Category: General-en

• Juanma Revuelta, CEO of Finnova, gave a talk on European funding for the internationalisation of startups at the Uppery Club in Malaga.
• He set out the guidelines for the upcoming calls for submission of future European projects for EU funding.

02.20.2023, Malaga. Last Wednesday, February 15th, Juanma Revuelta, CEO of Finnova, gave an informative talk about European funding for the internationalization of startups in the Uppery Club of Malaga, a meeting place and exchange of views of entrepeneurs.

In the first part of his speech, Revuelta explained how to manage European funds for startups and the advantages, proposals and projects that can be developed from this type of funding. He also gave an overview of the European directive on preventive restructuring frameworks, debt waivers and disqualifications and measures to increase the efficiency of restructuring, insolvency and debt waiver procedures (Second Chance Directive).

Launch of RES4CITY StartUp Europe Awards

The second half of the event focused on the official launch of the upcoming RES4CITY StartUp Europe Awards, which is looking for disruptive initiatives in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency in cities. A perfect example is the LIFE Ecodigestion 2.0 technology, a project that allows the creation of new organic waste logistics companies for the production of biogas in wastewater treatment plants and for self-consumption.

The StartUp Europe Accelerator is an initiative promoted by the European Commission and implemented by the Finnova Foundation in collaboration with StartUp Europe. It is an open innovation tool that allows companies to identify talented startups capable of solving today’s challenges in multiple areas. Its mission is to help startups and scaleups become more efficient, smarter and more successful. These awards are a useful tool to promote knowledge sharing, add value to the entrepreneurial ecosystem and help startups to grow and position themselves in the market.

About Finnova Foundation Finnova is a Spanish-Belgian non-profit foundation based in Brussels and Spain, working for the promotion and development of innovation and entrepreneurship in the EU. Finnova’s experience in leading communication and dissemination activities of European projects is combined with a solid proven track record in business creation and entrepreneurial support programmes, such as accelerators, incubators and events, as well as its commitment to training and employability of young people.

Last Wednesday 1st February from 10:00 to 14:30, the “Kick off meeting” of the European LIFE NextFUMIGREEN project was held at the FumiHogar facilities located in Malaga. The meeting was attended by the project leader, the Spanish company FumiHogar and the five partners: the Foundation for Agricultural Auxiliary Technologies (TECNOVA); the Finnova Foundation; B&B Asesores Auditores Ambientales; Comercial Quimica Masso, and BioAgro Tech.

During this initial meeting, the partners established the main strategies and objectives for developing this European project, which has a total budget of 2,758,921.01 €, 60% subsidised by the LIFE programme. Thus, the roadmap to be followed until 31 May 2027, the date on which the project ends, was established. Among other aspects, the partners broke down the different tasks to be carried out and held bilateral meetings to deepen the technical aspects.

Development of natural fumigants

With a duration of 4 years and 6 months, Life Next Fumigreen’s main objective is to develop natural fumigants based on active ingredients extracted from plant extracts for the control of whitefly populations and fungal outbreaks of botrytis) in horticultural crops grown intensively under glass. In addition, it will test the efficacy of a new type of fumigant plant protection product, based on active ingredients of natural origin, in the protection of the most representative greenhouse crops.

Fumigant biopesticides are less toxic than conventional pesticides, and the replacement of chemical pesticides will mitigate the adverse effects on the environment and human health. The project aims to demonstrate that this new fumigant biopesticide is effective against pests and diseases specific to pepper and tomato crops (the major greenhouse crops) and that it can be used for other pathosystems (in addition to whitefly, it is intended to demonstrate its efficacy against thrips and tuta absoluta) and in other EU countries.

Life NEXTFUMIGREEN also foresees other benefits such as improved food security resulting in residue-free food, and positive effects on biodiversity and climate change.

Professionalisation and training of farmers.

In addition to demonstration actions in field conditions, the project will focus on training and demonstration of fumigant biopesticides, contributing to the professionalisation and capacity building of farmers. The self-contained and “ready-to-use dosage” nature of fumigant biopesticides facilitates the proper handling and dosage of pesticides on the crop, ensuring adequate dosage, avoiding the use of machinery and providing a system that is safe for both the environment and the health of the applicator. Smoke is a dry dispersion method, which avoids the adverse effects of excess humidity on crops (proliferation of fungi) and avoids accidental spills that contaminate soil and groundwater.

In line with EU Chemical Policy

This LIFE project supports the implementation of EU chemical policy, which includes both Directive 2009/128/EC on the sustainable use of pesticides, aimed at reducing environmental and health risks and maintaining crop productivity and improving control of the use and distribution of pesticides; and the REACH Regulation, which aims to achieve a higher level of protection of human health and the environment from potential risks from chemicals and to promote sustainable development.

It also contributes to achieving the objectives of the Farm to Fork Strategy and the 7th Environmental Action Programme, as well as the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe, and supports the agri-environmental measures of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy.

About FumiHogar

Fumi-Hogar was founded in Malaga in 1967 by its founder Mr. Antonio Cintora Gil to provide a service to the incipient sector of DDD (Disinfection, Pest Control and Rodent Control) professionals, as an insecticide formulating company. Since then, Fumi-Hogar has maintained the technology of manufacturing self-contained, pre-dosed fumigant canisters as its own hallmark, which very few companies in the world are capable of formulating with the appropriate quality guarantee. Currently, Fumi-Hogar produces INSECTICIDES, BACTERICIDES, FUNGICIDES, VIRICIDES, BIO-STITCHES and ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS based on all types of active molecules, both chemical and natural, to be used in closed spaces in countless cases of biocidal control or active ingredients in premises or greenhouses. The sectors of application of its products are: Public Health: insecticides and disinfectants; Food Hygiene: insecticides and disinfectants; Animal Health: insecticides, disinfectants, environmental and respiratory improvers; Agriculture (greenhouses): insecticides, disinfectants, biostimulants and environmental improvers.

