In 2005, Europe put forward the concept of "smart grid". The Fifth Framework Plan of the European Union (1998-2002) specially allocated 4.5 million euros, which was led by the National University of Athens (NTUA) and participated by organizations and groups from 0/2 countries in the European Union/KLOC-0 to form a research and development team to build microgrid experimental platforms in Athens, Manchester and ISET.

The focus of the research project is how to connect various scattered small power sources into a microgrid and realize the connection with the distribution network. The project has been completed and achieved some enlightening research results, such as static and dynamic simulation tools of low-voltage asymmetric microgrid controlled by inverter, operation concept of isolated island and interconnection, control strategy based on agent, local black-start strategy, grounding and protection scheme, quantitative analysis of reliability, theoretical verification of laboratory microgrid platform, and the influence of microgrid on large power grid.

The Sixth Framework Plan of the European Union (2002-2006) funded 8.5 million euros, and continued to be led by Athens National University, Greece, in cooperation with companies such as Sinmens, ABB, SMA, ZIV, I-POWER, Anco, GERMANOS and EmForce, focusing on the control strategy, coordinated management scheme, system protection and economic dispatching measures for connecting multiple microgrids to the distribution network, as well as microgrids.