The Ukrainian Startup Fund became a partner of the WEnnovate project within the framework of the HORIZON EUROPE programme
WEnnovate is a one-year project implemented by a consortium of partners from 4 countries (Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia and the Netherlands) and aims to develop new systems and solutions that address urgent complex and systemic challenges in the energy sector, in particular, strengthening clean energy and stimulating local energy communities to innovate and share energy.
WEnnovate aims to develop joint long-term action plans to strengthen the innovation performance of the European economy by interconnecting digital and deep technology ecosystems to solve problems together at regional, European and global levels.
The initiative focuses on the transition to sustainable renewable energy and cross-sectoral activities in the energy and digital world of innovation, aligned with the European Commission’s energy directives and sustainable development goals, as well as the New European Innovation Agenda.
The partners of the Ukrainian Startup Fund in the WEnnovate consortium are:
- Sustainable Scale up Foundation (Netherlands)
- G-Force SRO (Slovakia)
- Kyiv Academic University (Ukraine)
- Unify Energy BV (Netherlands)
- Province of Utrecht (Netherlands)
- Design Terminal, project coordinator (Hungary)
The project is divided into two phases: a research phase focusing on social entrepreneurs with deep technology and digital innovation, and a stakeholder engagement phase focused on stakeholder engagement to gather information to ensure the widest possible participation in the dialogue of ecosystem participants and effective implementation of transition action plans.
The USF’s key role in WEnnovate is, among other things, to establish a dialogue between stakeholders for international cooperation in the field of energy innovation.
Over the course of 12 months, the consortium will conduct research and develop a common methodology for building cooperation between partners, analyse existing innovation plans and strategies, identify areas for sustainable economic growth and map gaps, needs and opportunities. The consortium will also coordinate and co-design its programmes, encouraging the harmonisation of regulations affecting the innovation sector based on the guidance of the New European Innovation Agenda and creating new frameworks to support ecosystems.
