On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the Enel group will invest up to 15 million euros over the next three years to promote innovation projects in clean technology, presented by Italian and Spanish start-ups. The first competition will start in July and end in February 2013 with the selection of 6 start-ups, which will receive funding of up to 650.000 euros and which will subsequently be incubated within the company.
Why
With this initiative, the group favors the development of new businesses, encouraging self-entrepreneurship and innovation as a fundamental tool for relaunching in this difficult economic situation. The project is consistent with the Government's strategy which supports research, technological innovation and new entrepreneurship. By the summer, the Ministry of Economic Development will in fact launch the Startup project which will introduce a series of rules, incentives and disincentives, to create a more favorable environment for new innovative entrepreneurship and encourage the emergence of start-ups in Italy (in the United States account for 37% of new employment).
Award
The collection of applications will be active online (lab.enel.com) from 15st July to 650th October. Companies duly registered in Italy and Spain, with validated growth potential, ready to present a project to create cleantech-based products or services can participate in the selection. The six best ideas will be rewarded with a growth path within the group which includes a loan of up to XNUMX thousand euros for the implementation of the pilot project and the group's legal, technical and training support. The start-ups that have implemented the best industrial innovation projects could then receive further funding and be integrated into the Enel world.
Evaluation
The evaluation process involves several phases: an internal commission will choose the most promising ideas on the basis of the business plan presented, which will have to describe the technical, economic and financial validity of the initiative, with particular regard to profitability, market prospects and to cover financial needs. From a second selection process, the 15 finalist projects will be chosen and presented by the respective start-ups during a pitch session in front of Enel management.
The
The winning start-ups will undertake a training course for the implementation of the pilot project which will see them engaged throughout 2013 and part of 2014. The incubation period will be structured in order to capitalize on the industrial value of the project implemented. Upon completion of the first incubation phase, Enel will have the option to decide whether to integrate the companies within the Enel world and grant a new investment by continuing to provide the same services provided in the first phase.