About the Foundation for Agricultural Auxiliary Technologies (TECNOVA)

The Tecnova Technology Centre is responsible for promoting applied innovation and technological development based on knowledge acquired at national and international level, providing value and competitiveness to companies in the auxiliary industry sector of agriculture and with the collaboration of all the agents involved in the process. It is present in 25 countries and its aim is innovation and technological development, the transfer of technology and knowledge in order to be more competitive through innovation.

About Finnova Foundation

Finnova is a foundation working for the promotion and development of innovation and entrepreneurship at EU level. Based in Brussels, it operates through collaborations and partnerships in all EU countries. Finnova’s experience in leading European project communication and dissemination activities is combined with a strong proven track record in start-ups and business support programmes, such as accelerators, incubators and ceremonial event selection and awarding. 

About B&B Asesores Auditores Ambientales

BBasesores has a multidisciplinary team of professionals (pharmacists, chemists, biologists and engineers) with practical experience in different industrial sectors. With more than 20 years in the market, they have specialised in the processing and obtaining of registrations and approvals in fields as diverse as medicines and medical devices, cosmetic products, biocidal products and chemical substances in general.

About Comercial Quimica Masso

The main activity of COMERCIAL QUIMICA MASSÓ is the distribution of chemical specialities of represented companies recognised as leaders in different sectors, as well as products of its own development marketed under brands registered by the company.

About BrioAgro Tech BrioAgro was born in the countryside of Seville, thanks to the initiative of Mairena del Alcor, Seville: Impúlsame, which was constituted as a company in February 2015. Following the plague of the red palm weevil, an insect that was destroying palm trees throughout Spain a few years ago, they devised an initial prototype based on sensors that identified the presence of the insect by means of sound signals. Once the pest had been combated, they transferred and adapted this initial technology to what is now BrioAgro Technologies. Brioagro is a company that uses technology in the service of agriculture, sending the necessary information to help farmers make decisions, thus contributing to increasing their productivity and improving the environmental control of their crops.

• Friday 17 February from 10:00 to 11:30 CET, in Multipurpose Room 8, at FYCMA
• From 15 to 17 February, Malaga will host the largest European forum for science, technology and innovation

In the framework of the TRANSFIERE forum, which will be held from 15 to 17 February in FYCMA, Malaga, the LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0 project will participate in the seminar “LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0 – Synergies towards Technology Transfer”. In this hybrid event (face-to-face and online), which will take place on Friday 17 February from 10:00 to 11:30 CET in the Multipurpose Room 8 in FYCMA, several projects characterised by their involvement in energy transfer will be present with the aim of exchanging and discussing good practices, strategies and innovative actions.

Representatives from various European projects such as LIFE NextFUMIGREEN, RES4CITY, SHARP-sCO2, B-Resilient and Bioeconomy Ventures will present their vision on the current challenges of the circular economy, renewable energies and sustainability. After their respective presentations, they will take part in a panel discussion to discuss the various innovative projects and exchange experiences and best practices.

Launch of the SMoving SEUA-Life Ecodigestion 2.0

The event will also be the venue for the launch of the “Smoving SEUA – LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0”, a methodology of the European Commission’s DG CONNECT, implemented by the Finnova Foundation since 2016. The SEUAs are an open innovation tool for identifying disruptive startups, promoting public-private collaboration and raising awareness of the importance of self-entrepreneurship as a driver of employment. In addition, they allow to generate partnerships that help to meet the SDGs of the United Nations and the actions of the European Green Pact, thus contributing to the circular economy, the fight against climate change, sustainable tourism, culture and creativity.

The SMoving SEUA-Life Ecodigestión 2.0 will continue its journey in two events of significant impact; Wex Global, to be held in Seville from 27 to 29 March and Greencities & S-Moving, which will take place in Fycma from 20 to 21 September.

Transfiere is the main R&D&I meeting in Southern Europe and its main objective is to share scientific and technological knowledge, promote innovation and connect science and business. It is a key professional and multisectorial forum for the transfer of knowledge, the improvement of competitiveness in the business sector and the generation of business and networking opportunities. Every year in Malaga, Transfiere becomes an essential event for Ecosystem Agents where they can establish new B2B contacts, network, find new partners, establish strategic alliances and synergies, as well as publicise new products, services and innovative projects.

About LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0

It is a demonstrative pilot project, funded by the LIFE programme, that generates biogas in water treatment plant digesters by mixing putrescible organic waste (slurry, poultry, organic fractions, MSW, horeca, etc.), in a way that allows transforming sludge from wastewater treatment plants into green energy through technology. The initiative led by Global Omnium, (Spain), in collaboration with the Finnova Foundation (Belgium) and Águas do Centro Litoral (Portugal) aims to become the most versatile digestion control tool on the market by achieving environmental and economic benefits through the production of biogas through optimal waste exploitation. Thanks to this technology, it favours the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the exploitation of sewage sludge generated in wastewater treatment processes, thus achieving a positive impact on the environment.

