PGNiG seeks tech start-ups

Polish gas company PGNiG announced on November 23 it had established a partnership with Space3ac, a Polish initiative that connects corporations with technology start-ups.

Through becoming an industry partner of Space3ac, PGNiG said it would seek out start-ups involved in the areas of artificial intelligence, hydrogen, fuel cells, water purification and the development of new production forecasting tools for electricity and heat. It is also looking for companies that can provide marketing automation, big data processing, employer branding and gamification solutions.

Start-ups that successfully enter the Space3ac programme will be able to receive up to €65,000 ($73,200) in grant assistance from the Polish agency for Enterprise Development. They can use these funds to establish business operations, get mentorship support and have opportunities to work with PGNiG and other companies.

"In order to maintain continued business growth, we want to embrace innovation," PGNiG president Arkadiusz Sekscinski said in a statement. "For the entire energy industry, the coming years will be a time of great challenges and deployment of innovation projects that will allow us to complement traditional energy sources with green and zero-carbon fuels in the future. As we remain open to collaboration with other companies both in optimising our own processes and expanding into new business areas, I‘m glad to welcome Space3ac as our new partner."