Vienna, Austria – The URBAN TECH final event, Innovate for Europe – Greentech, Health Tech & Smart City Showdown, held on June 6, 2024, at the prestigious Hofburg Palace in Vienna, has successfully concluded. The event was a part of the Impact Days 2024 festival during ViennaUP, a city-wide celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship.
The event provided a unique platform for over 20 companies participating in the URBAN TECH program to meet with investors and pitch the groundbreaking solutions developed in response to challenges across the sectors of Greentech, HealthTech, and Smart City.
In the morning session, 22 companies have been interviewed giving them the opportunity to briefly describe the solution they have been working on in the past three years, as well as lessons learnt and the benefits that they could get from the project.
In the afternoon session, the core activities of the event included two series of investor meetup sessions, where URBAN TECH companies had the opportunity to matchmake with an EU-wide network of investors, and the final pitch competition of the project.
18 investor meetup sessions have been held with 21 companies. These sessions facilitated important conversations that could lead to significant partnerships and funding opportunities, giving a prospective for the URBAN TECH companies to keep up their growth beyond the project duration.
The pitch competition was a focal point of the day, featuring 12 competing companies, four from each sector: Smart City, Greentech, and Health Tech. The competition was tight, and the event culminated in the awarding of three €5.000 URBAN TECH prizes to the best companies in each category, celebrating their potential to transform their respective fields.
The winners of the pitching competition are:
Greentech sector: IngeniousWare, who developed on a cloud-based platform designed to automate and enhance the management of water networks. It provides tools for detailed visualisation and management of water sectors, including tanks, pumps, and meters, and integrates a comprehensive data structure for handling water meter information and readings. The platform facilitates real-time calculations of water balances across different sectors and generates customized reports on water consumption.
The jury member Petra Jung-ErcegKarlsruhe from Technology Region Action Group stated: “The solution has been presented almost all over the world also thanks to the URBAN TECH project and has significant impact in saving one of the most limited resources in our world: the water.”
Smart City sector: OwnersPartners, who developed QUICK: a smart charging station designed to support the integration of electric personal mobility vehicles (ePMV), such as e-bikes, into urban environments. The stations are equipped with innovative features including lockers with UV disinfection systems and air quality monitoring capabilities. Additionally, the stations incorporate solar panels on protective shelters to enhance energy sustainability. The system includes a user-friendly mobile app for end-users and a web app for city managers, allowing for efficient management and monitoring of station usage. QUICK’s design is scalable and adaptable, making it suitable for expansion and replication in various urban settings to promote sustainable mobility.
The presitend of the board Lauri Antalainen from EstBANstated: “The winner is a company that has several potential customer segments, they are making our environment cleaner, safer and the whole jury really liked their idea.”
HealthTech sector: Zana Technologies, who developed a digital patient companion designed for at-home rehabilitation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). It integrates digital technology to support individuals with COPD in managing their condition and undergoing rehabilitation from the comfort of their homes. It includes features such as personalized exercise programs, monitoring of vital signs and symptoms, educational resources, and communication channels with healthcare providers for remote guidance and support. Overall, this solution aims to enhance accessibility, convenience, and effectiveness of COPD rehabilitation while empowering patients to take an active role in their care.
The jury member Dasa Slezakova, Initiator of the Roche Healthcare Lab startup accelerator stated: “This is something really disruptive for us in comparison to the traditional biomarkers, you are very well set, you have the first clinical trials, MDR almost, very scalable so I see especially from the pharmaceutical perspective a huge potential.”
It is possible to watch the pitching competition through this video and live the best moments of the event through this video.
A special segment of the event was dedicated to presenting the results of the URBAN TECH project. The Consortium of the project discussed the successful development and pilot testing of numerous Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), Pilots, Demonstrations, highlighting the overall impact of the project which includes:
- 314 challenges collected from 12 countries
- One open call for solutions with 559 applications and 323 companies selected from 36 countries
- 8 international challenge-based hackathons organised, with 160 travel vouchers issued
- 80 companies invited to submit a full proposal
- 80 solutions incubated in the tech parks, with 9500€ of financial support provided for each and 900+ hours of mentoring provided
- 33 working solutions tested in real environment with challenge owners, with 27000€ of financial support provided for each and 12+ joint training workshops for upskilling organised
- 23 fully developed solutions promoted in international markets, with 14000€ of financial support for going global provided for each and 6+ international fairs attended to demonstrate them, leading to…
- 32 innovative solutions available for the market with a total of 2+M€ of financial support provided to 160+ companies which established cross-border collaborations
You can get an overview of all stages of the project and impact through this video, and discover all companies (solution providers) who participated in the URBAN TECH program here.
