Iren Startup Award: Call 4 Artificial Intelligence

Scouting

The Call 4 Artificial Intelligence is aimed at innovative startups and SMEs, both national and international, that offer digital solutions and hardware connected to intelligent software based on AI technologies. The proposals must be scalable, easily implementable, and integrable, with a strong focus on the secure management of sensitive data, in compliance with security and privacy regulations.

After an initial scouting phase for applications, the solutions with the highest potential will be selected to participate in the **Selection Day**. On this occasion, the selected startups and SMEs will have the opportunity to present their projects to the heads of the Business Units and the Top Management of the Iren Group. The goal is to create technological synergies by developing pilot projects (Proof of Concept), starting commercial collaborations, or securing investments through Corporate Venture Capital.

Area of Interest

AI-Driven Solutions for Innovation in Iren's Business Units

We are seeking innovative digital solutions (software and hardware connected to intelligent software) based on artificial intelligence to optimize and enhance the efficiency of business processes across all of Iren Group's business units:

• Networks: This unit handles the management and distribution of electricity, gas, water, and wastewater treatment. The focus is on optimizing consumption and efficiently managing infrastructure.
• Environment: Responsible for waste management and the circular economy, the search here is for technologies that automate waste collection and treatment or enhance resource efficiency by transforming waste into added value.
• Energy: Active in the production of electricity and thermal energy, district heating, public lighting, and renewable energy. Solutions should aim at improving energy efficiency, smart resource management, and electrification.
• Market: This unit is in charge of selling electricity, gas, and related services, including those related to smart homes and electric mobility. The focus is on technologies that enhance customer interaction, with strong demand for solutions that improve profiling and personalize energy offerings.

The integration of innovative technologies that are applicable across Iren’s sectors will help address key challenges such as process optimization, predictive maintenance, smart resource management, and personalized customer services.

Some examples of innovative technologies that could support Iren’s business units include:

• Corporate solutions for cross-business/staff artificial intelligence (especially Gen AI) that include business process automation, virtual assistants, automated content creation tools, advanced data analytics, personalized training systems, and AI-driven collaboration and project management platforms. These solutions aim to improve efficiency, productivity, and decision-making through cross-departmental integration within the company.
• VR and AR solutions to assist operators in inspection and maintenance activities.
• Real-time image recognition for waste sorting lines
• Digital twins to create predictive models and simulations integrated with cartographic and asset management data.
• Advanced robotics for managing and treating waste and WEEE, integrating CER Codes for traceability.
• Automation tools with Gen-AI models for operational management
• Virtual sensors and data-driven monitoring systems to enhance the resilience of energy and water networks
• AI for customer profiling and optimization of energy and electric mobility service offerings
• Predictive maintenance for the electrical grid and water cycle
• Domestic consumption analysis and load disaggregation
• Optimization algorithms for pumping processes in the water and sewage cycles.

These solutions are expected to address challenges related to infrastructure, operational efficiency, and customer engagement, making Iren’s business more innovative and sustainable.

Opportunities & Project Developments

During the Selection Day, up to 10 startups and innovative SMEs will be chosen to move on to the next phases of the initiative, focused on developing collaborations with the Iren Group. Specifically, participating in the Iren Startup Award 2024 offers the opportunity to:

• Become suppliers or carry out Proof of Concept (POC) projects
• Establish a strategic commercial partnership
• Accelerate the development of innovative projects with the support of a multi-utility leader in innovation
• Access direct and indirect investments from the Iren Group

Additionally, the selected startups will have the opportunity to be introduced to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation for evaluation, with the possibility of accessing the EMF Community Platform and being included in the Circular Startup Index.

Success Cases

The Iren Group has already initiated several successful collaborations with innovative startups that use AI to optimize business processes.

• FINAPP - This startup has developed an innovative technology based on Cosmic Rays Neutron Sensing (CRNS) to detect water leaks by measuring the water content in the ground in real time. Thanks to probes mounted on vehicles or manual carts, supported by AI, the system bridges the gap between point measurements and large-scale assessments. Pilot tests conducted with Iren were successful, leading the Iren Group to invest in Finapp through the Tech4Planet fund and starting a provincial test with the aim of extending the adoption of the technology at a regional level.

• HIRO ROBOTICS - Founded in 2018, Hiro Robotics develops AI-driven robotic systems for recycling WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment). In collaboration with Iren, they created a robotic system that improves the efficiency of disassembling electronic components. After a successful trial, a contract was signed for a semi-automated line dedicated to disassembling flat panel displays (FPD), with the goal of reducing processing times and increasing productivity. Additionally, a joint project led to the development of an AI-based system for selecting electronic boards through image recognition.

• SKILLGYM - Iren's Innovation Department, in collaboration with the Development and Training Department, selected SkillGym for an AI Digital Role Play project. SkillGym’s platform enhances the soft skills of the Group's managers through simulated scenarios with augmented reality. This AI-supported approach has allowed managers to refine their behavioral skills in complex business situations.

• DEEP PROPERTY - The collaboration between Iren and Ticinum Aerospace materialized in the “HeatMap” project, aimed at optimizing and automating data collection and analysis processes related to buildings using artificial intelligence models. The Deep Property solution, developed by Ticinum Aerospace, allows for the identification of specific characteristics of buildings, such as the type of heating system (centralized or autonomous), without requiring on-site intervention from technical staff. This innovative approach enables Iren to quickly assess the building stock in areas of interest and estimate the potential for connection to services like district heating. The implementation of this automated system has shown a reliability of 92-94% compared to manual census data, significantly reducing the time and resources needed for data collection.

• POSTURA ERGONOMICS - This is an innovative software designed to automatically assess ergonomic risks. Compatible with official protocols for professional risk prevention, this tool records the workstation through an app. Within ten minutes, the algorithm analyzes the data and provides results on a webpage, helping analysts identify ergonomic issues and generating detailed reports in accordance with major risk assessment protocols such as OCRA and NIOSH. The adoption of "Postura Ergonomics" by Iren marks a significant advancement in managing ergonomic risks, enhancing operational efficiency and workplace safety. Furthermore, it facilitates decision-making processes by automatically creating reports that identify the most effective solutions to address the identified issues.