Another edition of the SOFIA grant programme starts

For the second time already, ONDE SA, a leader in the renewable energy sources sector in Poland, seeks young innovators who want to transform their knowledge and ideas in practical actions associated with the energy transition. The projects can be submitted in five categories, and the best of them will be rewarded with grants of as many as PLN 20 thousand. Submit your application today!

For over 15 years, ONDE SA has been actively involved in the energy transition in Poland and investing in development of RES innovations and science. Under its educational programme ONDE FLOW, the company implements the Science Onde Flow Innovation Academy (SOFIA) grant programme, to promote renewable energy sources and support young people, students and PhD students, who want to get involved in actual activities focusing on the green transition.

– At ONDE we believe that each great change starts with an idea, which, when appropriately developed, may have a real influence on our surroundings and the world in which we live. We created the SOFIA programme for young scientists and innovators, who want to go one step further and start actual actions in the RES area. Grants offered by us will facilitate for them implementation of their established objectives. We want the voice of the young generation to be heard not only in the public discourse, but also in business’, says Paweł Średniawa, President of ONDE SA.

This edition of the programme is exceptional, because the organiser initiated a cooperation with Polish companies from the sector, which share a common goal: development of science and innovations. This year, the partners of the initiative include the Association “Z energią o prawie”, AGH University of Science and Technology, and Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, and ZPUE is the patron of the programme.

Why should you participate in the SOFIA grant programme?

In this year’s edition of the programme, you can submit projects in five categories. Each application is a chance to win PLN 20 thousand for further development of your idea. Furthermore, this year, for the first time, the participants have a chance to win a special award in an open voting. 

–   For young scientists, participation in the SOFIA programme is a chance not only to get financing for implementation of their project, but also to initiate contacts with specialists from the RES sector, and this can be of great importance for students entering the labour market. For many of them, environmentally friendly solutions and green energy represent the philosophy and style of their life, and the SOFIA programme enables them to be a part of the energy transition in Poland, on which our future depends’ adds  Adam Mroziński, PhD (Eng), the competition juror.

Competition categories

1. New solution in the area of RES maintenance and operation
   This is a category for projects associated with improvement of RES reliability and providing regulatory services.
2. New control and monitoring systems for RES
   This category covers projects that focus on improvement of reliability, speed, scalability and universal character of control systems.
3. Power output system in hybrid systems
   Projects from this category should concern development of hybrid RES systems to prevent risks of unplanned exceeding of power, momentary overloads, and potential disruptions.
4. RES wild card
   The RES wild card can be used to submit any concepts associated with the mega-trend of the energy transition.
5. RES lifecycle
   Applications from this category should respond to challenges associated with widely understood recycling, as well as creation of new connections under RES.

Do not wait – apply today and win as much as PLN 20 thousand for development of your project! The applications for the second edition of the ONDE SOFIA grant programme should be submitted by 15 May 2023. More information about the programme can be found at: www.ondeflow.pl.