EDP and Schneider Electric launch global social innovation initiative in Davos
EDP, in partnership with Schneider Electric, today announced the launch of EGDE Transition, a global social innovation initiative designed to accelerate entrepreneurial solutions that promote a just, inclusive and sustainable Energy Transition.
The announcement was made during the Social Innovation Leadership Business Council meeting, held as part of the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, currently taking place in Davos, Switzerland.
This joint initiative stems from the shared ambition of both companies to place innovation at the service of people, by promoting solutions focused on generating positive social impact in underserved markets and communities.
EGDE Transition will support innovative projects that directly contribute to improving equitable access to the benefits of the energy transition. To this end, the initiative is currently mobilising partners and seeking to integrate three new sponsors in order to strengthen its reach and impact on a global scale.
The initiative aims to support social entrepreneurs and organisations working in at least one of the following priority areas:
- Provision of clean, reliable, safe and affordable energy
- Promotion of energy efficiency
- Development of accessible training programmes and inclusive employment opportunities in the energy sector
- Creation of positive social impact in underserved communities
The programme is designed to act as a bridge between social innovation and the business and financial ecosystem. It will include incubation and acceleration mechanisms, specialised mentoring, technical validation and business development support, enabling entrepreneurs to test and strengthen their solutions, scale their impact and attract investment.
This partnership seeks to serve as an example for other organisations, encouraging new models of cooperation that accelerate solutions with positive social and environmental impact. As such, EGDE Transition aims to expand its reach through the integration of new partners, strengthening its ability to generate positive impact on a global scale.
The launch of this new global social innovation programme further reinforces EDP’s commitment to leading a socially just energy transition, by creating opportunities, promoting inclusion and generating lasting value for communities.