Photo: City of Amsterdam
Amsterdam seeks start-up solutions for power and waste
04 October 2021
by Christopher Carey
The City of Amsterdam is on the lookout for innovators for the seventh edition of its Startup in Residence programme.
This year’s programme will focus on the themes of sustainability and circularity, with the city looking for its best entrepreneurs, start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs to develop creative and innovative solutions.
During the six-month programme, selected companies get the chance to pilot their products and services in the city, and have the possibility to collaborate with the municipality on future projects.
The city is interested in hearing proposals related to a wide range of areas, including: preventing the build-up of waste around Amsterdam’s temporary canal wall supports; supporting the transition of industrial energy to greener alternatives; creating on-demand and flexible collection of waste and materials in the city centre; and developing on-demand power deployment solutions in the Port of Amsterdam.
Speaking to Cities Today, Ilona Kemps, Project Lead for Amsterdam’s Startup in Residence scheme, said: “With the programme, we want to make the government more easily accessible to smaller parties.”
“During the six-month incubation programme, the selected start-ups not only get the chance to pilot their solution with and within the city, but they also can get the government as their launching customer.”
Throughout the project, start-ups will receive training for one day every two weeks and each is partnered with an expert mentor.
Like previous years, this edition also has a ‘wild card challenge’ for both themes, where entrepreneurs can submit ideas and solutions that have not been outlined.
Circular construction
Last year, Dutch start-up Circularise was one of ten participants in the scheme, with the firm given the opportunity to test its blockchain-based material traceability solution.
The software allows relevant data on raw materials within the value chain to be securely shared and managed while retaining privacy over sensitive information, making it easier for the municipality to make choices about the repair or renovation of a building, enabling circular construction.
Other previous participants include The ECO Coin – a digital currency where coins are earned through sustainable actions like eating meat-free meals, installing solar panels or riding a bike to work – and smart waste data platform Skialabs.
Since 2014, Amsterdam has helped around 20 other cities and governmental organisations to set up their own Startup in Residence programmes.
Applications for this year’s programme are open from 4 October and close on 24 November 2021.
Image: City of Amsterdam
