Social
If you prefer to always view the website in English, please click here.
Achieving innovation through collaboration. This forms the foundations of the Open Innovation model we are continuing to roll out, now with the opening of the Enel Madrid Innovation Hub. We opened this space at The Cube on 16 November 2017 and it will help build a global ecosystem we can use to forge closer ties with entrepreneurs and startups.
“Our pledge to innovation has been bolstered by the creation of this hub: an open space and collaborative centre for developing projects, serving as a meeting point for open innovation”, explained Endesa CEO, José D. Bogas Gálvez, in his welcome speech to participants at the opening ceremony, during which he explained the Open Innovation philosophy.
The potential of the Internet of Things (IoT) and role of startups in this field form the backbone of this space, said José Bogas: “The hub will focus primarily on two areas: the entrepreneurial spirit of startups and the IoT. The society in which we live is changing. Our aim is to shape the future, to generate ideas in partnership with external players such as universities, technology centres, startups and entrepreneurs, and completely off our own back, tackle the challenges that lie ahead”.
“Our aim is to generate ideas in partnership with external players such as universities, technology centres, startups and entrepreneurs, and tackle the challenges that lie ahead.”
José D. Bogas Gálvez, Endesa CEO
The goal of the Enel Innovation Hub is to provide spaces for collaboration to find innovative projects related with energy and help them achieve, above all, a more efficient energy future. This involves sharing know-how, competencies and personnel to help develop solutions through these projects.
As Ernesto Ciorra, Enel’s Head of Innovability, explained at the opening, this concept has reached the capital in the form of a space designed to nurture the creation of ideas: "The opening of a new innovation hub such as this one in Madrid today represents a golden opportunity for the whole of the Enel Group. It opens the door to limitless possibilities to continue innovating, identify where innovation is heading, and be able to take the right path”.
The Enel Innovation Hub in Madrid is the sixth space to be opened after the concept was rolled out in cities such as Tel Aviv (Israel), Moscow (Russia), Milan (Italy) and San Francisco (US).
During the official opening, IoT experts from 10 startups were shown round facilities at The Cube in Madrid where the Enel Madrid Innovation Hub is located. They were able to attend a series of presentations on the Internet of Things, the ecosystem of European startups, and Spain’s potential in this area.
Four speakers covered these themes and outlined their projects. We were introduced to Unlimiteck, dedicated to designing and launching technology companies, by this company’s CEO, Alberto Rodríguez; Wallbox's electric vehicle charging points by Senior Consultant, Manuel Marín; and the smart metres of momit, showcased by Romain Cical, the company’s Sales Director.
“Spain has the ingredients needed to lead the way in innovation and South Summit has proven this”. The fourth speaker was Sofía Benjumea, Head of Google Campus Madrid and Co-founder of South Summit, who spent time filling us in on this type of initiative that fosters innovation and encourages debate to develop technologies that improve our future.
“The startup ecosystem does not only comprise the founders but each and every one of us.”
Sofía Benjumea, Head of Google Campus Madrid and Co-founder of South Summit
Innovative projects with quality ideas. This is Enel Innovation Hub’s goal, which will focus in Madrid on the Internet of Things to build an energy future we all feel a part of. A crucial part of the evolutionary process we will continue to nurture is to back entrepreneurs and startups to create an innovative community.