A deep dive into the Pitch competition winners
Ingeniousware GmbH
Ingeniousware GmbH is a company specialising in developing innovative solutions for smarter water management. Their mission is to provide advanced tools that streamline the management of water networks, making them more efficient, reliable, and easy to monitor. Ingeniousware GmbH focuses on leveraging modern technology to address the challenges faced by water utilities worldwide, enhancing their operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Services offered
Ingeniousware GmbH offers a range of services aimed at optimising water network management, such as water network visualisation with the provision of tools to create comprehensive diagrams of water networks, showcasing elements such as water sectors, tanks, pumps, and meters, with data integrated and managed from various sources, facilitating the management of water meter information, readings, and replacements, automated water balance calculation as their platform calculates water balances at different network sectors based on stored readings and connectivity data and generates detailed reports on water consumption for each sector, tailored to the client’s specifications, last but not least, Ingeniousware offers geographic Information Systems (GIS) integration with a QGIS plugin that integrates water meter visualisation and reading information with Geographic Information Systems.
Project overview: WaterIng – Smarter Water Networks
Ingeniousware GmbH has developed a cutting-edge product called WaterIng, designed to revolutionise water network management. WaterIng addresses the critical needs of water utilities by offering a suite of features that enhance operational efficiency and accuracy.
Key Features and Benefits
WaterIng revolutionises water management with its robust platform that enables users to create comprehensive, interactive diagrams of their water networks. These diagrams provide a vivid graphical representation of various network components such as sectors, tanks, pumps, and meters, offering a clear overview of the entire system. The platform excels in data integration, enabling the centralisation of water meter information, reading processes, and replacement data, making it easily accessible.
The system simplifies complex data analysis by automating the calculation of water balances for each sector. By leveraging stored readings and understanding the connectivity among network elements, WaterIng ensures accurate and timely insights. Additionally, the platform supports custom reporting, enabling users to generate detailed reports on water consumption that comply with the specific requirements of different utilities, enhancing both compliance and usability.
WaterIng also enhances monitoring capabilities through an advanced graphical user interface that depicts the entire network in a synoptic diagram and supports a multi-user environment with comprehensive access controls. This feature is particularly beneficial for teams and large organisations, facilitating collaborative efforts.
Integration with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is streamlined via a QGIS plugin, augmenting WaterIng’s visualisation and spatial analysis capabilities. The platform’s user-friendly configuration prioritises the user experience by simplifying the setup of complex systems and assisting users in identifying and implementing necessary configurations.
Operating entirely in the cloud, WaterIng guarantees high availability, robust security, and convenient access from any location, eliminating the need for local software installations. This cloud-based approach ensures that users can rely on a secure and efficient system for managing their water networks, making WaterIng an groundbreaking tool in the field of water management.
Impact and future plans
Ingeniousware GmbH plans to continue enhancing WaterIng by focusing on internationalisation, improving user documentation, and expanding its market presence through partnerships. Their goal is to make WaterIng a global standard for water network management, providing utilities with the tools they need to operate more efficiently and sustainably.
Contributions from the URBAN TECH Project
Ingeniousware GmbH has significantly expanded its global reach through its participation in the URBAN TECH project, which has been instrumental in transforming the company’s business strategy. Originally focused on local markets and facing challenges with regional utilities, Ingeniousware has successfully pivoted to the international stage. This strategic shift is represented by its transition from local struggles to launching a pilot project in Washington DC. Furthermore, the company has moved from addressing the needs of an Austrian client to securing a significant agreement with Kamstrup. This deal provides Ingeniousware access to all Kamstrup water meters for a project in Mexico, marking a substantial leap in its international business operations.
OwnersPartners
OwnersPartners is a dynamic and innovative company dedicated to revolutionising urban mobility through sustainable and user-friendly solutions. With a strong commitment to enhancing the efficiency and convenience of urban transportation, OwnersPartners focuses on developing cutting-edge technologies that promote multimodality and sustainability. Their expertise lies in creating integrated solutions that cater to the growing demand for electric personal mobility vehicles (ePMVs), making cities smarter and more eco-friendly.
