H2O Innovation Award Finalists
The category of the Montepio Acredita Portugal contest focused on projects related to water management and sustainability—supported by Águas de Gaia—now has its finalists.
The finalists of the H2O Innovation Award by Águas de Gaia, an initiative of Águas de Gaia E.M. S.A., which aims to identify, recognize, and support projects in the start-up or expansion phase related to the water, sanitation, and stormwater management sectors (and environmental sustainability across these three areas). It also aims to foster a spirit of initiative and recognize the founders of innovative companies in the sector, evaluating projects holistically based on criteria centered on business potential and the entrepreneurs‘ profiles. The winning project will have the opportunity to be incubated by Águas de Gaia and will qualify to participate in ’Eurovision for Startups.”.
The H2O Innovation Award received 226 entries, which were among a total of more than 10,000 ideas submitted to the competition. The awards ceremony will take place in September; this year, the event will be held in a 100% format. online.
Miguel Lemos Rodrigues, CEO of Águas de Gaia, explains the company’s involvement in the initiative “as a platform to foster innovation projects that have a tangible impact on improving the services provided to the community and on people’s quality of life. Águas de Gaia’s mission—in its role of promoting effective resource management and fostering the environment and the well-being of the population—brings with it a vision and experience that we consider to be of immense value in helping new ideas chart a course that will enable their future implementation and consolidation.”. As the mayor explains, this support is part of the development of “a strategy for fostering discussion on sustainable development and creating mechanisms for civic reflection”.
The three finalist projects were selected by a panel of judges composed of members of the Águas de Gaia and Acredita Portugal teams:
- SCEMAI – A project that aims to maximize energy efficiency and monitor malfunctions using artificial intelligence models and data analysis, thereby optimizing production.
- Modular Drainage Paving– A solution that addresses seven of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, restores soil permeability, reduces stormwater management costs, allows for architectural flexibility, and improves the microenvironment.
- More Water / RacionaLUSO– Collection, treatment, and reuse of water and energy.
Further information is available at https://acreditaportugal.pt/aguas-de-gaia-h20/
About Acredita Portugal:
Acredita Portugal is a non-profit organization focused on the development and promotion of national entrepreneurship, which was born in 2008 by José Miguel Queimado. Since then, Acredita Portugal has worked by and for all Portuguese people, regardless of their background or culture, allowing any citizen the opportunity to pursue their entrepreneurial dream. Each idea in the competition is submitted free of charge, undergoes an evaluation and sees its business plan developed. Winning projects are given the opportunity to develop strategic partnerships with a view to implementing them on the market.
Further information is available at www.acreditaportugal.pt.
About Águas de Gaia:
Águas de Gaia, EM, SA, is a municipal company wholly owned by the Vila Nova de Gaia City Council, serving as an instrument of the council’s policy for the municipality. Its goal is to provide a service of excellence, combined with a partnership-based relationship with an increasingly demanding population.
Águas de Gaia’s primary mission is to ensure: the distribution of high-quality water to the residents of Gaia; the drainage of wastewater and the management of the stormwater network, contributing to the cleanup of the Douro River and the municipality’s streams; the management of the collection and disposal of municipal solid waste; the promotion of the optimal use of the municipality’s beaches and swimming areas; and the improvement of residents’ quality of life.
Additional information at https://www.aguasgaia.pt/.