Innovation is a strategic lever for the growth of the Group which permeates the entire organisation, from corporate culture, to operational processes, infrastructures and technological devices.
For the purpose of managing the innovation line we develop high added-value innovative projects to create a favourable environment for innovation and the culture of entrepreneurship. We activated the Innovation Board, which, in a shared manner, defines and implements the Group’s innovation strategy. We also created dedicated work spaces for the development of innovation and a corporate innovation programme.
In order to achieve the challenging innovation objectives, we redefined the organisation at the Company Acea Innovation, which in 2020 focused above all on electric mobility. Moreover, we strengthened Acea SpA’s Technology and Solutions area: this function manages the Group’s innovation line and promotes the Innovation Model, which identifies the Group’s internal needs and looks for innovative solutions, via the adoption of processes and approaches typical of open innovation.
We also set up the company Acea Innovation, which in 2020 focused on electric mobility, widespread composting and energy efficiency.
Projects have been launched with regard to every strategic pillar identified and idea generation sessions have been staged enabling the diffusion of an innovation culture involving all people within the Group and highlighting further prospects for the development of technological applications and innovation. Partnerships have also been signed at domestic and international level with a view to consolidating Acea’s position in the ecosystem of innovation and identifying new business opportunities, and innovative solutions coming from startups and SMEs have been analysed and tested.
Moreover, bearing in mind the importance of promoting and developing a Group culture with regard to innovation, we introduced the Innovation Board, comprising the innovation coordinators of the various industrial areas, which defines and implements, in a shared manner, the Group’s innovation strategy.
Acea at “Maker Faire Rome” to redesign the future of water and the environment
Maker Faire Rome is the most important initiative in Europe dedicated to innovation in which specialised companies, makers, startuppers and enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds meet to present the most innovative projects applied to the water and energy infrastructures and to share their knowledge.
The 2020 edition, with our participation for the seventh consecutive year, took place online over four days, during which thousands of virtual visitors, makers and startuppers linked up from all over Italy were able to appreciate the contribution made by the participating companies. In particular, we distinguished ourselves by illustrating the most innovative industry 4.0 solutions applied to our industrial sectors, above all as regards water and the environment.
Acea Innovation Garage
Acea Innovation Garage, the first entrepreneurship programme for Acea Group employees
Nel 2019 Acea Innovation ha lanciato Acea Innovation Garage, il programma di imprenditorialità rivolto ai dipendenti e finalizzato a promuovere la cultura dell’innovazione, con lo scopo di supportare il Gruppo nel raggiungimento dei relativi obiettivi attraverso la valorizzazione del know-how interno.
In 2020, with the second edition of the programme, we launched two projects focused on improving customer experience and enhancing water resources. One of these is the Waidy project, an app downloadable from all app stores, which allows the geolocation of all public water distribution points, access to additional information, the real-time reporting of faults, if any, and access to the qualitative and quantitative parameters of the water distributed.