Services Offered
OwnersPartners delivers a comprehensive range of services aimed at enhancing sustainable urban mobility. The firm specialises in the development and deployment of electric mobility solutions, including the installation of electric vehicle (e-vehicle) charging stations specifically designed for e-bikes and e-scooters. These stations provide an efficient and accessible charging infrastructure that supports the growing demand for electric transport options.
In addition to mobility solutions, OwnersPartners is pioneering in the field of smart urban furniture. This innovative furniture not only supports charging capabilities but also includes integrated features such as UV disinfection and air quality monitoring, enhancing the functionality and safety of urban spaces.
The company also excels in digital solutions, designing user-friendly mobile applications for end-users and robust web platforms for city managers. These digital tools facilitate the interaction, efficient data collection, and effective management of urban mobility systems.
Committed to environmental sustainability, OwnersPartners incorporates solar panels and other renewable energy sources into their charging stations, significantly contributing to a greener urban environment. Furthermore, the firm offers expert consulting services, providing bespoke solutions that are tailored to meet the specific needs of municipalities and other stakeholders, ensuring that each project aligns with local requirements and sustainability goals.
Project overview: QUICK – The Next-Generation Charging Station
In collaboration with the Maribor Tourist Board, OwnersPartners has developed QUICK, an advanced charging station designed to address the challenges of promoting multimodality and sustainability in urban transport. QUICK is specifically tailored to support electric personal mobility vehicles (ePMVs) like e-bikes, making it a versatile and essential addition to modern urban landscapes.
Key Features and Benefits
QUICK stations provide a comprehensive charging solution, featuring lockers for e-bikes equipped with charging plugs and UV lights for disinfection. This not only ensures the e-bikes are charged but also maintains them in a hygienic state, enhancing the user experience.
To facilitate ease of use, the development of a mobile app for users and a web app for city managers allows for easy interaction with the charging stations. Through these applications, users can effortlessly reserve parking spots, monitor the charging status of their e-bikes, and manage their accounts, simplifying the overall process.
Additionally, integrated air quality monitoring systems at the QUICK stations offer real-time data on environmental conditions. This feature provides valuable health-related information and also contributes to heightened public health awareness.
QUICK stations feature solar panels connected to the grid, providing renewable energy for charging and significantly reducing the carbon footprint associated with urban transportation.
The design of QUICK stations is both modular and scalable, allowing for easy adaptation and customisation to fit various urban settings. This flexibility ensures that the stations can be specifically tailored to meet the diverse needs of different municipalities and user groups, enhancing their applicability across different locations.
Impact and future plans
Collaborative development has been a cornerstone of the QUICK station project. OwnersPartners worked in close cooperation with local suppliers and the city government to ensure that the stations not only meet the specific requirements of the Maribor Tourist Board but also align with the city’s broader development plans. This partnership approach ensured that the stations were well-integrated within the local infrastructure and community needs.
QUICK stations have already been installed and validated, demonstrating their effectiveness and user-friendliness. The success of these installations has laid the groundwork for future expansions and additional implementations across Maribor and beyond. OwnersPartners plans to continue collaborating with the Maribor Tourist Board and the City Council to deploy more stations in various locations, catering to different types of e-vehicles and enhancing urban mobility infrastructure.
Contributions from the URBAN TECH Project
Thanks to the URBAN TECH project, OwnersPartners was able to develop their solution in real scenarios, such as a public school in Maribor, Slovenia, and establish strategic partnerships with Slovenian and international companies in Europe, enabling the company to develop the solution in other countries.
Zana Technologies
Zana Technologies GmbH is a leading innovator in digital health solutions, dedicated to transforming patient care through advanced technology. Specializing in the development of intelligent digital companions, Zana focuses on enhancing at-home rehabilitation and self-management for patients with chronic diseases. By leveraging artificial intelligence and user-centred design, Zana aims to improve the quality of life for patients and streamline healthcare delivery.
Services Offered
Zana offers a comprehensive suite of services aimed at enhancing patient rehabilitation and managing chronic diseases. The company specialises in the development of digital health platforms, including mobile and web applications that are specifically tailored to foster patient engagement and facilitate remote health monitoring. These platforms are designed to make medical care more accessible and interactive, providing patients with the tools they need to manage their health effectively.
In addition to its digital platforms, Zana utilises AI-powered chatbots that deliver personalised health advice, rehabilitation exercises, and psychological support. These intelligent chatbots are crafted to interact with patients in a way that is both informative and comforting, thereby enhancing the rehabilitation process and offering continuous support.
