www.kic-innoenergy.com: Latest News

Swedish Energy Agency grants 22 million SEK for SweGRIDS

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:54:00 +0100

SweGRIDS - Swedish center for Smart Grids and Storage - aims to create a Swedish research centre in smart electrical systems and energy storage with an active industrial participation. The research center will be closely linked to the KIC InnoEnergy where Sweden, through the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and Uppsala University (UU), has recently been identified and established themselves in the role of the leading node in the areas of smart grids and electric energy storage.

In the decision InnoEnergy´s strong connection to industry is emphasized as strategically important. The agency also considers this to be applied research, with the purpose of developing knowledge to be used for development of products and services.

The funding was granted on the basis of being a support to KIC InnoEnergy. The motivation for the decision is full of goodies for CC Sweden and has resulted in some very good exposure.

"The establishment of SweGRIDS strengthen KTH and UU’s leading role as a hub for smart grids and energy storage in InnoEnergy Europe. Having strong links to industry and opportunities to support and take advantage of potential demonstration platforms such as the Royal Sea Port gives the center a strategic role. "

“The Swedish government has stated that the smart grid is one of the initiatives within SET plan
that Sweden will give priority to.”

The funding means that it will be possible to start up to 30 PhD or postdoctoral projects in the next two years, with already committed co-financing from industry. This will be a boost to involved research groups from KTH and Uppsala University and also to KIC Innovation projects because the new projects are expected to support KIC InnoEnergy innovation projects with the needed applied research.

A special thanks to Rajeev Thottappillil at KTH who has been coordinating this successful application.

KIC InnoEnergy students selected for the Hult Global Case Challenge

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:32:00 +0100

The Hult Global Case Challenge announced a students team from KIC InnoEnergy has been accepted and will compete in the 3rd Annual Hult Global Case Challenge (Hult GCC) – an initiative that brings together top students from all over the globe to generate solutions to the world's most pressing social challenges. The 2012 Hult Global Case Challenge will focus on breaking the cycle of global poverty through developing sustainable solutions that will provide affordable housing, affordable energy, and affordable education to the bottom of the pyramid. USD 1 million in seed capital is made available annually to provide funding to pilot the very best ideas.
Each team selected was chosen from more than 4,000 applications received. Most colleges and universities had multiple team applicants with one or two teams from each school being chosen. The Hult GCC regional competitions will take place on February 24-25, 2012 on Hult International Business School’s five campuses in Boston, San Francisco, London, Dubai and Shanghai. KIC InnoEnergy's team will compete in London.

About KIC InnoEnergy's team

KIC InnoEnergy’s team members include:

Eduardo M. Appleyard - Team Captain - from Canada/Argentina
Francesco Fuso-Nerini from Milano Italy
Vincenzo Capogna from Rome, Italy
Oisin Tummon from South Africa
Eric Bowler from Chicago, USA

They were all enrolled in KIC InnoEnergy's Master SELECT.The objective of the team is to find a solution for Solaraid a UK based NGO for the mass implementation of micro solar products in Africa.

Matchmaking Event during expoEnergy in Wels, Austria (1st March 2012)

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:33:00 +0100

The expoEnergy/Energiesparmesse in Wels, Austria, is a leading fair for innovative building and for efficient energy use and production (2^nd March – 4^th March). In the year 2011 more than 100 000 visitors and more than 900 exhibitors from all over the world participated in the fair. In the frame of the expoEnergy there will also take place the World Sustainable Energy Days which are the largest annual conference in this field in Europe (29^th February – 2^nd March). In the last years, the conference attracted more than 10 000 participants from 99 countries! On 1^st March 2012 (13:00 - 17:00), CATT Innovation Management GmbH and the Chamber of Commerce Upper Austria - members of the Enterprise Europe Network - are organizing the 4^th edition of international Matchmaking Event (B2B-Meetings) in cooperation with the expoEnergy and the World Sustainable Energy Days. Some facts about the B2B-Meetings in 2011 & 2010:

220 profiles in the online catalogues
290 meetings realised
more than 36 000 clicks on these profiles

Main topics of the B2B-Meetings:

solar thermal heating
geothermal energy/heat pumps
photovoltaic systems
biomass and biogas
energy storage
air-conditioning and ventilation
sustainable construction
energy consulting
combined heat power plant
fuel cells, hydrogen, wind

Benefits:

Meet potential cooperation partners in one location on the same day
Present, discuss and develop new ideas and projects at an international level
Build up partnerships
Promote your technologies/products in Austria and the rest of Europe

New this year: There will be lectures in German in the morning by well known research institutes on topics about sustainable construction, heating and cooling technologies and future of small combustion units: see more on http://www.b2match.eu/expoenergy2012?locale=de under “Fachvorträge” How it works:
A matchmaking event is a quick and easy way to meet potential cooperation partners. People meet and greet at high speed. 30 minutes are usually enough to build connections, then the bell rings and the next talk starts. Your registration to the B2B Meetings contains a profile about your offers or requests. This profile will be collected in an online catalogue. All participants will be able to collect their suitable partners. At the end of the deadline each participant will receive a time schedule containing all your requested meetings from and for you. Registration:
Participation to the B2B-Meetings and the lectures is free of charge, a registration is necessary. Registration deadline is Friday 17^th February 2012.
Please note: entrance fee to the expoEnergy exhibition of € 20,00 is to be paid individually. Please find detailed information about the registration under: http://www.b2match.eu/expoenergy2012/pages/how-it-works

Event language B2B:

English

Location:

Europa Center, Hall 8, 1st floor

Messe Wels, Austria

Who will help?
The Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum (SEZ) will support the B2B event in the frame of KIC InnoEnergy. They will support your registration, your selection of meetings and your meetings on site. Your contact at Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum is:
Charlotte Schlicke
schlicke@steinbeis-europa.de
Phone: +49-711-1234018

Application deadline for MSc SELECT + SENSE: 15th February 2012

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:21:00 +0100

The application deadline for the MSc programmes SELECT and SENSE ends February 15th 2012. The master's programme in Environomical Pathways for Sustainable Energy Systems (SELECT) offers advanced education in the field of sustainable energy systems for the future. SELECT aims at delivering education for high competency and quality engineering skills in the field, including industrial interaction throughout the programme. SENSE – Smart Electrical Networks and Systems is a joint programme run by eight European universities involved in the framework of the European Institute of Innovation Technology (EIT) and the InnoEnergy Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) that aims to promote innovative solutions in the energy field. The focus of this programme is on understanding, modelling and analysing the principles behind electric power generation, transmission/distribution and utilisation. Topics range from the design, operation, control and monitoring of individual components to the power system in its entirety. For more information on the programmes and the application process, please visit: http://www.kth.se/studies/programmes/em/select?l=en_UK for SELECT http://www.kth.se/studies/programmes/eit/kic-innoenergy/sense?l=en_UK for SENSE

Sucessful participation of KIC InnoEnergy at Grenoble Innovation Fair

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:35:00 +0100

“The fair was a unique opportunity to present KIC InnoEnergy's offer for entrepreneurs,” says Frédérique Pedreno, Alps Valleys Business Creation director: “Discussing with entrepreneurs at GIF provided us with a better understanding of their needs in order to adapt and improve our offer. 4 out of the 12 entrepreneurs met during GIF are now involved in the KIC InnoEnergy business creation process”. The Energy Village sponsored by KIC InnoEnergy hosted 47 energy related projects and start-ups, some of them issued from KIC Inno Energy partners. Aitor Urrutia from Tecnalia has a very positive feedback of their participation to the fair affirming that “out of 30 BtoB meetings, we have had 10% really serious business opportunities.” HYDS , a spin-off company providing hydrometeorological services to companies, was also present at the Fair: “It has been a great opportunity to contact potential clients and to extend our products internationally. GIF is a great place to foster synergies between small technological companies and potential customers. A key aspect for our participation was the remarkable support that we received from KIC InnoEnergy,” says Rafael Sanchez-Diezma, Hyds’s director. The GIF award to the most innovative company in the domain of energy went this year to McPhy Energy, commercialising massive stationary hydrogen storage systems. Elena Bou, KIC InnoEnergy Innovation director, who was part of the jury that awarded the prizes, emphasised the “innovative business model proposed by McPhy Energy” at the awards ceremony.

