Project led by ESADECREAPOLIS resident Tecnoturbines receives 1 million euro from European Commission
A project led by Tecnoturbines, an ESADECREAPOLIS-based Catalan company that develops hydraulic turbines, has been awarded a €1 million subsidy by the European Commission. The funds are being provided by Horizon 2020, a European initiative to foster innovation and sustainability.
After successfully completing the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument phase 2 selection process, a consortium formed by Tecnoturbines and the Madrid-based engineering firm Sendekia has been awarded €1 million to create and bring to market a new turbine that will generate up to 35% more electrical energy than conventional turbines.
Electricity under variable hydraulic conditions
“Our proposal is to develop a turbine that produces electricity under variable hydraulic conditions in terms of pressure and volume of flow, which is very common due to the seasonal nature of water resources, explained Jaime Lledó, founder of Tecnoturbines and student in ESADE’s Executive MBA (EMBA). “Only 6% of applicants receive funding, so this award is proof of the viability and potential of our project.
With the Horizon 2020 subsidy, the Tecnoturbines-Sendekia project now has a total budget of €1.5 million. Tecnoturbines, the project coordinator, holds a 60% share in the consortium.
The company has two main shareholders: Fluidra Accelera (a start-up accelerator created by the multinational Fluidra, which develops applications for sustainable water use) and KIC InnoEnergy (a European company promoted by the European Institute of Technology to support innovative projects in the energy sector, and of which ESADE is a partner). The company F. Iniciativas acted as an intermediary by submitting the Tecnoturbines proposal to the European Commission.
Launched in 2014, the Horizon 2020 campaign is now Europe’s largest funding scheme for research and innovation. Through this programme, the European Commission plans to disburse nearly €80 billion to R&D&I initiatives by 2020. The Commission’s support is also expected to encourage private investment in the projects that receive funding.
ESADECREAPOLIS, the innovation and creativity park located on ESADE’s Sant Cugat campus, supports start-ups through its dynamic, inspiring ecosystem. Residents are able to increase their cost-effectiveness, invest more in innovation and reduce their time to market, thanks to ESADECREAPOLIS’s willingness to adapt to each company’s needs.