About LIFE NextFUMIGREEN

This ambitious project, 60% subsidised by the LIFE programme, will last 4 years and 6 months, until 31 May 2027. Its main objective is to develop natural fumigants based on active substances extracted from plant extracts for the control of whitefly populations and fungal outbreaks of botrytis in horticultural crops grown intensively under glass. In addition, it will test the efficacy of a new type of fumigant plant protection product, based on active ingredients of natural origin, in the protection of the most representative greenhouse crops. The project aims to demonstrate that this new fumigant biopesticide is effective against pests and diseases specific to pepper and tomato crops (the major greenhouse crops) and that it can be used for other pathosystems (in addition to whitefly, it is intended to demonstrate its efficacy against thrips and tuta absoluta) and in other EU countries. Life NEXTFUMIGREEN also foresees other benefits such as improved food security resulting in residue-free food, and positive effects on biodiversity and climate change.

About RES4CITY

RES4CITY is an innovative European educational project 100% funded by the European Commission through the Horizon Europe Programme. Its main objective is to bridge the skills gap that is slowing down our transition to sustainable energy. It will be designed by a multidisciplinary group of partners from academia, industry and European NGOs with expertise in energy management, renewable energy systems, renewable fuel technologies and the development and implementation of sustainability strategy design. RES4CITY aims to ensure that education systems are at the heart of the ecological transition. The team will co-design a set of micro Masters programmes aimed at Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) graduates and non-STEM graduates, as well as professionals wishing to retrain in a wide variety of sectors and career paths. These micro-masters will respond to the needs and priorities of businesses, public institutions and citizens.

About SHARP-sCO2

SHARP-sCO2 (Solar Hybrid Air-sCO2 Power Plants) is a European project funded by the HORIZON programme that aims to establish the basis for the development of a new generation of highly efficient and flexible solar thermal power plants. It has a duration of 36 months, from 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2025. By using thermodynamic cycles based on the use of supercritical CO2 and air as the working fluid, as well as developing new technologies (receiver, storage, etc.), SHARP-sCO2 will achieve high working temperatures, ensuring reliable and flexible operation, optimal working conditions and high efficiency for the coupling of the air loop with the sCO2 loop thanks to the development of a high-performance heat exchanger.

About B-Resilient

B-Resilient, a European project with a systemic perspective, sets out an ambitious package of support actions to enable food processing SMEs to become more resilient through optimal use of biomass, and with appropriate digital solutions. The project will focus on maximising the use of available feedstock and its subsequent valorisation of side streams into innovative bio-based ingredients. The B-Resilient project is based on a circular and zero waste concept, which improves the competitiveness of food processing SMEs from an environmentally sustainable perspective. The B-Resilient project brings together 8 leading European clusters from 5 different countries. The project has a total European funding budget of 1.5 million, of which 1.12 million is directly targeted at SMEs in the agri-food sector through the B-Resilient programme of financial support to third parties.

About Bioeconomy Ventures BioeconomyVentures aims to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the bioindustry sector by offering support, brokerage and networking services to stakeholders. Against this background, the BioeconomyVentures consortium plans to create, within 30 months, a framework capable of fostering the necessary interaction and collaboration between start-ups and spin-offs, investors and the community, and to provide holistic support to the emerging bioindustry ecosystem. BioeconomyVentures will target both sides of the community – investors and start-ups – with specific actions. Under the project, the partners will develop an advanced methodology to effectively identify and assess the needs of start-ups and a platform providing all the services needed by the community.

• The Finnova Foundation participates, together with the Bogota Chamber of Commerce and the Peruvian Fashion Cluster, in the initiative “Sustainability in the Fashion sector for its internationalisation”.
• This training initiative is part of the Triangular Cooperation Programme of the European Union with Latin America and the Caribbean ADELANTE 2, which aims to promote triangular partnerships for innovative initiatives with a strong impact on the 2030 Agenda.

The free online course on sustainability in the fashion sector for its internationalisation, which aims to transfer knowledge and best practices, will start next Tuesday 31 January. With a duration of 50 hours in virtual sessions to be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 13h00 to 16h00 CET, the online course is carried out in the framework of the initiative “Sustainability in the fashion sector for its internationalisation”, in which the Finnova Foundation participates, and which has been developed with resources from the European Union’s Adelante 2 Call for Proposals.

The training will be divided into different thematic areas. First, it will begin with the block “Sustainability in the Fashion Sector” focusing on circular economy and eco-design, environmental management (water and energy) and new materials. The second block will focus on “Brand, Image and Strategy”, and will explain brand strategies, projection and recognition with examples of success stories. Finally, the course will end with the block “Internationalisation from sustainability” focusing on the search for markets, access to resources and success stories.

This course will be certified by the EAN University for which a minimum attendance of 80% of the scheduled sessions is required and is part of the Triangular Cooperation Initiative jointly developed by the Chamber of Commerce of Bogota, Finnova Spain and the Sustainable Fashion Cluster of Peru.

To attend this free course register here.

Sustainability in the fashion sector for its internationalisation initiative. The Finnova Foundation, the Bogota Chamber of Commerce and the Sustainable Fashion Cluster of Peru have joined forces to carry out the initiative Sustainability in the fashion sector for its internationalisation. This initiative, which runs from September 2022 to April 2023, seeks to share the knowledge of the entities of the Alliance to develop and apply models to support companies in the fashion sector, characterised by the promotion of sustainable production that meets the highest international standards.

This will close the gaps in the fashion sector in Bogota and the 59 municipalities in the jurisdiction of the Bogota Chamber of Commerce (CCB) for internationalisation towards European markets. To this end, it has a total budget of 182,696 euros, of which 130,721 are provided by the European Union and 51,975 come from the counterpart of the triangulation entities.

