Twenty-two European Small and Mediums Enterprise (SMEs) presented innovative solutions that address the goals of the climate agenda in energy production and distribution, during an event organised by OMV Petrom, the largest energy company in South-Eastern Europe and the European Innovation Council (EIC), the European Union’s flagship innovation programme.
“The energy sector is going through a period of profound transformation and companies need to respond to both a constantly growing energy demand as well as to greenhouse gas emission reduction targets,” said Christina Verchere, CEO of OMV Petrom. “We are interested in projects and ideas that could contribute to the energy transition.”
“This successful cooperation between OMV Petrom and the EIC is proof that Europe has the talent, inspiration and capacity to grow innovative companies with high impact solutions that make a positive difference in millions of people’s lives every day,” added Jean David Malo, director of the EIC and the SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). “We truly believe this EIC Corporate Day is a new great opportunity for all and another important landmark in the long-lasting collaboration with OMV Petrom that we highly appreciate, and which brings a great deal of business opportunities.”
The companies registered come from 15 European countries and applied to a call for innovative projects in the energy field, initiated by EIC in November last year. They were pre-selected out of more than 40 companies that submitted proposals in the initial call for projects. In the process of selecting the SMEs, the aim was that the proposed solutions should be ready to be implemented in the business area. The assessment process took into account the degree of digitalisation and innovation as well as their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The areas of interest for OMV Petrom include innovative energy storage solutions, circular economy technologies, new technologies for solar photovoltaic systems, carbon capture and storage projects and/or in combination with blue hydrogen production, non-classical geothermal solutions for the generation of energy and the production of turquoise hydrogen resulting from the pyrolysis of methane.