SELECT MSc application: deadline 30 November 2011

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:55:00 +0100

The Erasmus Mundus programme in Environomical Pathways for Sustainable Energy Systems (SELECT) is a cooperation between seven top universities in Europe. It is a two year master programme including compulsory mobility for the students, and the extended use of remote teaching and ”virtual” interactive workshops and project courses. It comes with scholarship opportunities, including for citizens of EU counties. For the entry in August 2012, online application is open until 30 November, 2011. CAT B Candidates — Apply Directly via the following link before Nov 30 2011: http://www.exploreselect.eu/SELECTMSc/Howtoapply/tabid/701/language/en-GB/Default.aspx Download the programme flyer

STARTup live Rhine Valley #1, Karlsruhe 23. – 25.9.2011

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:18:00 +0200

14 teams lined up and pitched their ideas to the auditorium at the start, and then further developed their business concepts, added to their team capacities and listened to the advice of mentors. The outcome was presented on the last day and competition was up to qualify for one of the prices. KIC InnoEnergy Germany was a main sponsor, supported the 2 ½ days meeting with mentoring and awarding a prize for the best business creation idea in the field of sustainable energy. The winner was a young team from KIT with their idea on forming a business around a new concept for sea water desalination. Whereas present state of the art desalination uses a lot of energy to evaporate the water and remove the salt, the new idea is based on a super absorber, a technology well known from baby diapers. In an impressive demonstration the young team showed how few grams of super absorber powder stirred into a glass of water makes it into a gel. The industrialization would use this process in large scale to concentrate the pure water in the gel, keep the brine out and gain the water by pressing the gel. This can be done repetitively and high energy efficiency is expected. Part of the price is a professional idea assessment, so the young team will walk a part onto the KIC InnoEnergy Business Creation Highway, and – depending on the outcome – further along. A second part of the price is a teambuilding event in the fun climbing forest Kandel, giving the young team the opportunity to further develop their team spirit and practical examples on how to lift off and use safety gear when critical situations appear. More information on the event Contact: Frank Diedrich, Manager of CC Germany frank.diedrich@kic-innoenergy.com

CC Germany: Information Session on KIC InnoEnergy’s PhD School

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:35:00 +0200

Come along to our Information Session to discover what KIC InnoEnergy has to offer to PhD students. Find out about the structure of the programme, the added-value compared to other programmes and admission requirements. CC Germany’s coordinator of the PhD School will also discuss what students and their advisors will be working on if they enrol in one of these programmes. The session is directed at university professors, research assistants as well as at (future) PhD students in the field of energy related research and innovation. It takes place at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology: 27.10.2011, 2 pm in the Neuer Senatssal (building 10.11, Campus South) 02.11.2011 1 pm in room 164 of the Fortbildungszentrum für Technik und Umwelt (Campus North) Please note that both events will be held in German language. Contact: Caroline von Dahl, PhD programme coordinator at CC Germany caroline.vondahl@kic-innoenergy.com Download the information flyer

From Science to Business: Call for applications

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:15:00 +0200

This course and its contents are designed around the concept of a new tech-based entrepreneurial venture, specialty in the areas of sustainable energy. Starting a new business includes a different array of tasks and operations. An overview of the process of identifying an opportunity, turning an idea into a product or service and making a business out of it will help the mind behind the invention to understand the whole process that starts once the discovery has been made. In general, scientists and others engaged in the development of new knowledge are not usually the ones running the start-ups, as they are more focused on research than the development of new ventures, but their participation in the process will greatly improve the ratio of new inventions turned into new product or services. It will always be necessary to have someone to take the ideas out of the lab and turn them into new ventures, be they researchers who decide to pursue a professional career in developing new businesses or other entrepreneurs who already have the knowledge and experience required in the business field. In either case, the participation of the senior scientist behind the invention will significantly increase the odds of a successful new company.