In order to approach the programme from different perspectives, ADELANTE 2 has different components: Operational support to articulate the European Union-Latin America and the Caribbean Triangular Cooperation ADELANTE Window; analytical support to develop the analysis and studies of Triangular Cooperation together with the Ibero-American General Secretariat; and, finally, institutional support to develop bilateral Triangular Cooperation funds between the EU and certain Latin American and Caribbean countries.  In this way, the programme can meet the Sustainable Development Goals to leave no one behind thanks to Triangular Cooperation.

Among other actions, over the coming months, a mapping of certifications and environmental sustainability seals will be carried out through the transfer of European and regional best practices. In addition, awareness-raising, training and business missions will be carried out for the benefit of companies in Bogota and Peru to strengthen the capacities of the Alliance’s member teams. These actions are focused on achieving greater impact, transfer and scalability of the knowledge generated.

To this end, the following activities are planned:

• Knowledge transfer workshop between officials of the Triangular Cooperation Alliance entities.
• Seminar for the presentation of the Initiative to the different stakeholders.
• Training course for entrepreneurs and stakeholders in the fashion sector in Bogota and the region.
• Study visit to Peru by 10 companies from Bogota and the 59 municipalities in the CCB’s jurisdiction, in order to learn about success stories and interact with companies in the fashion sector that, thanks to sustainability and innovation, have been able to access new markets at the international level. We will provide information on the selection criteria in future opportunities.
• Study visit by 5 companies from Bogota and the 59 municipalities in the jurisdiction of the CCB, and 5 companies from Peru to Spain, in order to meet and interact with companies and actors that promote sustainability, innovation and cooperation.

Holding of an International Sustainability Congress in Bogota, scheduled for April 2023.

• The challenge was promoted by the Gran Canaria Island Energy Council (CIEGC) and implemented by Fundadoras and Trib-Arte.
• In the framework of the European initiative “Enerbuild”, the students used the same software to face the challenge.
• The aim was to combat the effects of climate change while promoting STEAM subjects in young people.

22.12.2022, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. On 13 December, 40 students from CIFP Felo Monzón Grau Bassas attended the presentation of “Best Energy Detectives Gran Canaria”. The challenge aimed to generate ideas that could improve the use of energy in buildings to mitigate the effects of climate change, while promoting STEAM careers in young people. On Thursday 22 December, the jury, made up of representatives from Trib-Arte, Hiper-It and Fundadoras, met to make the final decision and choose what they considered to be the best solution to help optimise energy use in buildings.

During the challenge, the different groups formed by boys and girls tried to solve the problem with innovative ideas. The winning proposal was presented by the “Energy Angeale” team, formed by Ángela Talamino Marreno and Alejandro de Jesús Medina Reyes, both students of the Higher Technician in Renewable Energies. These students, who were present at the announcement of the winner, expressed their gratitude for the recognition: “We are very happy to be awarded this great prize. Our aim is to promote the use of Renewable Energies, as it is the future of the world”.

The jury also mentioned the great work done by the second-placed team “ECA”, formed by Libertad Reyes Torollo, Liliana Martín Hernández, Yannick García Velázquez, Alejandro García Jiménez, Saúl González Marrero, Javier González Herrera, Guadalupe Betancor Sosa, Carlos Morales Rodríguez and Galileo Rodríguez Amador, all students in the 1st year of the Higher Level Training Cycle in Environmental Education and Control.

Arseny Tarasov, member of the jury and CEO of HiPer it!, said during the announcement of the winner that “this activity shows how young people are really involved in the fight against climate change”.

From the CIFP Felo Monzón they have been very satisfied with the result of the challenge: “The management team and the participating teachers of the CIFP Felo Monzon Grau-Bassas thank you for having the students of 1°Redes y tratamientos de aguas, Energía Renovables y Educación y Control Ambiental for participating in the resolution of the challenge. We hope to be able to participate in future calls as it has been very enriching for all parties involved”.

“Best Energy Detectives Gran Canaria” was promoted by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria through the Consejo Insular de la Energía de Gran Canaria (CIEGC) and implemented by the Fundadoras foundation and the cultural and social association Trib-Arte with the collaboration of the Finnova foundation in the framework of the European initiative “Enerbuild” and the “Girls4Tech” project developed by Finnova. This challenge has been carried out with the aim of making it more ambitious for 2023 and thus ensuring its continuity over time.

About Enerbuild

The participants of the challenge were able to see first-hand how the software “Enerbuild” uses to analyse energy consumption situations.

The “Enerbuild” initiative in the framework of the EIT Climate-KIC programme presents an energy optimisation system that is being developed in a pilot building of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, with the aim of mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. The Internet of Things platform HiPerWare, a tool from HiPer it!, part of BPS Group dedicated to Big Data, and the Portuguese smart maintenance platform Infraspeak, are acting as technological pillars of a combined solution based on analysing and monitoring supply systems by collecting Big Data, with the aim of detecting anomalies and providing recommendations on system optimisation.

About Fundadoras Association

Fundadoras is a statewide Association for the promotion of female entrepreneurship that has been operating since 2018. The objectives of Fundadoras are to Add Ecosystem, Reward and Recognise, Disseminate and Position. 

About Trib-Arte Cultural and Social Association

It is a team of professionals from the educational, social and artistic fields that gives innovative and creative answers in different lines of action. The members of Trib-Arte have different professional profiles related to social work, pedagogy, social education and the world of art in its various forms.

About the Energy Council of Gran Canaria  

An organisation associated with the Cabildo de Gran Canaria that was created with the intention of promoting clean energy, stimulating different energy saving and efficiency policies in homes and economic sectors of the islands, while promoting research, development and technological innovation together with local councils and other institutions.

