Deutsche Fassung | German Version
What it’s all about
The Innovation Challenge is about looking for clever ideas and solutions to specific problems. Therefore, we have described six concrete problems as missions for this year’s Challenge. We have recognised how important it is to collect and use data, for example, to reduce our energy consumption through optimised heating control, therefore improving our carbon footprint. At the same time, we would like to network more closely with innovative solution providers in the market.
Our jury will select three winners from all the entries. There are pilot projects with Gewobag and GBG Mannheim worth up to € 25,000 €, up to 50,000, up to € 100,000 and up to € 200,000 to be won as well as pitch training.
Our challenge is also a Europe-wide call for tenders, which will be made public via our tendering platform We have designed the process to be quick and smart by using several quality gates that mean less effort for you.
Get involved and let’s make a difference together!
Brief overview of the procedure and the missions
FAQ about the Challenge
The Missions 2023
Our innovation competition offers the opportunity to participate in one or more missions from the areas of heating system operation, meter-reading services and IoT management. In addition, there is the possibility to apply with any ideas related to the field for energy efficiency beyond the missions. Click here to go directly to the missions:
- Mission #1: Inventory of all heat-generating systems
- Mission #2: Use of information from substations and strings
- Mission #3: Analysis of data from heat-generating systems
- Mission #4: Further digitalisation of heating service providers
- Mission #5:Generating, optimising and providing periodic consumption data
- Mission #6: Developing and running an IoT network with integrated field devices
Innovation Challenge procedure
Europe-wide tender… sounds complicated? It’s not!
We have designed the process to be quick and smart so that it means less effort for you.
The individual steps are explained below:
- We invite all interested parties to a meeting on 29 June in Berlin, where you can ask us questions in order to better understand the challenge and its missions.
- The meeting will take place in hybrid format in Berlin – it will be recorded and made available to all interested parties afterwards. You will also be able to ask questions online. It’s definitely worth stopping by – we’ll be providing cold drinks and BBQ.
Register here
Click here to add the appointment to your calendar
- After the publication of the Europe-wide call for tenders, a secrecy phase begins in which all participants are treated equally and always receive the same information – the reason for this is procurement law. This keeps things fair for everyone.
- The platform will close on 7 August 2023 – it is possible to apply up to this date. The first step does not require much effort. You simply have to answer a few questions so that we can check your eligibility for the challenge. The second step involves you presenting your products/services. The third step is to design the pilot project, which you can win.
- We first check whether we are compatible by means of an eligibility assessment. The check refers in particular to your company. For example, it is important that you do not violate Gewobag’s Code of Conduct and that you already have some experience in working with other companies.
- All applications received will be evaluated according to a transparent set of criteria. You will receive feedback from 11 August on whether you have been successful or not.
- After you have successfully passed the first gate, you will be asked to submit further information on how you would like to solve the missions. We then want to know in more detail how you would address Gewobag’s needs.
- You can apply for one or more missions and present your solutions via the application form. All relevant documents for the missions will be uploaded to our award platform. There you will find templates for each phase of the challenge, which you can use as a guide. Our jury’s evaluation criteria will also be disclosed in the conditions of participation.
- The deadline for submitting your pitch deck via the procurement platform is 11 September 2023.
Our expert jury will evaluate all submissions according to a predefined set of criteria. You will be informed of whether you have been successful or not from 29 September.
- If you have convinced our jury up to this point, you will be asked to submit a specific proposal for a pilot project. You will then describe the scope of services you are offering us for the pilot project values of € T25, € T50, € T100 and € T200. How would you specifically approach the missions as part of a pilot project?
- Once again, you submit these proposals via our award platform.
- The final deadline is 27 October 2023.
- Our expert jury will review all proposals and select the winners of the challenge.
- The winners will receive an invitation to the final in Amsterdam and pitch training.
- The finalists are prepared for the big performance in the final with the help of an external professional.
- The winners of the Innovation Challenge will be announced in advance. The winners will receive a contract for a pilot project with us.
- The three finalists have already won. You will pitch your solutions live in Amsterdam. Here you will have the opportunity to wow the audience of experts with your final pitch and to persuade Gewobag to go with your pilot project.
- In the new year, we will start the pilot projects together by prototyping the winning solutions.
At this point, we would like to refer once again to the privacy policy for the Gewobag Innovation Challenge.
