UnicornQuest | Exploring innovation in Slovakia DAY 2
The consortium partners and local stakeholders participated in a highly informative two-day event in Bratislava on the 21-22nd March 2024, where they had the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the Slovak ecosystem and get to know innovative startups.
On the morning of the second day (22.03.2024), our host, Mr. Peter Adamovský, provided an insightful presentation on the activities of the Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency (SIEA). Focusing particularly on business startups, he also offered an overview of the organization's broader initiatives and structure, including the Section of Innovation and its objectives. Additionally, Mr. Adamovský discussed funding schemes and the implementation aspects of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) and the Operational Programme Slovakia 2021 - 2029.
Following that, Mrs. Maria Smaranda shared insightful practices from the Innovation Coucher program, emphasizing the significance of empathy in understanding clients' needs. This led to an open discussion covering a range of topics.
Continuing with the agenda, Mrs. Andrea Miklasová showcased the endeavors of the University Technology Incubator of STU. Highlighting their collaboration with STU students and alumni, she elaborated on the incubator's mission, team, programs, services, partners, and mentors. Subsequently, a robust discussion ensued, focusing on fostering collaboration between universities and the business sector.
The agenda proceeded with a presentation by Mr. Lukáš Sekelský from the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic, who shed light on support initiatives for startups within the healthcare sector. He detailed the work of their behavioral and experimental economics team, as well as comprehensive projects aimed at implementing a behavioral approach. Additionally, Mr. Sekelský presented a compelling case study. The session concluded with an interactive question and answer segment.
The agenda of the second day was closed by local company SENSONEO (CEO Mr. Martin Basila presenting their story) and Q&A. SENSONEO started with one product, a waste level monitoring solution, consisting of sensors that measure the waste level in bins and an intelligent waste management software system. Over the years they have expanded and perfected their service portfolio, which now ranges from waste and collection monitoring, route planning, factory waste management to take-back systems and deposit return scheme integration. SENSONEO has successfully implemented Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) software in more than five countries, achieving recycling rates of over 90%. In addition, SENSONEO has developed tools to automate factory waste collection, enabling its customers to improve waste diversion rates and site recycling.