About Finnova

Finnova is a Spanish-Belgian non-profit foundation based in Brussels (Belgium) and present in Spain in the Valencian Community, the Basque Country, Andalusia, the Community of Madrid, Extremadura and the Canary Islands. The foundation works for the promotion and development of innovation and entrepreneurship at EU level and operates through collaborations and partnerships in all EU countries. Finnova’s experience in leading communication activities and dissemination of European projects is combined with a solid proven track record in business creation and business support programmes, such as accelerators, incubators and incubators. It is also committed to the training and employability of young people.

• Ciudad Real Activa is an initiative created by the IMPEFE that aims to promote professional development, career guidance and entrepreneurship in the area.

Last Friday, 16th December, the European project CirCoAX by CircularInnoBooster was present at the event “Ciudad Real Activa”, an event whose objective was the dynamisation of the local entrepreneurial and business ecosystem, as well as achieving professional orientation and boosting entrepreneurship in its initial stages. 

Juan Manuel Revuelta, CEO of Finnova, partner of the CirCoAX by CircularInnoBooster project, explained the European project funded by the European Union’s Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (COSME), which aims to transform companies in the textile and fashion industry into sustainable, circular and regenerative enterprises. “To meet its objective, the CircularInnoBooster project has launched CirCoAX, an eight-month acceleration programme that provided 30 consortia (#CirCoAX30) from across the European Union committed to circularity with funding, training and further activities to develop their ideas. This acceleration aims to turn these initiatives into projects funded by the EU through programmes such as LIFE, Interreg and Horizon, enabling public-private partnerships with city councils, county councils and regional governments,” explained Revuelta.

Job creation

Promoted by the Municipal Institute for Economic Promotion, Training and Employment (IMPEFE) and the City Council of Ciudad Real in the framework of the Ciudad Real Emprende cycle of meetings, the event was aimed not only at achieving a connection between investors and companies, but also put the focus on young people who are being trained in the Vocational Training Centres of the territory, and their own University. In this way, it was possible to connect young people with the professional, entrepreneurial and innovative reality. “CirCoAX by CircularInnoBooster will enable job creation at a time when it is so necessary. Less than half of used clothes are collected for reuse or recycling when they are no longer needed, and only 1% are recycled into new clothes. This generates 5.8 million tonnes of textiles per year in the EU, approximately 11 kg per person. But instead of seeing this as a problem, we should see it as an opportunity to generate new materials from this waste, which in turn creates new jobs and helps social integration around the world,” explained Finnova’s CEO.

About CircularInnoBooster

CircularInnoBooster Fashion and Textile (F&T) is a project funded by the European Union’s Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Programme (COSME).

The CircularInnoBooster project aims to transform companies in the textile and fashion industry into sustainable, circular, and regenerative enterprises. With a duration of 2 years, it has a budget of 1,128,000 euros, 75% co-financed by the European Commission. The project is composed of an international consortium led by the European Institute of Design (IED), together with Texfor, Circulab, Finnova and The Circular Project with HumanNation.

About COSME 

COSME is the Competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises programme of the European Commission’s Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME).

Through this programme, assistance is provided to SMEs to help them develop their business models, access finance, and internationalise. It also supports public administrations in improving the business environment and facilitating economic growth in the European Union. During the 2014-2020 funding period, this programme earmarked €2.3 billion to support SMEs.

About IED 

Istituto Europeo di Design is an academic institution operating in the field of education, training, and research in the disciplines of design, fashion, visual communication, and management. IED has branches in Spain (Madrid and Barcelona), Italy (Milan, Rome and 5 other cities) and Brazil (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro). It operates in several EU and COSME countries through partnerships and agreements with institutions, business support organisations, teachers, experts, and mentors. IED is based on a wide network of connections in the F&T (Fashion and Textile) sector.

About Finnova

Finnova is a foundation working for the promotion and development of innovation and entrepreneurship at EU level. Based in Brussels, it operates through collaborations and partnerships in all EU countries. Finnova’s expertise in leading European project communication and dissemination activities is combined with a strong proven track record in start-ups and business support programmes, such as accelerators, incubators and selection and award ceremonial events.

About Texfor

Texfor is the textile association of reference in Spain with 400 members. Founded in November 2010 and based in Catalonia, it brings together companies from the entire textile value chain, from yarns to fabrics through accessories, finishing processes, printing, and dyeing for the garment industry, home textiles and technical / industrial applications. Texfor has expertise and experience, having worked in important expert committees at EU level: university and vocational training, financial capacity building, transversal collaboration, promotion of R&D&I, specialised services, and leadership in sustainability with a focus on the circular economy.

About Circulab

Circulab is a laboratory and business design studio specialising in the development of methodologies, tools, and transformation programmes to help companies develop circular and sustainable business models. Circulab has designed a set of tools to implement the circular economy model in companies. It operates in more than 23 countries, 9 of them in the European Union, supporting projects through more than 60 independent business consultants, applying the circular methodology and tools.

About The Circular Project with HumanNation

TCP (The Circular Project) supports and promotes circular and sustainable fashion in different areas, offering the fashion industry a communication strategy based on a cross-cutting and systemic approach to the circular economy. TCP combines social, ethical, environmental, and economic aspects, and has a strong presence and connections in the world of sustainable fashion. TCP has promoted the Circular Sustainable Fashion Week in Madrid, a unique event of its kind, and acts as the headquarters of the Spanish Association for Sustainability, Innovation and Circularity in the Fashion Industry. TCP is also an ambassador for Sannas (Triple Bottom Line Business Association) and has collaborated with a wide range of Spanish, European and Latin American institutions, and companies.   The Circular Project is working with Human Nation to co-design and develop CirCoAX. HumanNation is a consulting firm specialising in the development of innovation ecosystems and transformative and disruptive companies for the “new economy”. It is based on the fourth economic sector, systems thinking and co-creation. It sensitises organisations and ecosystems to respect planetary boundaries and the social fabric, creating resilient local economies with a global perspective.

