Schwedt start-up lab launches call for tenders: "Increasing energy and resource efficiency"
The Schwedt Startup Lab, an EXIST model project of the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE), has launched the first "Startup Challenge Schwedt". The aim is to promote innovative technological approaches from start-ups that can increase energy and resource efficiency at the Schwedt industrial site. This initiative aims to accelerate the transition to climate-neutral life-cycle management and strengthen Schwedt as a pioneer of industrial transformation.
As a location for important industries such as mineral oil processing and paper production, Schwedt faces particular challenges. The loss of Russian oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline and the objectives of the European "Green Deal" require innovative solutions to ensure the future viability of the location. The Schwedt Startup Lab offers founders the opportunity to transfer their technologies directly into industrial practice and thus make a real contribution to the transformation.
Procedure of the challenge
The challenge is divided into two phases:
- Application phase (until 24/02/2025): Startups submit their ideas. A jury selects up to ten teams to develop their concepts for pilot projects with the support of industry partners. Each team receives up to 25,000 euros in funding.
- Pilot phase: The best five teams realise their projects in Schwedt. Up to 300,000 euros are available per team for this purpose.
Topics for possible pilot projects
- Increasing the efficiency of industrial technologies, including through digital tools
- Intelligent control of material cycles with artificial intelligence
- Utilisation of industrial side streams, residual and raw materials (e.g. from waste paper recycling or ethanol production)
- CO2 utilisation in industrial processes
- Sustainable CO2 sources (e.g. from oxyfuel processes with biomass or direct air capture)
- Utilisation of surplus electrical energy
Partners and funding
The Schwedt Startup Lab is supported by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection as part of the "Start-ups from Science - EXIST" funding programme and co-financed by the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg. The challenge is being organised in cooperation with the Schwedt-based industrial partners PCK Raffinerie GmbH and LEIPA Group GmbH as well as the companies ENERTRAG SE and Verbio SE.
Timetable
- Application deadline: 24 February 2025
- Selection of the teams: March 2025
- Start of the concept phase: 27 March 2025
- Pitch of the concepts: 11 July 2025
- Start of the pilot projects: 15 July 2025
Interested startups can find out more about the conditions of participation and apply at the following link → Startup Challenge
Information about the HNEE Startup Lab Schwedt can be found at →Startup Lab Schwedt
Contact project management:
Sascha Lademann
Head of the Startup Lab Schwedt
Phone: +49 3334 657-497
presse[at]startuplabor-schwedt.de
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