The road between the conventional energy grids and smart energy systems involves, among other things, the validation of smart energy systems enabling-technologies. Such validation is not always possible on-site, so it must be performed in laboratory conditions. In fact, when large electrical grids are targeted together with their information management system the development and testing of smart grid enabling-technologies are possible, in most cases, only in the laboratory. This paper presents a flexible laboratory platform developed for the study, testing and validation of smart grids and smart energy systems enabling-technologies, including Power Hardware-In-the-Loop and Information and Communications Technology.