• Students will have to propose solutions for optimal energy efficiency in buildings
• The challenge has been promoted by the Gran Canaria Island Energy Council (CIEGC) and implemented by Fundadoras and Trib-Arte
• The aim is to optimise energy use while promoting STEAM subjects in girls and young women

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 13.12.2022. On Tuesday 13 December, the pilot challenge “Best Energy Detectives Gran Canaria” was presented, promoted by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria through the Gran Canaria Island Energy Council (CIEGC) and implemented by the Fundadoras foundation and the cultural and social association Trib-Arte with the collaboration of the Finnova foundation in the framework of the European initiative “Enerbuild” and the “Girls4Tech” project developed by Finnova. The challenge aimed to generate ideas that could improve the use of energy in buildings to mitigate the effects of climate change, while promoting STEAM careers in young people, especially girls. 

The challenge has been proposed to 40 students of the CIFP Felo Monzón Grau Bassas belonging to the training cycles of Renewable Energies, Networks and Water Treatment Stations, Education and Environmental Control. Members of the Trib-Arte association and teachers from the centre participated as mentors in the practical workshop.

The participants of the challenge have learned first-hand how the software that “Enerbuild” uses to analyse energy consumption situations works. They will then propose solutions to make energy use more efficient. Over the next two weeks, they will develop proposed solutions to this problem. At the end of December, a jury formed by Trib-Arte, Hiper-It and Fundadoras will choose the most innovative solution and the members of the winning team will be invited to visit the European Parliament and the Parlamentarium in Brussels.

Lola Bordás, CMO of Finnova, head of the “Womenfortech” initiative and president of the Fundadoras Foundation, and Carla García, European Project Manager, were present at the inauguration of the challenge. The latter mentioned that “At Finnova we carry out different challenge resolution programmes such as Accelerathon, the Startup Europe Awards and the Finnova Challenges. This project will serve to promote the Energy in Buildings Challenge for 2030”.

Raúl García Brink, from the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, explained that the CIEGC is developing different actions to encourage innovation in young people and their involvement in the island’s energy transition. “In this case, we have given the students the history of the Enerbuild project that we are developing in the El Sabinal social and health centre so that, based on these real data, they can try to locate the energy inefficiencies of the building and propose measures to improve the energy consumption of this centre for the elderly”.

The director of the CIFP Felo Monzón Grau-Bassas, Adela Palomo Blanco, highlighted the needs of the islands for professional profiles in the sector of renewable energies, education and environmental control, energy and water. “Through these initiatives we are able to set up simulations of what the world of work will be like when the students go out to work abroad”, she said.

As part of our commitment to the 2030 agenda, this activity aims to achieve equal opportunities, which in turn is part of Sustainable Development Goal 5: gender equality. It is also an educational way of involving young people in the fight against climate change. The innovative ideas used in “Enerbuild” serve to raise awareness among future generations of the importance of making good use of technology to move towards a more prosperous society, in which climate change and energy optimisation are no longer one of the major problems.

In addition, Fundadoras works to fight climate change, with collaborations with the Climate Kic programme. An example would be the Pionners programme. This energy improvement project in buildings is actually a solution to link young people in a practical way.

About Enerbuild

The “Enerbuild” initiative in the framework of the EIT Climate-KIC programme presents an energy optimisation system that is being developed in a pilot building of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, with the aim of mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. The Internet of Things platform HiPerWare, a tool of the German group BPS International dedicated to Big Data, and the Portuguese smart maintenance platform Infraspeak, are acting as technological pillars of a combined solution based on analysing and monitoring supply systems by collecting Big Data, with the aim of detecting anomalies and providing recommendations on system optimisation.

About Fundadoras Foundation

Fundadoras is a statewide Association for the promotion of female entrepreneurship that has been operating since 2018. The objectives of Fundadoras are to Add Ecosystem, Reward and Recognise, Disseminate and Position. 

About Trib-Arte Cultural and Social Association

It is a team of professionals from the educational, social and artistic fields that gives innovative and creative answers in different lines of action. The members of Trib-Arte have different professional profiles related to social work, pedagogy, social education and the world of art in its various forms.

About the Energy Council of Gran Canaria 

An organisation associated with the Cabildo de Gran Canaria that was created with the intention of promoting clean energies, stimulating different energy saving and efficiency policies in homes and economic sectors of the islands, while promoting research, development and technological innovation together with local councils and other institutions.

About Finnova

Finnova is a Spanish-Belgian non-profit foundation based in Brussels (Belgium) and present in Spain in the Valencian Community, the Basque Country, Andalusia, the Community of Madrid, Extremadura and the Canary Islands. The foundation works for the promotion and development of innovation and entrepreneurship at EU level and operates through collaborations and partnerships in all EU countries. Finnova’s experience in leading communication activities and dissemination of European projects is combined with a solid proven track record in business creation and entrepreneurial support programmes, such as accelerators, incubators and incubators. It is also committed to the training and employability of young people.

• Benaguasil Town Council leads the WOMENEQUITY project in which Finnova is a partner
• The project, which will run for 18 months, is part of the Networks of Cities call of the Citizenship, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV)

Brussels, 14.12.2022. The first meeting of the WOMENEQUITY project took place on 13 December. Its main objective is to raise awareness of the barriers women face in accessing the labour market n order to improve and end this situation, which has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The meeting served to get to know the project partners and to finalise the last aspects of the project in order to be able to develop it with the appropriate methodology.

