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EIT InnoEnergy: students propose innovative solutions to construct future smart cities

EIT InnoEnergy smart cities Rita Pape

EIT InnoEnergy is delighted with its involvement in Leading Futures 2019, an innovation conference and case competition run by students from the MBA programme at Barcelona business school ESADE.

The annual event explores the theme of innovation through the lens of a given industry, this year’s topic area – Smart Cities and Innovation. Nearly 30 teams from 10 MBA schools worked hard to deliver their solutions to a Smart Mobility case challenge written especially for Leading Futures 2019. Six finalists were selected to compete in the final on 1 March, each pitching their solution on Smart Cities and Innovation to a expert panel of judges.

The event began on 28 February, with an intensive day of learning and training aimed at stimulating a cooperative as well as a competitive environment. EIT InnoEnergy and its partner companies took a primary role, leading interactive workshops and keynotes, and taking part in panel discussions.

EIT InnoEnergy, the trusted partner and smart investor for energy start-ups, put finalists through their paces, submitting their business model and pitch through a ‘stress test’ that offered competitors invaluable feedback. Workshops included that on Market Validation led by Rita Pape, Highway ProgrammeManager for Business Creation at EIT InnoEnergy, and partner company Innovation Consultancy Insitum gave a Business Model workshop.


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EIT InnoEnergy also participated in the final jury. Josep Miquel Torregrosa, Business Creation Officer from EIT InnoEnergy's Iberia office, was among the judges assessing final pitches from case competitors, which included teams from Cranfield University UK; IE Business School, Madrid and HEC Paris. Yet in a hard-fought final, it was home team Moovify from ESADE who were crowned overall winners of the EUR 2 000 cash prize!

All competitors benefited hugely from the event, which also offered networking opportunities and featured insightful talks from specialists in the fields of Smart Cities and Innovation from both public and private sectors. Leading Futures 2019 partnered with some great innovation hubs and consultancies that shared their expertise and delivered hands-on training in innovation and entrepreneurship.