In partnership with ScottishPower & Iberdrola, Strathclyde Business School and Strathclyde Entrepreneurial Network, the University has launched a challenge to help foster entrepreneurship and innovation in the energy sector. It offers seed funding, expert training and one-to-one mentoring from industry experts to help turn your business dream into a reality.
The Challenge is part of the much wider international Iberdrola Universities Programme, covering five universities from the UK, US, Mexico, and Spain, which aims to develop special collaborations amongst internationally leading entrepreneurial universities, business schools and other groups of interest.
Teams can win up to £13k of seed funding, with prizes awarded to both competition winners and runners up. Participants can also benefit from expert advice and mentoring from leading entrepreneurs, industry directors and investors, as well as expert insight into the viability of business proposals from senior ScottishPower/Iberdrola personnel.
Budding entrepreneurs will also gain access to an international network of innovators via Strathclyde Entrepreneurial Network and Iberdrola, as well as international students from across the global Iberdrola Challenge Programme.
Winners will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Madrid to take part in Iberdrola's "Innovation Week" in 2018. Projects will be showcased, pitching their business idea to Iberdrola executives and interact with an international network of entrepreneurs including other winners from parallel Iberdrola Challenge Programmes from across the world.
The Challenge is open to all Strathclyde students at any level, as well as alumni who graduated up to one year ago (ie since January 2017). All proposals should be relevant to ScottishPower & Iberdrola's core innovation and technology areas.
You can read Dr Matthew Hannon's blog on what's involved in the Challenge on the SBS Engage blog
An information session has been arranged for Tuesday January 9, 3-5pm, Cathedral Wing, CW 507a&b. This will allow you to hear more about the programme, potential proposal themes and high-level energy trends from both Business School and Scottish Power representatives. There will also be an opportunity for Q&A. For those looking to 'buddy up' with other potential team mates there will also be the opportunity for networking.
It is compulsory for successful teams that all team members attend. A register will be taken and absence of any team members must be explained in full by email. Please email Heather Brown to register your interest. Submission deadline for applications to the competition is 11.59pm Sunday February 4.
For further information on the Challenge, please click here