With a budget of €137,435, the project is led by Benaguasil Town Council, and will be developed by a consortium formed by the Finnova Foundation, Innovation hive – kypseli kainotomias; the Municipality of Lourinha (Portugal), Drustvo za Razvijanje Rrostovoljnega, Dela Novo Mesto (Slovenia), Comune di Santarcangelo di Romagna (Italy) and Municipiul Botosani (Romania).

WOMENEQUITY, which is part of the Networks of Cities call of the Citizenship, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV), aims to address women’s access to the labour market from a European perspective, thanks to the collaboration between municipalities to find solutions to reduce existing barriers and improve their conditions.

The project also aims to raise awareness and involve all citizens in this reality, as well as public and private entities, offering work tools based on equality in order to achieve greater inclusion of women in the labour market.

The different opportunities for self-employment and entrepreneurship from which the participants can benefit will also be emphasised.

Young people, unemployed women over 55 and migrant women

The project will focus on three main target groups: young people starting to enter the labour market, unemployed women over 55 and migrant women. This target group is due to the increase in the number of teleworkers, especially women who, together with the closure of schools and day-care centres, have generally assumed greater domestic and care responsibilities and consequently suffered a deterioration between work and life.

Initiatives in this area are being developed thanks to “Womenfortech”, a women’s support platform led by Finnova, which supports innovative and disruptive projects carried out by women and partnerships between public and private entities.

Some of the most significant projects that have been successfully developed are the “Women Startup Europe Awards Special Edition Fuerteventura” or “Retos Finnova – Technovation Girls”.

Seven events over the next 18 months

The project will be articulated around seven events during the eighteen months of duration, with one event taking place in each of the countries involved. All local actors from the different European territories will participate in these activities through a participatory and transversal approach, exchanging European cultural values and traditions and strengthening the links between EU territories.

This will produce audiovisual materials reflecting the reality of women in the world of work and a good practice guide, which will compile local initiatives carried out in the world of work and serve as a communication to the public. This will allow participating municipalities to replicate them or serve as an example and inspiration for others.

About the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme

The Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme funds citizens’ engagement, equality for all and the implementation of EU rights and values. The programme brings together the former Rights, Equality and Citizenship3 programme and the former Europe for Citizens4 programme. It thus promotes exchanges between people from different countries, strengthens mutual understanding and tolerance, and provides the opportunity to broaden perspectives and develop a sense of European belonging and identity through twinning and town networks. The programme follows a bottom-up approach while offering, in particular to town networks, the opportunity to focus on EU priorities.

• The European Enerbuild project has proved to be an example of good practice after the good results shared at the hybrid technical seminar held at the Infecar exhibition centre on Monday 12 December. 
• Representatives of the Enerbuild consortium, including Finnova, presented the solutions, improvements and applications of this energy optimisation system.
• The Enerbuild partners agreed on the importance of public-private collaboration in conjunction with technology and the general community for energy efficiency to continue to be projected, and encouraged to join efforts to develop this and other projects at different scales under the support of European funds.

Saving up to 240,000 kilowatts per year is one of the contributions developed by  the energy optimisation system Enerbuild. Installed in the El Sabinal socio-health centre, which functions as a residence for the elderly, this European project is a practical and living example of how it is possible to combat climate change and current problems through public-private cooperation and good management of European funds.

The combination of the Intelligent Maintenance Management Platform developed by Infraspeak, which delivers an intelligent maintenance management platform, and Big Data-driven Smart-building technology by Hiper IT, part of BPS Group – which has extensive expertise in the real estate digital lifecycle management, from design to operation, of industrial, commercial, residential and infrastructure assets –  enables energy efficient and high-performance technical operations of real estate, bringing AI and ML technologies, BIM expertise, and hardware development to the world of property management. Allows to “detect where, when and what kind of anomalies the energy system of the building under study registers”. This was stated by Arseny Tasarov, CEO of Hiper IT, who explained that this system “provides real-time notifications about the energy status of the building, allowing to detect and apply the solutions adapted to each individual situation. It’s like a smartwatch but focused on the Real State,” Tasarov emphasised. 

Jorge Mendes, regional sales manager at Infraspeak, explained key aspects of the platform being key to providing this complex data in an intuitive way, especially designed for operational members of the building teams for their mobile devices or computer desktops, which record the different energy peaks that buildings require depending on their daily activity.  

 “This energy optimisation system, which saves up to 240,000 kilowatts per year, can be used in public buildings such as the residence located in El Sabinal, once its commercialisation begins,” said Ignacio Chanzá, ecosystem developer for Southern Europe at Climate-KIC. 

This European project, 75% funded by the EIT Climate – KIC, a European community dedicated to the promotion of innovative tools that contribute to a green transition, aims, together with the Energy Island Council of Gran Canaria, leader of the project, “to raise awareness among citizens, This is an action in which both organisations are working together, as Ignacio Chanzá and Raul García Brink, Technical Coordinator for Economic Development of the Energy Island Council of Gran Canaria, explained during their intervention.

“The existence of initiatives such as Enerbuild are very important at the public sector level,” said Lovren Markic, Director of the Department for International and EU Relations of the Municipality of Skopje, Macedonia, on behalf of the SmartUp-Social Innovation Lab. “Working with energy metric tools that provide solutions to improve energy efficiency through the use of European funds is vital. From Macedonia, institutions such as SmartUp – Social Innovation Lab or the Municipality of Skopje work to find synergies in order to improve and move forward to address the climate issues that society is experiencing,” added Markic.

