Vice president of the European Commission endorses EIT InnoEnergy
Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič meets EIT InnoEnergy’s innovators in Portugal, while celebrating the country’s progress and potential as a clean energy leader.
EIT InnoEnergy, Europe’s sustainable energy innovation engine, was proud to welcome Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič to Lisbon this week, showcasing the clean-energy contribution of some of the Portuguese innovations it has supported. As a Vice President of the European Commission (EC) and head of the Energy Union, Commissioner Šefčovič was in Portugal as part of his Energy Union Tour, with the aim of seeing first-hand some examples of Portugal’s leadership in clean energy innovation.
On Monday 17th July Commissioner Šefčovič visited EIT InnoEnergy in Lisbon, meeting with Andreia Fernandes, Portugal Country Manager, EIT InnoEnergy, at the Tivoli Hotel Avenida. Over dinner, the Commissioner took in presentations about the organisation’s work in Portugal and from some of the innovative start-ups that EIT InnoEnergy has supported.
Commissioner Šefčovič said, 'What I appreciate with EIT InnoEnergy is its tailor-made support to help entrepreneurs develop promising and efficient energy solutions while always mindful that they have to conquer markets.'
EIT InnoEnergy – itself funded by the EU – exists to accelerate clean energy innovation in Europe. Rather than simply provide investment, however, EIT InnoEnergy supports its innovators with guidance towards commercialisation and by coordinating partnerships with its extensive network in industry, academia and government.
'It was an honour to join Commissioner Šefčovič and to showcase some of the fantastic innovations we’ve supported,' said Fernandes. 'To our innovators in Portugal and the rest of Europe, we hope that this shows how seriously the Commission takes clean energy innovation and demonstrates the value of EIT InnoEnergy’s top-table network of policymakers and industry influencers.'
The following day, Commissioner Šefčovič met with one of EIT InnoEnergy’s Portuguese success stories, ProDrone. The Lisbon-based company uses highly customised unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), specifically designed for inspecting wind turbines in a safer, more cost-effective way. The company has been a long-term participant in the EIT InnoEnergy programme, beating 105 other European clean energy innovations to win the 2015 EIT InnoEnergy Business Booster competition.
Šefčovič continued, 'EIT InnoEnergy had a decisive role to play by being an enabler of the Energy Union through innovation.'
EIT InnoEnergy has supported a host of other successful Portuguese clean energy innovations including PV microinverter creator, BeOn, and supercapacitor maker C2C New Cap – both of which also attended the dinner meeting. EIT InnoEnergy also currently runs four Portuguese Masters’ programmes with 90 students enrolled, helping to create the next generation of the country’s clean energy innovators.
'Portugal has already led the way in so many areas of clean energy – just look at Principle Power’s world-leading floating offshore wind technology, WindFloat,' said Diego Pavia, CEO, EIT InnoEnergy. 'We helped commercialise that project and are working to help Portuguese innovators lead in so many more. Commissioner Šefčovič’s kind words are a great validation of our work.'
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