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UN-Habitat announces winners of the Katowice Energy Innovation Challenge

The Challenge called on start-ups, cooperatives, social cooperatives, companies, and joint stock companies with experience in the implementation of urban energy innovation projects.

Nairobi, 2 June 2022 — The city of Katowice, Poland, and UN-Habitat are pleased to announce the winners of the Katowice Energy Innovation Challenge. A global call for digital information management and communication solutions that will help empower the city of Katowice, including the local government, residents, and businesses, embrace a transition to clean and renewable energy systems in this city.

The Challenge called on start-ups, cooperatives, social cooperatives, companies, and joint stock companies with experience in the implementation of urban energy innovation projects.

A total of six finalists shortlisted from the pool of applications were able to pitch their ideas on 25 May in front of a jury of international experts who selected the best ideas based on impact and innovation and concept viability and capability.

UN-Habitat announces winners of the Katowice Energy Innovation Challenge UN-Habitat announces winners of the Katowice Energy Innovation Challenge

The winners are:

  • Scipopulis, an innovation company that works with data analysis, processing, integration and visualization, focusing on turning cities into "smart cities".
  • Scan the Sun a “mobile application for the design and evaluation of solar installations based on scientific methods and physical data obtained from your smartphone's sensors.”
  • TekUncorked with a “unified solution for monitoring and automation of distribution of energy grid assets like LT substations, Feeder Pillars and transformers”

Marcin Krupa, Mayor of Katowice, congratulated those who applied and said he would be delighted to meet with the winners during the Eleventh Session of the World Urban Forum,

“This is a great opportunity for inventors or start-ups to present themselves to an international audience. In Katowice we do our best to provide support for young entrepreneurs and inventors. We believe that new technologies are our future,” he said. 

The jury was impressed by the quality of the pitches and the potential that these solutions have to help support achievement of the 2030 Agenda and SDG 7 which calls for ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

Maimunah Mohd Sharif, UN-Habitat Executive Director, said: “Cities are the incubators of innovation and new technologies. Therefore, we must support the development of solutions that provide resource efficient energy at a local level, to replace fossil fuels. The winners of the Katowice Energy Innovation Challenge are examples on how we should approach the transition to green and sustainable cities that care for the benefit of all.”

Up to two persons from each of the three winning organizations will be awarded a trip to Katowice, Poland, where they will be invited to participate in Rawa.ink’s acceleration program and showcase their innovation at the Eleventh Session of the World Urban Forum in June 2022.

Media Contacts

For further details about the Katowice Energy Innovation Challenge and the winning projects contact:

Katerina Bezgachina: ekaterina.Bezgachina@un.org

Łukasz Żółciak: Lukasz.Zolciak@katowice.eu