Many EU-funded projects meet their basic goals—but stop there. Deliverables are completed, reports are submitted, and results are archived. What if, instead of stopping at the paperwork, you could turn your project’s outcomes into real commercial opportunities?
Move Beyond Reporting—Find the Opportunity
Horizon Europe asks project teams to define “Key Exploitable Results” (KERs)—outputs that could be useful beyond the scope of the project. Unfortunately, in many cases, these plans stay vague. They’re written for a report, not for the real world.
But KERs can be much more. With the right mindset and tools, they can become the seeds of a business, a new service, or a long-term innovation. Exploitation isn’t about checking a box—it’s about recognising potential and acting on it.
What Exactly Are Key Exploitable Results?
A KER is any result with clear potential for practical use—scientific, societal, or commercial. For example:
- A new technology or software prototype
- A proven concept or process
- Valuable datasets
- A new methodology or service model
As defined by the Horizon Results Booster, these results are meant to be taken further—by your team, industry, public services, or even investors.
The Real Challenge: Seeing the Business Potential
Just naming a KER isn’t enough. The real value comes when you explore:
- Who would actually use it?
- What problem does it solve?
- Is there a market need?
- Could it become a product or service?
This is where opportunity recognition comes in. It’s the skill of identifying where your results meet real-world needs—and how to respond.
From Horizon Project to Real-World Solution
Let’s say your EU project creates a platform to optimise energy use in buildings. Instead of just writing about it:
- You test it with actual users, like cities or utilities
- You adjust the service based on their feedback
- You build a business case or spinout company
- You pitch the result to potential buyers or partners
Suddenly, your KER isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a value-generating solution.
Use the Pilot2Service Framework to Build a Plan
The Pilot2Service Commercialisation Framework helps teams move from promising results to realistic business strategies. It’s a modular tool designed for EU project teams, researchers, and innovators. With it, you can:
- Evaluate the commercial potential of your KERs
- Map out customer segments and market opportunities
- Plan the next steps—from licensing to spinning out
- Create professional, decision-ready deliverables
Take It Further with Opportunity Recognition Training
We also offer a full online course in Opportunity Recognition. It’s designed to help project teams:
- Identify which results are truly viable
- Build realistic scenarios for exploitation
- Choose between commercial, public, or partnership routes
- Avoid common pitfalls in post-project planning
Make Your Project Count—Long After It Ends
EU projects are meant to deliver impact—not just reports. But impact doesn’t happen by default. It requires action.
If your project has created something valuable, don’t let it stop with a deliverable. Use the tools. Explore the options. Make a plan.
And above all—recognise the opportunity hiding in your results. Then go after it.