Research and innovation are instrumental to achieve the EU’s energy and climate objectives. In November 2016 the EU strategy for Accelerating Clean Energy Innovation was adopted by the European Commission to boost the energy transition. Since the adoption of the strategy, progress has been made in a number of areas: increased funding and financing through Horizon 2020; reinforced role of innovation in the policy and regulatory environment; more cooperation in international research and innovation (R&I). These achievements provide new opportunities for clean energy innovators and other stakeholders to develop breakthrough technologies and bring them to market.