UPTEC among incubators to support EDP Energia Solidária programme
UPTEC among incubators to support EDP Energia Solidária programme
EDP Energia Solidária will support projects with social responses in areas such as energy inclusion, the protection of natural heritage and biodiversity, energy efficiency and renewable energies, or sustainable mobility.
UPTEC – Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto was one of the 16 incubators invited to support candidates in the ideation and application process for EDP Energia Solidária. Promoted by the EDP Foundation, the programme will help social projects that positively impact people or groups in vulnerable situations, social economy workers, students or more isolated communities by promoting a just energy transition.
The EDP Foundation has invited incubators to participate in the programme to strengthen the social ecosystem’s capacity to create innovative responses that impact the just energy transition. These partner incubators, including UPTEC, form a network that will support organisations in the ideation process and prepare their applications, thus promoting collaboration and creating sustainable and practical solutions.
For Maria Oliveira, UPTEC‘s Executive Business Director, the association with this programme is “a clear reflection of UPTEC’s desire to provide comprehensive support to various business ideas, whether in the sciences, technology or creative and cultural fields. UPTEC reaffirms its mission to contribute to economically, socially and environmentally sustainable development by supporting initiatives that foster a just energy transition.”
Those interested in applying for EDP Energia Solidária will have the opportunity to attend two workshops to support the structuring of the application: the first focused on the project’s impact component, to be held on 6 May from 2 pm to 5 pm, in an online format; and the second dedicated to the application form, on 16 May, from 9.30 am to 1 pm, in the UPTEC Asprela I auditorium.
EDP Energia Solidária: a positive impact on more than 18,000 people's lives
The projects selected may receive support of up to 75% if they are submitted by non-profit organisations or up to 50% if they are for-profit organisations. The overall value of the EDP Foundation’s support for each project will be between 15,000 and 100,000 euros.
The 2024 edition of the EDP Energia Solidária programme represents a social investment of more than two million euros in Portugal, Spain and Brazil. In Portugal, more than one million euros will be invested in mobilisation and capacity-building actions for applicants and funding for winning projects.
In 2023, EDP Energia Solidária enabled the creation of 30 projects in Portugal, Spain and Brazil. In Portugal alone, the programme enabled 15 new social responses that aim to positively impact the lives of more than 18,000 people through solutions that promote a just energy transition. Since its creation in 2004, this programme has supported implementing or maintaining more than 415 projects in all country districts, with an investment of around 18 million euros.
Both for-profit and non-profit organisations can apply, with social responses in areas such as energy inclusion, the protection of natural heritage and biodiversity, energy efficiency and renewable energies, or sustainable mobility. Applications are open from 1 to 31 May. Those interested in participating in the EDP Energia Solidária programme and receiving support in preparing their application should contact the programme coordinator at UPTEC: Raphael Stanzani, rstanzani@uptec.up.pt.
8th April, 2024