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Abstract

Enel seeks solutions to enable local markets and economies in marginal and rural areas to continue with their economic activity despite obstacles presented by factors such as Covid-19, which disrupt daily activities of autonomous workers and small local businesses and prevent them, for instance, from reaching current or potential customers, being able to properly transport and distribute products, or having access to manufacturing or processing facilities. Social and economic sustainability can be achieved through technology and innovation: e-commerce projects, new business models, and online or offline solutions are needed to make a positive impact in local economies, facilitating economic exchange among local producers and local or non-local consumers.

Description

SCENARIO

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected every aspect of our lives for millions of people around the world and has especially impacted on those living in marginal areas of cities as well as in rural areas. Small businesses and community agents living on local business activity have been severely disrupted or stopped altogether, and so we must continue to work as a united ecosystem to involve local suppliers and partners. In line with Enel’s Creating Shared Value (CSV) model, aimed at integrating social-environmental factors in the business processes throughout the entire value chain, we aim to meet local social sustainability needs by addressing these new challenges through new scalable, creative and innovative business models and solutions. These solutions will create a tangible contribution to the development of social and economic growth within local and rural areas.

 

BACKGROUND

Marginalised areas in cities and rural zones are usually based on subsistence economy and traditional processes. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic we are facing, the social context for these areas has changed: social distancing has presented a significant problem for communities living in these areas as inhabitants cannot move safely and/or easily sell or acquire products or services. New rules and infrastructures are required in order to digitalise local economies of these areas, by creating online marketplaces, e-commerce solutions, new business models that support or create new local companies (both digital and non-digital) in addition to innovative offline mechanisms that can enable local economic exchange and create a positive social impact.

 

THE CHALLENGE

Enel seeks solutions to enable local markets and economies in marginal and rural areas to continue with their economic activity despite obstacles presented by factors such as Covid-19 or a lack in a proper network of partners, which disrupt daily activities of autonomous workers and small local businesses and prevent them, for instance, from reaching current or potential customers, being able to properly transport and distribute products, or having access to manufacturing or processing facilities.

This challenge is looking for local economic enablers (startups and non-profit social projects) that aim to address the following:

  • Translate market challenges derived from the new scenario and faced by autonomous workers and small local business into new business opportunities in rural communities and marginalised areas in cities
  • Develop new local marketplaces (digital and non-digital) and e-commerce solutions for rural communities and marginalised areas in cities
  • Connect the different steps of the value chain involving local ecosystems, suppliers & partners in innovative ways
  • Support the social and economic development of local communities through innovation and technology, especially in developing countries
  • Scale needs and solutions accordingly to the new Covid-19 situation.

 

SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS

Solutions should come from countries where Enel is present (please refer to www.enel.com/company/about-us/where-we-are)

Solutions need to have info on which countries’ regulations they are compliant to.

Solutions should guarantee the privacy of users.

 

PROJECT DELIVERABLES

The submitted proposal should consist of a detailed description, including:  

  • Explanation of technical and/or business model solution;
  • Status of development already done if any; 
  • Advantages and weaknesses of the proposed solution compared to other solutions; 
  • Constrains for the solution adoption; 
  • Expected impact on local communities.

 

This challenge provides contribution to the following Sustainable development goals (SDGs) to transform our world:

  • SDG 1: No Poverty
  • SDG 2: Zero Hunger
  • SDG 4: Quality Education
  • SDG 5: Gender Equality
  • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 10: Reduced Inequality
  • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
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Challenge rules

All proposers are invited to read carefully the challenges and the Regulation of this challenge, attached below in the Attachments section, before submitting a solution.

By submitting a solution they automatically accept the attached Regulations other than the Terms of Use of this platform.

Explain your proposal clearly and attach documents if needed (max 5 files, 25MB total size).

 

ELIGIBILITY

This Campaign is dedicated to startups, scaleups and SMEs, incorporated in any country, with a technology and/or solution at commercial level (TRL ≥ 7).

 

CHALLENGE, AWARD, IP RIGHTS

This is an electronic Request-for-Partners (eRFP) Challenge. The Solver will write a preliminary proposal to be evaluated by the Seeker with the goal of considering a collaboration.

All intellectual property rights, if any, in the idea or concept demonstrated by the Proposed Solution will remain with the Solver. 

 

DEADLINE

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (Central European Time) on November 30th, 2020.

Late submissions will not be considered.

Specific regulation in the CSA attached at the bottom of this page.

What happens next?

The Enel Innovation Hubs team will evaluate the Proposals, getting in touch with the Solver if additional information is needed.

Following this preliminary evaluation, the Proposal(s) that meet the requirements of the Challenge will be further evaluated by one or more relevant Enel companies and/or business lines.

Enel will evaluate the proposal using the following criteria:

  • Overall scientific and technical feasibility of the proposed solution;
  • Economic potential of concept (e.g. Total Cost of Ownership);
  • Business potential for Enel;
  • Novelty and not obviousness;
  • Potential for proprietary position (i.e., is the technology novel or protectable);
  • User’s capabilities and related experience;
  • Realism of the proposed solution;
  • Maturity level of the proposal.

 

In case the reward includes “Collaboration and testing agreement”, once suitable solution/s will be identified, Enel will reserve the opportunity to start a collaboration, by way of example, all or part of the following activities:

  • Test execution;
  • Supply of prototypes (if an equipment);
  • Installation and site tests;
  • Follow up and monitoring of the proposed idea behavior.

 

At the end of the assessment, you will receive feedback.

In case of success, an Enel contact person will get in touch with you to discuss the next steps.

Attachments

Enel Open Innovability User Guide

PDF (0.66MB) Download

Regulation eRFP challenge ReShape - Enel Innovation Hubs

PDF (0.43MB) Download