Elia Group Open Innovation Challenge 2025: People First
📝 About the Challenge
Elia Group is proud to announce the 2025 edition of its annual Open Innovation Challenge (OIC) under the slogan ‘People First’. This competition aims to stimulate fresh thinking and foster innovation in areas essential to their mission. The challenge invites start-ups, SMEs, and innovative teams from around the world to develop solutions that enhance the experience, safety, and development of their workforce as they accelerate the energy transition.
As a key player in the European energy system, Elia Group understands that delivering a sustainable and reliable electricity supply is not just about infrastructure and technology—it’s about the people behind the operations. Their employees are central to everything they do, and they aim to equip them with the best tools to perform their crucial roles while continuing to grow professionally and personally.
🎯 Focus Areas
This year’s challenge focuses on four priority areas in the Human Resources domain:
1️⃣ Knowledge Management
Innovative approaches to capture, share, and leverage knowledge across the organization. Solutions should help:
- Streamline onboarding and offboarding processes
- Provide continuous learning opportunities
- Enhance knowledge sharing through intuitive platforms
- Ensure seamless access to critical information
- Build effective mentoring networks
2️⃣ Cultural Change
Ideas to adapt and evolve organizational culture. Solutions should:
- Support the development and measurement of cultural initiatives
- Foster active leadership participation in culture change
- Promote inclusive and sustainable workplace values
- Encourage engagement through gamification and interactive methods
3️⃣ Security Awareness and Behavior
Cybersecurity and insider threat awareness solutions. Examples include:
- Improving employee resilience against phishing and social engineering
- Using gamified and behavioral learning to reinforce best practices
- Creating champion programs to spread awareness internally
- Fostering a proactive culture of digital responsibility
4️⃣ Safety and Wellbeing
Innovative proposals to support physical and mental wellbeing. Solutions could address:
- Behavioral safety around high-voltage infrastructure
- Initiatives to embed a culture of safety and wellbeing
- Tools and solutions that support emotional resilience
- Holistic approaches to physical and psychological health
💡 Benefits
The winning team will have the opportunity to undertake a proof of concept worth up to €50,000, with support from Elia Group staff (either based at Elia in Belgium or 50Hertz in Germany).
✅ Eligibility Criteria
- Open to start-ups, SMEs, and innovative teams from around the world.
📅 Application Date and Process
Key Dates:
- Entries Open: 12 June 2025
- Application Deadline: 24 July 2025
- Round 2: 1 September – 10 October 2025
- Final Round: 4 December 2025
Process:
- Round 1: Submit your application form, answer a few short questions, and provide a 3-slide deck outlining your idea.
- Round 2: 10-15 proposals will be selected. Teams will be assigned business experts from Elia Group to refine their proposals.
- Final Round: Shortlisted teams will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges in Brussels. The panel includes Elia Group C-level executives and jury members from industry and venture ecosystems. A winner will be chosen at the end of the evening.
📌 Application Deadline
24 July 2025
🌐 How to Apply
- Fill in the application form here.
- View more details on the official portal.
🏢 Sponsor Organization
Elia Group
🔗 Contact Information
For further inquiries, visit the Elia Group Open Innovation Challenge 2025 portal.
This is your chance to innovate and make a difference in the energy sector while putting people first! 🚀
- The winning team will be given the opportunity to undertake a proof of concept worth up to €50,000 with support from Elia Group staff (either based at Elia in Belgium or 50Hertz in Germany).
