- RES4CITY STARTUP EUROPE ACCELERATHON is an open competition led by Finnova to accelerate sustainable ideas in urban areas.
- The Accelerathon was presented at the Energy and Sustainability Conference framed within the SHERLOCK project.
July 10, 2025, Chania. The RES4CITY STARTUP EUROPE ACCELERATHON initiative was presented on Thursday, July 3rd, at the Energy and Sustainability Conference in Chania (Greece), an event held as part of the SHERLOCK project. The Accelerathon was showcased as an example of open innovation and idea acceleration to promote sustainability in urban areas.
Jon Larratxea, Communications Officer at the Foundation and coordinator of the RES4CITY STARTUP EUROPE ACCELERATHON, presented the paper “The Accelerathon Methodology as a Catalyst for Open Innovation in Urban Sustainability.” This academic work, co-authored with María Martha Barroso and Adrián Noheda (project managers at the Foundation), details the competition, which over the course of a year accelerated ideas focused on four environmental challenges: electric vehicle charging, land management, green hydrogen production, and greywater reuse.
The presentation first highlighted the Startup Europe Accelerator methodology, driven by Finnova, which aims to accelerate innovative projects in the circular economy sector. This initiative uses an online contest model that provides training and mentoring to help develop ideas. A panel of experts then evaluates the proposals, and the winning idea works with Finnova to submit it for European funding. This methodology is linked to the Startup Europe Awards, an initiative of the European Commission’s DG CONNECT, implemented by the Finnova Foundation and institutionally supported by the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions, and the European Economic and Social Committee since 2016.
In addition to showcasing the methodology, the presentation featured the success story of the RES4CITY STARTUP EUROPE ACCELERATHON, an adaptation of the methodology to the RES4CITY project. Over more than a year of competition, more than 80 participants from 13 countries developed ideas addressing the challenges above. In total, 17 proposals were submitted, with 4 reaching the grand final held during the European Week of Regions and Cities. The winning idea came from the E-LAB: CITY 5.0 team. Their project outlines an innovative system aimed at transforming urban infrastructure through the integration of smart technologies, sustainable energy solutions, and Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring systems. The Finnova Foundation is currently working with the team to secure European funding for this idea.
Finally, the Finnova Foundation also used its stay in Chania to promote the LIFE RESSKILL project, which focuses on training the workforce in the construction sector. A poster was presented alongside other European projects, informing attendees about the project’s objectives.
About RES4CITY
RES4CITY is a €2.5 million initiative funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe programme. It aims to promote the development of sustainable renewable energy and fuel technologies in urban environments by fostering sustainability and circularity, and by creating an innovative educational programme. The project includes the BoostMySkills educational platform, offering micro-credentials and micro-programmes designed to train the workforce for the green transition, and the RES4CITY Open Innovation Book (a summary of the RES4CITY Startup Europe Accelerathon competition, led by Finnova).
About LIFE RESSKILL
LIFE RESSKILL, funded by the EU’s LIFE Programme, trains the workforce in integrating renewable energy systems and in the digitalisation of the construction sector. With a budget of over €1.5 million and a duration of 36 months, the project is led by the Università degli Studi di Genova and supported by a consortium of 10 institutions and companies from across Europe.
About the Finnova Foundation
The Finnova Foundation is a European non-profit organisation focused on promoting innovation and public-private cooperation through the effective use of EU funding. With a mission to support entrepreneurship, sustainability, and smart growth, Finnova provides expertise in European project management, communication, and fundraising—helping stakeholders turn ideas into impactful and scalable solutions. Headquartered in Brussels, the Foundation operates in sectors such as environment, energy, education, and digitalisation, collaborating with institutions, businesses, and civil society to drive the European Green Deal and other EU strategic priorities.