On 13 and 14 October 2022, the European Innovation Council (EIC) and 10 EIC innovators joined Poland-based Grupa Azoty, one of the European leaders in the fertiliser industry, for a virtual EIC Procurers Day. The present EIC companies were able to pitch and meet with Grupa Azoty representatives in the hopes of expanding their clientele and doing business with the Polish giant, notably in supporting them with their transition for Digital Transformation, Circular Economy, Green Deal, Bio-fertilisers and Fertiliser Additives, and Innovative Plastics.
After the many pitches and one-to-one meetings, we got together with Henryk Kubiczek, Head of the Strategic and Development Department of Grupa Azoty, to talk innovation procurement, start-up collaboration and partnering up with the EIC.
What is your approach to innovation procurement?
We are looking for opportunities and great ideas outside the company. This is part of our open innovation strategy. We try to cooperate with universities, and with other companies, but I think the part where we have the best experience is cooperating with startups. Having said that, an event like this was something new for us, because until now we mainly cooperated with startups from the Polish market. We were excited to see who would apply and what these startups would want from us.
You already mentioned that one of the reasons to team up with the EIC was to source startups outside of Poland. Can you name some of the other reasons?
Besides the network, I could say that the support given by the EIC was another deciding factor. Currently, we do not have the resources to look for startups in other European countries, so being offered this service and support with the organization of the event itself is amazing. Another reason, again building on startups from different countries, is that they bring new approaches to old problems. During the pitches and one-to-ones, we sometimes saw approaches from which we can learn and tackle existing problems. Also, for our specialists, that’s great to see: what is the approach? What is the business model? How would they like to cooperate with us?
What were your impressions of the event itself and the 10 EIC innovators that pitched?
The event itself was very well organized, while the startups that pitched were very well prepared. Perhaps we shouldn’t even call them startups anymore, given their maturity and turnover. During the pitching sessions, they knew what they had to communicate, and what we wanted to see. They captured our attention perfectly and convinced us that it is worth moving on to the next step.
Talking about the next step, could you tell us if you already found some interesting opportunities in the companies that pitched during the event?
We’ve seen a few companies we would like to engage in pilots with. In addition, we believe we also found some interesting partnerships in terms of applying for European projects on R&D. Given that a consortium always has to consist of different countries, it’s a great way to set up new partnerships and work together.
On a final note, what advice can you give to startups and scaleups that would like to work with Grupa Azoty?
Quite simply, don’t be afraid. Set the meeting, the time, the date and then we can talk expectations: What have you got, what do you need? Think about the best way we can cooperate. And even if there isn’t a match, don’t forget that we have plenty of partners in the Polish ecosystem that could be interesting. We can make connections all over Poland, which could benefit all parties.
EIC Business Acceleration Services
This opportunity is brought to you by the EIC Business Acceleration Services. If you’re looking for opportunities to connect with some of the largest public and private procurers of innovation in Europe, make sure to check our events calendar often to grab the best opportunity to take your business to the next level.
