.

In this third funding phase, the FEN Research Campus will focus on standardizing competitive DC solutions to drive ‘bottom-up’ market adoption, as well as the creation of a post-funding business plan. This includes wide-scale testing of new technologies in laboratories across Germany, and the creation of dedicated training and certification centers to strengthen Europe’s DC expertise.

“The approval of FEN’s third funding phase is fantastic news for our ongoing collaboration,” comments Jörgen von Bodenhausen, director, Government Programs, EMEA, Eaton. “FEN is a crucial strategic partner and force multiplier in our own R&D efforts, enabling high-end research backed by top people and world-class facilities. This funding will ensure we can scale high-impact innovation across our business units to help shape future energy systems. With FEN focusing on real-world testing in this phase, renewed funding will also support our efforts to commercialize DC breakthroughs and grow our pipeline of exceptional talent”. 

As the FEN Research Campus has expanded, so has its partnership with Eaton. In 2019, von Bodenhausen was appointed to the FEN board of directors to help develop its strategy and structure. Two years later, Eaton opened a growing co-location on the FEN campus, which gives its now 11-strong Eaton Research Labs team access to first-rate facilities and expertise, as well as the chance to support key technology trends and government programs. Currently, Eaton Research Labs is collaborating on eight active projects:

• BEAVER: Smart substation monitoring using edge intelligence to enhance grid flexibility.
• d.gitaLE: Predictive maintenance for power-electronics based circuit breakers.
• EchNaTon: Sodium-ion battery technology for improved energy storage.
• FLOW: Vehicle-to-grid smart charging infrastructure with seamless integration.
• HYPERRIDE: DC and hybrid grids to improve resilience and integrate more renewables.
• InterSTORE: Standardized and interoperable energy storage systems.
• ScaLE: Optimized converters and components for scalable, vendor-neutral DC grids.
• Shift2DC: DC grids for industrial sites, commercial buildings, data centers, and more.
   

“We’re delighted to have secured third phase funding as we continue to advance essential DC technologies for a low-carbon future,” says Professor Rik De Doncker, FEN Research Campus. “As one of our major industrial partners, Eaton’s support will be invaluable as we work towards standardized, interoperable DC components and systems that can be applied across regions and industries. We look forward to deepening our strategic partnership further in the coming years as we develop the flexible, efficient, and scalable energy infrastructure Europe needs.”

About Eaton 

Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for people everywhere. We make products for the data center, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, residential, aerospace and mobility markets. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges and building a more sustainable society for people today and generations to come.   

 Founded in 1911, Eaton has continuously evolved to meet the changing and expanding needs of our stakeholders. With revenues of nearly $25 billion in 2024, the company serves customers in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.

Contact (for journalist enquiries)
Jonathan Hart, +41 (0)78 706 78 70, email: JonathanHart@eaton.com