Case study: Open Innovation Challenge for Elia Group
A company that is driving forward the energy transition and securing a sustainable power supply.
The Customer
With over 19,000 kilometres of high-voltage grid spanning Belgium and Germany, the Elia Group is one of Europe’s leading transmission system operators. Sustainability and innovation are at the forefront. The Group promotes the integration of renewable energy and contributes to the electrification of society actively driving the energy transition forward.
The Challenge
The Elia Group planned an Open Innovation Challenge to increase efficiency and speed in the realisation of large-scale grid infrastructure projects.
The aim was to find innovative solutions to accelerate capital expenditure (CAPEX) for the construction and maintenance of electricity grids.
The challenge was to identify suitable startups (especially ConTechs) and technology providers that could offer customised, innovative approaches to make the complex processes of planning, procuring and executing grid construction projects more efficient.
The Measures
☑ Defining challenge goals and requirements jointly with Elia
☑ Scouting ~800 relevant startups and tech providers (focus: construction sector)
☑ Co-developing evaluation criteria to ensure solution fit
☑ Curating and inviting a shortlist of high-potential applicants
☑ Managing communication with startups and responding to inquiries
☑ Promoting the challenge via Ambivation’s network and startup-challenges.com
☑ Pre-selecting 95 applicants in close coordination with Elia
☑ Facilitating startup introductions and virtual workshops with Elia’s innovation team
☑ Supporting the final event and PoC planning with 5 selected finalists
The Results
+ Time
Thanks to Ambivation’s support, the Elia Group was able to save a considerable amount of time in researching and selecting suitable start-ups. The efficient pre–selection made it possible to quickly identify relevant partners for the Open Innovation Challenge.
+ Money
Through the targeted selection of potential partners, the Elia Group avoided unnecessary costs and optimised the use of resources. This made it possible to utilise the budget more efficiently for the implementation of the pilot projects.
+ Quality
Ambivation helped the Elia Group to select high-quality start-ups that were precisely tailored to its requirements. The close collaboration with these innovative partners resulted in pilot projects that have the potential to significantly improve CAPEX realisation.
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Customer Voice
Lora Ivanova
Innovation Manager - Lead Open Innovation at Elia Group
Working with Ambivation was a seamless and rewarding experience. From the outset, the team demonstrated a high level of competence and professionalism, making the entire process of our open innovation challenge run effortlessly. They have an impressive network of industry connections, which helped us engage with the right partners and ensure high-quality participation. Ambivation was efficient and pleasant at every stage, from helping us define the challenge to managing applicants and keeping everything on track. Communication was always clear and prompt, which made the collaboration incredibly smooth. We were thoroughly impressed with how well they managed the project and exceeded our expectations. Their support played a key role in the overall success of the open innovation challenge. I recommend Ambivation to anyone looking for a reliable, highly competent and efficient innovation challenge partner.
How can Startups benefit from a collaboration?
Christoph Baier
Managing Director of Ambivation
When Elia Group finds suitable and relevant startups, a win-win situation is created: the companies can develop a concrete business solution, while the startups have the opportunity to gain a significant customer or partner.
In addition, the startups gain valuable insights into the specific requirements and challenges of the energy sector, which enables them to further develop their solutions in a targeted manner.
By working closely with Elia Group experts, the start–ups also benefit from comprehensive feedback and mentoring to help them optimise their products and services. Last but not least, participation in the challenge also gives the startups access to a broad network within the energy industry, which can significantly improve their visibility and market access.
