The main aim of this report is to develop a business plan for how the SHAPE ENERGY Platform could be sustained post-project and as a key aspect of creating a lasting legacy for the project work. Moreover, a cost-benefit matrix is developed to be used by other stakeholders seeking to replicate individual Platform activities post-project.

This report provides a review of publicly funded EU energy-related platforms/networks that have successfully developed a self-sustaining business model, with implications towards the SSH disciplines as well as business model theory including an overview of influential models of today. Furthermore, it selects 10 ‘top’ platforms for more detailed study, with both platform performance and platform similarity to the SHAPE ENERGY Platform explicitly considered.