• The registration period will remain open until Wednesday, March 6
• The European Parliament headquarters in Brussels will host, on Tuesday, February 20, a hybrid webinar to present the Accelerathon and answer questions about it
• A new challenge that will be launched, focus on the reuse of domestic wastewater

13/02/2024, Brussels. The European RES4CITY project announces new developments regarding the RES4CITY STARTUP EUROPE ACCELERATHON, the acceleration program that seeks to boost ideas related to sustainability and circularity in urban environments. The Accelerathon is framed within the RES4CITY project, which offers inclusive opportunities for all students to develop skills in renewable energy systems, fuel technologies and sustainability. RES4CITY is a 36-month project with a budget of 2.5 million euros, fully funded by the European Commission through the Horizon Europe Program. These changes were announced at the 5th Mediterranean Water Forum, which brought together more than 1,000 people in Tunis.

March 6, new deadline for registration

The first of the changes is the extension of the registration deadline to participate in the RES4CITY STARTUP EUROPE ACCELERATHON, which will be extended for three more weeks, until Wednesday, March 6th. This date will coincide with the participation of the Finnova Foundation in the WEX Global event, which will bring together multiple projects and stakeholders advocating for sustainable water management. The Foundation will take advantage of its participation to present the accelerator and recruit interested parties who want to be part of it.

February 20, hybrid webinar

Two weeks before the call closes, on Tuesday 20 February at 12:40 pm (CET), a hybrid webinar (face-to-face and online) will be held at the headquarters of the European Parliament in Brussels (Belgium) to present the Accelerathon and resolve any doubts that may arise. The webinar will be part of the event “Innovate4Change: Transforming Societal Challenges through Social Entrepreneurship, organized by the European project LADESE. Anyone interested in attending or following the webinar can sign up through this link.

New challenge: reuse of greywater

Finally, the RES4CITY STARTUP EUROPE ACCELERATHON opens its range of challenges and includes a fourth one related to the reuse of domestic wastewater, also known as gray water. The challenge lies precisely in developing innovative ideas that optimize the reuse of this water as it can be used in activities such as watering gardens or flushing toilets. The aim of this initiative is not only to mitigate the effect of climate change processes such as the impact of heat waves, but also to highlight the environmental benefits of taking advantage of these treated water resources.

Four challenges to find green solutions for smart cities

This fourth challenge is in addition to the three challenges that were already announced: optimizing electric vehicle charging efficiency through smart energy solutions; achieving efficient land and soil management by changing business operations in line with circular economy principles; and designing green hydrogen production projects.

The first challenge, “Optimizing electric vehicle charging efficiency through smart energy solutions,” seeks smart energy storage proposals to optimize energy flow, ensuring efficient and cost-effective charging of EVs, reducing grid stress during peak demand, and stabilizing the power grid and integration of existing infrastructure. In addition, it will also consider ideas that integrate information and communication technology to improve renewable energy efficiency, and those that propose solutions to establish a legal framework that accelerates the adoption of more efficient energy mobility practices.

The second challenge, “Achieving efficient land and soil management by changing business operations in line with circular economy principles,” calls for alternatives that address efficient land and soil management by changing operations in line with circular economy principles. In addition, it will also value ideas that include the revaluation of organic waste and the creation of vertical gardens.

Finally, solutions to the third challenge, “Designing green hydrogen production projects, should focus on designing well-thought-out green hydrogen production projects that adequately manage impacts on water supply and land use.

What do you need to know about the RES4CITY STARTUP EUROPE ACCELERATHON?

The Accelerathon is an online competition designed to seek innovative solutions for ideas or projects that are transforming cities towards a more sustainable future. It is open to participants from all over the world: students, entrepreneurs, researchers, SMEs, start-ups, universities, public sector organizations and entities in general (registration can be individual or in groups of 3 to 5 people), who respond to one of the four challenges posed in the Accelerathon.

Participants will benefit from training focused on the use of European funds, access to the RES4CITY community network, and development of ideas that can have a global impact in the field of urban greening. The winner of the Accelerathon will be able to enjoy a European Acceleration Ticket, a prize that will allow him/her to apply for European funds from various programs (INTERREG, HORIZON, LIFE, PRIMA,…) to bring his/her idea to reality.

In case you want to know more about the Accelerathon, how it works, its challenges, and to access the registration form, you can click here to solve your doubts.

About the RES4CITY project

RES4CITY is a 36-month project with a budget of 2.5 million euros, fully funded by the European Commission through the Horizon Europe Program. It aims to enhance the development of sustainable renewable energy and fuel technologies in cities by co-designing an innovative educational program with stakeholders and promoting sustainability and circularity, filling knowledge and skills gaps for a successful energy transition.

About the 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 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 ceremonial event selection and awarding.