Schedule

One week: from 28th November to 2nd December. One 8-hour session every day.

Location

Sant Cugat ESADE Campus: Av. de Torreblanca 59, E - 08172 Sant Cugat del Vallès

How to apply

This programme is addressed to sustainable energy area researchers from any of the KIC InnoEnergy Co-Location Centres' partners.
All costs are covered by EIT funding, including the trip to Barcelona and stay.
Please send any application with a copy of your CV and a motivation letter to the programme manager Vanessa Nuñez: vanessa.nunez@esade.edu Deadline for application is October 31^st 2011.
For a detailed description of the courses and for application instructions, please download the info flyer

Presentation of KIC InnoEnergy at Grenoble Innovation Fair (21.10.11)

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:34:00 +0200

You play a major role in the field of sustainable Energy and wish to develop innovative products or services to reach one of the following objectives: Cutting energy costs, improving safety (energy independence or intrinsic operational security), reducing environmental impact, diminishing the use of raw materials or improving recyclability. You are looking for partners and/or financing for your innovation projects, then why not collaborate with KIC InnoEnergy? The KIC InnoEnergy France team wants to help you to construct your innovation projects and invite you to an information meeting, during the Grenoble Innovation Fair, in partnership with the Tenerrdis and Capenergies competitiveness clusters. You will also have the opportunity of presenting your proposals for projects so as to favour opportunities for collaboration. Small and medium-sized businesses, industrial groups, and laboratories from all over Europe will be taking part in this event. Each participant wishing to share his ideas will have 10 minutes in which to present his innovation proposal to the audience. The objective will be to excite the audience’s interest without revealing confidential information. After these presentations a buffet will be available to let you exchange ideas and build up collaborations. This event will take place on Friday 21 October between 9 and 12 a.m., at Alpexpo, during the Grenoble Innovation Fair. (access to this meeting does not require access to GIF). For more information please contact Sylvie DEBATY: Sylvie.debaty@grenoble-em.com, Phone: +33 (0) 4 76 70 60 27 Download the invitation Download the registration form

Innovation Projects: 40 new proposals for 2012

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:19:00 +0200

The call generated considerable interest with 40 project consortia applying for being accepted as a KIC InnoEnergy project. Promising proposals have been submitted in all our six thematic fields. They are now being evaluated by a joint Committee of the Co-Locations and the KIC Management Team. The finally selected projects will be set into the Business Plan 2012 and are expected to start in Q1 2012. With this second wave of innovation projects, KIC InnoEnergy further fosters innovation in sustainable energy that will have a clear market impact (decrease in energy cost, increase in operability, decrease of GHG effects). The outcome of the call for proposals shows the big potential of energy related incremental and disruptive innovation, says Diego Pavía, CEO of KIC InnoEnergy.

KIC InnoEnergy PhD School: Application website launched

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:50:00 +0200

On the new application website prospect PhD students find detailed information on the tracks of KIC InnoEnergy's PhD School as well as on the projects they can currently apply for. Some of the tracks are already running, other tracks will soon provide further information about their interests and available projects. Moreover, KIC InnoEnergy is currently considering the direct funding of some further PhD positions which will then soon be announced on this website.
Contact: educationaldirector@kic-innoenergy.com

Meet us at Grenoble Innovation Fair

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:11:00 +0200

KIC InnoEnergy is a privileged partner of Grenoble Innovation Fair, an event gathering tomorrow’s leading European companies in Grenoble, France, on 20 and 21 October 2011. For its third edition Grenoble Innovation Fair is welcoming 150 European start-ups and laboratories in an exhibition space dedicated to networking with industry and technology demonstrations. The Energy Village, sponsored by KIC InnoEnergy, will feature several companies of our partners: new ventures with high-growth potential, innovation project from research laboratories, and innovative SMEs, that will present their innovations in the field of energy. The fair is expecting more than 1,500 participants, eager to extend their innovation networks, identify opportunities for new partnerships and discover unsuspected sources of innovation. We are looking forward to explaining you everything you always wanted to know about the KIC InnoEnergy. Meet us and the companies we are supporting, at the Energy village at Grenoble Innovation Fair 2011! For more information: ccalpsvalleys@kic-innoenergy.fr
www.grenoble-innovation-fair.com http://twitter.com/innovation_fair