Recognising the diverse needs of patients with chronic conditions, Zana also offers customised rehabilitation programmes. These programmes are meticulously designed to address the physical, psychological, and lifestyle aspects of patient care, ensuring a holistic approach to rehabilitation that is tailored to individual patient requirements.
Zana also provides regulatory compliance support, assisting clients in navigating the complex landscape of medical device regulations. This includes help with obtaining CE marking and achieving ISO certifications, which are essential for meeting health and safety standards in the healthcare industry.
Furthermore, Zana actively collaborates with healthcare institutions to co-design and validate digital health solutions. Through partnerships with these institutions, Zana engages in clinical trials and studies, thereby ensuring that their products and services are both effective and scientifically validated, paving the way for innovations that can significantly improve patient care and disease management.
Project overview: Digital Patient Companion for At-Home Rehabilitation
In collaboration with Maastricht University Medical Center+ (MUMC+), Zana developed a digital patient companion specifically designed for at-home rehabilitation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients. This innovative solution aims to address the need for effective and accessible rehabilitation options outside the clinical setting.
Key Features and Benefits
Zana’s digital companion offers a holistic approach to rehabilitation, designed to cater to the unique needs of each patient. This innovative tool provides personalised rehabilitation programmes that include customised fitness training, breathing techniques, and psychological support. The personalisation algorithm continuously adapts these programs based on patient feedback and progress, ensuring that each individual receives the most effective and responsive care possible.
To aid patients in their recovery, the digital companion features a comprehensive library of exercise videos and breathing techniques. This resource enables patients to perform their rehabilitation routines accurately and effectively from the comfort of their own homes, fostering independence and confidence in their recovery process.
Enhancing the interactive experience, the companion includes an AI-powered chatbot that guides patients through their rehabilitation journey. This chatbot offers reminders, motivation, and real-time feedback on exercises, acting as a supportive coach throughout the rehabilitation process.
The user-friendly mobile app is another key feature of the digital companion. Designed to be intuitive and accessible, the app ensures that patients of all ages and levels of tech-savviness can easily navigate and benefit from its features. To better serve the local population, the app is available in Dutch.
In terms of compliance, Zana has taken meticulous steps to ensure that the digital companion meets all necessary regulatory standards. This includes ISO 13485 documentation and the preparation of the MDR CE Mark Technical Documentation, affirming the companion’s adherence to the highest safety and quality standards.
The initial testing phase with COPD patients and healthcare professionals at MUMC+ has been met with considerable enthusiasm. An impressive 80% of patients provided positive feedback, particularly appreciating the physical activities and mindfulness assignments integrated into the app. Healthcare professionals have also expressed strong support for incorporating the digital companion into clinical practice, highlighting its potential to transform patient care and rehabilitation.
Impact and future plans
The collaboration with MUMC+ has been highly productive, with ongoing interactions and positive feedback leading to continuous improvements in the digital companion. The solution is poised for further implementation at the clinical site, with plans for market entry in the Netherlands.
The scalability of the digital companion will facilitate operating in the European market with a commercialisation strategy based on health insurance reimbursements. Future steps include incorporating feedback from patients and healthcare professionals to refine and enhance the app’s features, completing the CE mark technical documentation and conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT) for further validation and expand to new markets, leveraging proximity to Zana’s home market in Germany.
Contributions from the URBAN TECH Project
Zana has significantly advanced its offerings since the URBAN TECH project allowed to establish a strategic clinical partnership with Maastricht University Medical Clinic, develop a unique proprietary dataset and the generation of validated evidence through peer review publications. These advancements have paved the way for successful commercialisation and market validation. Zana is indeed actively involved in a major COPD initiative in the Netherlands, working alongside clinical partners, Lung Alliance and Lung Foundation.
The URBAN TECH Methodology
The URBAN TECH project was structured into four key phases aimed at maximising the market acceleration of the products and services (solutions) of its funded companies: exploration, ideation, implementation, and commercialisation. Each phase was designed to progressively refine solutions to challenges, from identifying problems to bringing viable products to market.
Exploration phase
This initial phase focused on mapping and clustering challenges from public and private organisations (challenge owners), particularly within healthtech, greentech, and smart city sectors. The Consortium, comprising 11 Science and Technology Parks (STPs) from nine countries, engaged local stakeholders, including authorities, corporates, SMEs, and researchers, to identify over 300 challenges. These challenges were then categorised into a virtual library, serving as a resource pool for the companies and providing them with key information of the specific challenges, forming the foundation for the subsequent ideation phase.