Organization structure
Gewobag
Berlin is a city of diversity. That is why more than 130,000 tenants from many countries and cultures find a home in over 74,000 apartments. Gewobag is one of the largest real estate companies in Germany. With housing offers for all sections of the population and innovative ideas, we are helping to make Berlin attractive and diverse.
GBG Mannheim
As the GBG Group of companies, we have transformed ourselves from a pure housing company to an important player in the development of Mannheim. Together with our five subsidiaries and two sub-subsidiaries, we contribute to a lively, diverse and sustainable urban development. Our aim is to create space for the future so that people in all living situations feel at home in Mannheim.
EFL
The European Federation for Living (EFL) is a European network of housing associations, companies and experts working to create more affordable, sustainable housing. We have over 70 members and associates from 19 European countries, with a joint portfolio of more than 1.300,000 dwellings and business units across Europe. And we´re growning by the day.
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Contact
If you have any questions about the competition, would like to give us feedback, receive further information about the procedure or contact us directly, please send us a brief email. We look forward to hearing from you!
Sven Harke-Kajuth
Authorised signatory and head of digitalisation and group services as well as CDO of Gewobag
Head of the innovation and start-up programme
Managing director at Gewobag ID – Gesellschaft für Innovation, Digitalisierung und Geschäftsfeldentwicklung mbH
Dr. Oliver Falk-Becker
Head of business development
Programme manager of the innovation and start-up programme
Commercial authorised signatory at Gewobag ID – Gesellschaft für Innovation, Digitalisierung und Geschäftsfeldentwicklung mbH
Roman Riebow
Head of IT
Programme manager of the innovation and start-up programme
Technical authorised signatory at Gewobag ID – Gesellschaft für Innovation, Digitalisierung und Geschäftsfeldentwicklung mbH
Nina Kairies
Project and innovation management consultant
Joost Nieuwenhuijzen
Managing Director EFL
Markus Abegg
Division Manager IT and Services of the GBG Group
Managing Director of ServiceHaus GmbH
Managing Director of Markthaus Mannheim gGmbH
Aleyna Keskin
Consultant of the Division Manager IT and Services
The jury
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Sven Harke-KajuthAuthorised signatory and head of digitalisation and group services as well as chief digitalisation office at Gewobag
Managing director of the company for innovation, digitalisation and business development
“We want to use the innovation and start-up programme to increase Gewobag’s innovative strength. The results from the 2021 competition have encouraged us to continue along this path. The Innovation Challenge 2023 now offers us another great opportunity to identify external partners’ best ideas and concepts and implement them in pilot projects.” -
Peter BurgfriedAuthorised signatory and head of portfolio management
Managing director of Gewobag MB Mieterberatungsgesellschaft mbH
“We are aware that innovations cannot only come from within our own ranks. Therefore, we are looking for new ideas to optimise our business processes. We are confident that this year’s challenge will once again connect us with relevant solutions and partners who will enhance our company with fresh perspectives and improve our innovative strength.” -
Dominik UngerAuthorised signatory and head of technical service at Gewobag ED Energie- und Dienstleistungsgesellschaft mbH.
“We pushing forward with digitalisation in the boiler room. In doing so, we want to work with innovative partners on specific issues. This helps us achieve our environmental and climate protection goals.” -
Olaf NestlerHead of strategic IoT management at Gewobag ED Energie- und Dienstleistungsgesellschaft mbH
“Intelligent energy data management, a high level of digitalisation and low process costs help to ensure that Gewobag’s tenants are supplied with reasonably priced energy. We are excited to see what ideas our external partners have that will help to make our processes in heating system operation, meter-reading services and IoT management viable for the future.” -
Markus AbeggDivision Manager IT and Services of the GBG Group
Managing Director of ServiceHaus GmbH
Managing Director of Markthaus Mannheim gGmbH
„In the age of digital transformation, energy management is not just a task, but an opportunity. Data is the basis for groundbreaking innovations that can change our world sustainably. Working together as visionaries, we create new paths for the future in an open and collaborative partnership. Our lifecycle model enables us to be broadly positioned and to cover all aspects of the municipal real estate industry. Together, we are shaping an energy-efficient and future-oriented society.”
Looking back at the 2021 Challenge
The Gewobag Innovation Prize is being awarded for the second time this year and is part of our innovation and start-up programme. The 2021 competition saw KUGU win over our jury of experts with its platform for digital building management. The cooperation between Green Fusion and Delta Heat came in an excellent second place, while the individual solution from Green Fusion came in third.