Technology with social impact - 1 million population with access to Heat&Power&Water

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 12:46:00 +0200

Among the 32 technology projects in the current portfolio of KIC InnoEnergy, one of them could possibly make a breakthrough in the third world, allowing population access to stable power, clean water or heat at affordable prices. The partners of one of the technology projects of KIC InnoEnergy is exploring the alliance with one of the top industrial conglomerate in Asia, licensing the technology to mass production of the product. The time to market, as evaluated today, is 18 months. For more information, please contact Torsten Fransson torsten.fransson@kic-innoenergy.com

KIC InnoEnergy Highway starts proving its concept: 25 entrepreneurs milestone crossed

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 12:24:00 +0200

In April 2011, KIC InnoEnergy finalized the definition of its Business Creation Services with the marketing name KIC InnoEnergy Highway™. The roll out started immediately and we are happy to announce that we have crossed the first humble but still important milestone of 25 cases of entrepreneurs, the majority coming from the market place, that have entered the Highway. There is no common pattern to those cases, but some repeating characteristics, such as: they mostly address systemic approaches, rather than components; the entrepreneurs are not juniors, but experienced people; the time to market is short; renewables is predominant, although there are some related to CCS. In any case, the passion of all of them is fresh air.

Master and Executive Programmes - Successful intake 2011

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:51:00 +0200

KIC InnoEnergy will launch already this year 2011 four Master programs and three Executive Modules. Although we did the promotion of those educational programmes only last May 2011, we have had more than 850 applicants from all over the world, for a target of 220 sits. These educational programmes are significantly enhanced compared to the traditional ones. The components of entrepreneurship and management, the “hands on” thanks to internships in industry, and the thesis, highly probable in one of KIC InnoEnergy technology projects, make of those programs a first in European education. For more information, please contact torsten.fransson@kic-innoenergy.com

KIC InnoEnergy Iberia S.L. incorporated

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:12:00 +0200

The subsidiary company KIC InnoEnergy Iberia is in charge of managing KIC InnoEnergy activities in Spain and Portugal, as well as the thematic field Renewable Energy at a global level. Apart from KIC InnoEnergy SE, the shareholders of this new company are leading Iberian organisations in the field of sustainable energy and innovation, such as: Ciemat, Energías de Portugal – EdP, ESADE, Gas Natural Fenosa, Iberdrola, Institut de Recerca de l’Energia de Catalunya - IREC, Instituto Superior Técnico de Lisboa – IST, KIC InnoEnergy Iberia S.E., Tecnalia Research and Innovation and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – UPC. KIC InnoEnergy Iberia has corporate offices in Barcelona and Lisbon, as well as some premises devoted to incubating new companies in Sant-Cugat del Vallés (Barcelona area). Please contact for more information about: Education activities: education.iberia@kic-innoenergy.com Support to entrepreneurs in Business Creation: innovation.iberia@kic-innoenergy.com General issues: info.iberia@kic-innoenergy.com

CC Germany: SME workshop on Chemical Fuels

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:49:00 +0200

Together with the Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the BW Bank and the University of Stuttgart, KIC InnoEnergy has invited representatives of small and medium-sized companies to Karlsruhe on 14 July 2011 to explore the dialogue between industry and science in the field of sustainable energy supply, in particular through the use of innovative energy technologies, such as for example the use of chemical sources of energy, and to launch joint innovation projects.