 “We believe that innovation is essential, we connect different projects with different areas in which to co-operate to mitigate and move towards a transition to a green economy,” said Ignacio Chanza. For his part, Raúl García Brink stated that “from the Energy Council of Gran Canaria we are working on other energy initiatives that will achieve as good results as Enerbuild, a project that we are very proud of and publicise in our community”.  

In balance, the different partners of the European project Enerbuild, agree on the importance of fighting together through innovation, public-private cooperation and the management of European funds, problems such as energy saving, a task that, as explained by Carla García, European project manager at Finnova, is possible thanks to the services and different calls for proposals that the European Union cites under different programmes such as Life or Horizon, which she presented during her speech. 

 Best Energy Detectives

The Canarian entities support and spread the good action of European initiatives such as Enerbuild. Finnova, supports this good intention and following the 2030 agenda and sustainable development goals such as Gender Equality, next Tuesday, 13th December, in the institute Ies Felo Monzón, the activity Best Energy Detectives will take place under the GIRLS4TECH programme. This activity aims to promote and disseminate technologies such as those used in the Enerbuild pilot project in order to raise awareness among future generations of the importance of making good use of technology to move towards a more prosperous society, in which climate change and energy optimisation are no longer major problems. 

About Finnova

Finnova is a Spanish-Belgian non-profit foundation based in Brussels (Belgium) with a presence in Spain in the Valencian Community, the Basque Country, Andalusia, the Community of Madrid, Extremadura and the Canary Islands. The foundation works for the promotion and development of innovation and entrepreneurship at EU level and operates through collaborations and partnerships in all EU countries. Finnova’s experience in leading communication activities and dissemination of European projects is combined with a solid proven track record in business creation and business support programmes, such as accelerators, incubators and incubators. It is also committed to the training and employability of young people.

About the Energy Island Council of Gran Canaria

An organisation associated with the Cabildo de Gran Canaria that was created with the intention of promoting clean energies, stimulating different energy saving and efficiency policies in homes and economic sectors of the islands, while at the same time promoting research, development and technological innovation together with town councils and other institutions.

About SmartUp

Social Innovation Lab, located in Skopje (North Macedonia), dedicates its resources and skills to catalyse innovation in order to offer novel solutions to social problems, connecting institutions, organisations and groups to different opportunities or projects.

About EIT Climate-KIC

EIT Climate-KIC is a community dedicated to innovation and knowledge in climate action. It identifies and supports different initiatives or projects that contribute to the fight against climate change and promote decarbonisation and energy transition.

It is part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an independent body of the European Union dedicated to increasing Europe’s competitiveness in areas such as sustainability, economic growth and job creation.

About BPS Group

BPS Group is a German company operating in the field of technology and the real estate market. The firm has developed HiPerWare, an end-to-end platform that with the help of Big Data and the Internet of Things can perform technically complex real estate operations in real time. The data, obtained through sensors placed in buildings or equipment, are analysed in the cloud and processed against thousands of variables that allow to visualise operational processes in 3D and improve the efficiency of maintenance.

About Infraspeak

Infraspeak is the developer of an intelligent maintenance management platform, a state-of-the-art software capable of connecting to different resources such as platforms and sensors. Infraspeak has extensive experience in the implementation of its software and its connection to Internet of Things sensors, bringing its services to more than 400 customers around the world.

• Gran Canaria Island Energy Council is committed to innovation in young people through this challenge program.
• The Founders Association and TribArte collaborate in this program together with the CIFP Felo Monzón.

BEST ENERGY DETECTIVES GRAN CANARIA program was created as an activity to support STEM careers in young people and mitigate climate change in the framework of the Girls4Tech Program of the Finnova Foundation and promoted by the Gran Canaria Island Energy Council (CIEGC) in the framework of the European project ENERBUILD, the coordination of the project is carried out by the Founders Association and the TribArte Association.

In accordance with the energy consumption data analysis software in buildings provided by Hiper-it in the innovative project ENERBUILD, the young people of the CIFP FELO-MONZÓN GRAU-BASSAS will be able to participate in a CHALLENGE in which they will become detectives of energy consumption in buildings. Participants will discover situations of consumption in which they will be able to analyse the causes and provide solutions.

On Tuesday 13^th of December, in the facilities of the CIFP FELO MONZÓN in Tarifa Baja de Las Palmas, the students will learn how the analysis software works and over the following two weeks they will carry out the exercise of providing their solution.

Afterwards, a jury formed by Trib-Arte Hiper-It and Founders will determine which solution is the winner and then invite them to visit the European institutions such as the Parliament and the Parlamentarium in Brussels.

This program is being carried out as a first step in order to be able to carry out a more ambitious CHALLENGE in 2023 and to be able to give it continuity over time.

More information about:

ENERBUILD

Enerbuild project, lead by Gran Canaria Island Energy Council (CIEGC) and with the participation of the Finnova Foundation and the Macedonian Innovation Lab Smart-Up, was approved by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology linked to its Regional Innovation Scheme, an initiative focused on strengthening innovation ecosystems at national and regional level. The project is being developed in the framework of EIT Climate-KIC, the European community dedicated to innovation in climate action.

The initiative presents an energy optimisation system that is being developed in a pilot building of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria with the aim of mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. The Internet of Things platform HiPerWare, a tool of the German group BPS International dedicated to Big Data, and the Portuguese smart maintenance platform Infraspeak are the technological pillars of this combined solution based on analysing and monitoring supply systems by collecting Big Data with the aim of detecting anomalies and providing recommendations on system optimisation.

FOUNDERS

TRIBARTE