Energy transition, reducing energy poverty and the appreciation of heritage are the main challenges facing Colmeia. The new collaborative community innovation programme, involving an investment of 500,000 euros, aims to boost entrepreneurship and energy transition, bringing together talent, start-ups and the entire community within the scope of sustainable energy solutions.
“The municipality of Matosinhos is of particular importance to Galp and this project provides further evidence of a relationship that goes back many years”, underlined Ana Casaca, Head of Innovation Galp. The project was launched at the QSP Summit, one of the biggest marketing and management events in Europe, and was co-presented by Marta Pontes, the Matosinhos town councillor for Economic Development, Trade and Tourism.
The presentation of the Colmeia programme took place on the Business Stage of the QSP Summit, in Matosinhos
“Colmeia will enable us to analyse and test solutions arising from the community to benefit the community”, said Marta Pontes at the project presentation attended by Luísa Salgueiro, the chairman of Matosinhos Town Council, Carlos Abade, president of Turismo de Portugal, Luís Pedro Martins, president of Turismo do Porto e Norte and Sandra Aparício, manager of Social Impact at Galp and the Galp Foundation.
A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
The Colmeia programme is divided into two major initiatives aimed at the community and start-ups.
IN.COMUNIDADE involves the active participation of residents in the process of innovation and energy transition in Matosinhos. Participants will be given the opportunity to develop their innovative ideas, receive expert guidance and access resources in order to turn their ideas into reality. The prizes in this part of the programme are 2,500, 7,500 and 5,000 euros for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place respectively.
IN.STARTUP challenges start-ups involved in the creation of energy transition solutions to develop and optimise their value proposition for the community of Matosinhos and awards the successful companies prizes worth 50,000 euros (1st place); 15,000 euros (2nd place) and 10,000 euros (3rd place).
The invite sent out to companies, explains Marta Pontes, described the municipality as a highly attractive region with the fourth highest turnover in the country, currently home to 12,000 companies. “The municipality has been paying special attention to start-ups and we are striving to be a local, regional, national and international benchmark. The Colmeia project is a unique opportunity”, said the town councillor.
Scheduled to run for three years, Colmeia will support projects that help promote Matosinhos as a benchmark on an international scale, both in the areas of social innovation and energy transition. A focus will be placed on solutions addressing energy transition and a more sustainable future for Matosinhos.
“Open experiences like this are essential for the development of the community, and Galp, once again, has provided the community with an investment programme for projects proposed by the local population”, highlighted the manager of Social Impact at Galp and the Galp Foundation, Sandra Aparício.
Sandra Aparício, manager of Social Impact at Galp and the Galp Foundation, highlighted the role of the energy corporation in supporting local communities
With regard to reducing energy poverty, the projects are required to include energy solutions for homes and institutions. Regarding the appreciation of heritage, Colmeia intends to repair and restore the mills on the River Leça with a view to supplying the public lighting network.
“Galp challenged us to revitalise the community of Matosinhos and we have put the Colmeia project into practice, one of the most important in the promotion of entrepreneurship”, said Miguel Almeida, from imatch, an innovation collective.
Colmeia is a joint project undertaken with the Matosinhos Town Council and imatch and has the support of two key partners for launching the initiative: CATÓLICA-LISBON Yunus Social Innovation Centre (knowledge partner), Galp Upcoming Energies (innovation partner) and the Galp Foundation.