Renewable sources of energy, especially wind energy, water power, bio-energy, solar energy or geothermic energy will play a major role in future energy supplies in Germany and Europe. Because fluctuations in the availability of the sun and wind have to be balanced out, for example by efficient but publicly acceptable energy storage, high-grade chemical energy sources generated by biological and fossil fuels or by processes of synthesis assume an important role, in addition of course to flexible-output power stations, a larger intelligently managed energy network or the supply-dependent coordination of consumption. “We see a large number of new business concepts here that can be developed by transferring the results of research into practical applications by business and we will support this process with the opportunities available to KIC” reflected the coordinator of the chemical fuels workgroup, Professor Dr Thomas Kolb of KIT.

“We need joint projects in which representatives from both research and industry are involved in order to be able to overcome the challenges that the future will bring. That is the only way that research results with innovation potential can quickly be translated into products ready to enter the market. The Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum represents above all the bridge to Europe and to European innovations and partners”, emphasised Professor Norbert Höptner, the Commissioner for Europe of the Minister of Finance and Economics and director of the Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum. Three interactive round-tables provide an opportunity to initiate joint projects on the subjects of “The Basic Materials of Chemical Energy Sources”, “Converting Chemical Energy Sources “ and “The Use of Chemical Energy Sources”.

Dr Frank Diedrich, General Manager of KIC InnoEnergy Germany introduced the objectives of KIC InnoEnergy SE and the different ways of participation. "It is possible to take part at different levels with different degrees of intensity" Diedrich explains. "The simplest way is to join as a project partner. This operates in practice such that partners from research and industry wishing to work together on a subject join forces. The partners then agree in a syndicate contract the goals that are to be achieved, the tasks each will assume, how much money is to be invested, how much support will be applied for and how the partners will deal with newly created patents. Under certain conditions, innovative tasks can be fully sponsored by KIC InnoEnergy, up to a maximum amount of € 100,000 a year."

Participation in KIC InnoEnergy opens up access to a network of leading European companies, research institutes and universities as well as to grants awarded for target-oriented work in the field of innovative, sustainable energy solutions. Renewable energy sources are the present focus (sun, wind and water), clean coal technologies, energy from chemical energy sources (including biomass), an intelligent European electricity network and storage, intelligent and energy-efficient buildings and cities, as well as the convergence of sustainable nuclear and renewable energy. KIC InnoEnergy is open to the participation of small and medium-sized companies and invites them to actively cooperate in shaping the future market.

Contact: Jeannine Petry jeannine.petry@kic-innoenergy.com

CC Iberia: Successful participation in BIZ Barcelona 2011

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0200

CC Iberia successfully presented KIC InnoEnergy, its innovation projects and services for entrepreneurs at this year’s BIZ Barcelona. The booth attracted great interest among researchers, entrepreneurs and investors, some of them looking for business creation assistance for their projects. Mikel Lasa, Manager of CC Iberia, was very satisfied with the outcome of the event: “We made some very promising contacts of projects with an innovative prototype or a patent in the field of sustainable energy. We will now investigate ways of collaboration.”
BIZ Barcelona is an international Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum taking place in Barcelona once a year. The two-day event is the meeting place for all the players related to the entrepreneurship ecosystem: entrepreneurs, start-ups, investors, Technology Transfer Offices and private and public financing institutions. Besides the trade fair, the show organizes different activities such as consulting panels for entrepreneurs, start-up public presentations and networking events as well as conferences. This year the event has had over 13.000 visits. Contact: info.iberia@kic-innoenergy.com

CEO Diego Pavía on "KIC InnoEnergy: the leading engine for innovation and entrepreneurship in sustainable energy"

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0200

At this year’s Barcelona Global Energy Challenges (2nd -3rd June), CEO Diego Pavía presented how KIC InnoEnergy is pushing European innovation in the fields of energy. The event focuses the energy challenges posed by questions of the security of supplies, the environment and energy efficiency. It was the sixth edition of the event that yearly takes place in Barcelona.

For more information on Barcelona Global Energy Challenges, please visit http://www.bcnenergychallenges.com/en/ Video of Diego Pavía’s speech [in Spanish]