Project results are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes:

• Enhanced reliability, resilience, controllability and efficiency of electricity distribution grids. Congestion in distribution grids is managed effectively;
• Distribution system operators (DSO) leverage modern digital solutions and employ improved systems to effectively manage their grids and improve interoperability with TSOs and other DSOs;
• Vendor-agnostic reference architectures, solutions and tools are developed to help advancing the ADSM design and operation and effectively manage a broad range of grid services.

Projects are expected to address all the following items:

• Design and test innovative solutions, architectures, technologies and processes for advancing the way the ADSM are designed and operated;
• Provide ADSM software platforms that improve grid performance, controllability, and help integrating distributed energy resources (DERs) in an efficient way, while reducing congestion and improving grid flexibility;
• Advance forecasting solutions for energy supply, demand, and flexibility made available to the system operator; provide advanced analytics and visualisations;
• Advance interoperability, both with TSOs and other DSOs, as well as with the DERs at the edge of the grid;
• Leverage modern solutions, notably digital twins and artificial intelligence. Use security-by-design and advanced protection mechanisms against cyber threats. Use and/or develop, to the greatest extent possible, open-source software solutions and or software modules;
• Develop a manual and propose best practices on this matter to be used by other DSOs (including instructions to operate the system). Identify remaining gaps and further needs for research and development.

The demonstration, test and validation of the activities should be carried out in at least two pilots in different EU Member States or Associated Countries.

Projects are expected to include at least three Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and at least two universities and/or research organisations.

Additionally, collaboration is encouraged with the following entities:

• at least one supplier of technology and solutions for ADMS;
• at least one transmission system operator, which manage grids that are connected to the grids operated by any of the DSOs that are partners in the project;
• (at least) one project funded under the separate call ‘Advanced TSO control rooms to enhance grid control and resilience’ with the view to strengthen TSO-DSO coordination and support interoperable solutions. To that end, the project proposals are expected to describe a credible mechanism to do so.

This collaboration (minimum number of entities) is sought per project in total and does not necessarily apply per each pilot in particular.

Selected projects are expected to contribute to the BRIDGE initiative^[1] and actively participate in its activities.