Ideation phase
During this phase, an open call was launched, inviting start-ups and SMEs across Europe to propose solutions to the identified challenges. The response was substantial, with 559 proposals submitted by SMEs from 36 countries. The most promising proposals were selected for further development through hackathons, where the companies worked closely with challenge owners to create demonstration solutions. The hackathons were not merely about generating ideas; they were designed to refine these ideas into tangible prototypes addressing the specific needs identified in the exploration phase. This iterative process ensured that the solutions were not only innovative but also practically viable.
Implementation phase
In this phase, selected companies received support to develop and pilot their solutions. This phase required a deeper collaboration between SMEs and challenge owners, focusing on the creation of Minimal Viable Products (MVPs) and the subsequent testing of these products in real-world settings. The goal here was to move beyond theoretical solutions and ensure that the innovations can perform effectively under practical conditions. This phase was crucial for identifying potential issues and making necessary adjustments before the solutions were scaled up.
Commercialisation phase
The final phase focused on supporting the most promising solutions in entering the global market. The companies that successfully developed and tested their products were supported in bringing these innovations to the global market. This phase included activities related to market entry, international partnerships, and scaling strategies, ensuring that the solutions developed had the potential to make a significant impact beyond their initial local contexts.
Challenges and experiences
While the URBAN TECH project demonstrated the potential of cross-country collaboration in driving innovation, it also revealed several challenges that needed to be addressed for such initiatives to succeed. These challenges spanned across various phases of the project and reflected the complexities involved in managing international innovation efforts.
Time constraints
One of the most significant challenges encountered was managing time effectively. The challenges were inherently complex and often required prolonged periods for thorough research and development. However, the project’s timeline imposed constraints that made it difficult for the companies to explore their solutions fully. For instance, obtaining necessary ethical approvals or completing comprehensive data collection were areas where time limitations were particularly felt, leading to delays in the project’s progression.
Testing and implementation issues
Testing solutions in real-world environments presented several obstacles. The companies often faced difficulties related to the technical feasibility of their innovations, such as ensuring that prototypes could be scaled up or integrated into existing systems. For example, greentech solutions dependent on solar energy encountered challenges when natural conditions (such as insufficient sunlight) did not support testing, necessitating the use of synthetic datasets, which complicated the validation process. Similarly, some healthtech solutions required extensive user testing, which was hampered by logistical issues or the availability of necessary facilities.
User engagement and feedback
Effective user engagement was crucial for refining innovations, yet it was an area where many companies struggled. The process of gathering user feedback was often hindered by time constraints or logistical challenges, resulting in incomplete or biased input that could skew the development of the final product. In the healthtech sector, for example, the inability to involve patient groups in the early stages of product development led to designs that did not fully meet end-user needs.
Legal and regulatory barriers
Navigating the legal and regulatory frameworks of different countries was another significant challenge. SMEs frequently encountered delays related to the approval processes required to test and implement their solutions, particularly in highly regulated sectors like healthtech. These delays not only slowed down the project but also increased costs, as additional resources were needed to comply with varying national regulations.
Communication and coordination
The cross-border nature of the URBAN TECH project required effective communication and coordination among diverse stakeholders. However, differences in language, time zones, and organisational cultures often led to misunderstandings and delays. Ensuring that all parties were aligned in terms of expectations and timelines was a continuous challenge that required significant effort and adaptability from all involved.
Business development and market fit
As SMEs progressed through the phases of the project, many had to pivot their original business models to better align with market demands. This flexibility was essential but also challenging, as it required SMEs to constantly reassess their strategies and adapt to new information. The dynamic nature of urban challenges meant that the solutions developed needed to be not only innovative but also scalable and marketable, which added a layer of complexity to the project.
About URBAN TECH
URBAN TECH was a 3-year project funded by European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101005301. The project supported the acceleration of competitive success of European SMEs and start-ups through market launch of new or significantly improved products and services with higher value in Health Tech, Smart City and Greentech industry sectors.
Since 2021, the URBAN TECH program provided an opportunity for companies to propose solutions to more than 300 challenges.
The more than 160 companies were able to validate the solution with Challenge Owners during the Hackathons.
80 companies were selected to develop an MVP and 33 were able to do Piloting with the help of mentor and experts.
Out of the 33 selected companies, 23 continued to a Market Discovery Phase.
