Innovation Capacity Buliding Workshop
The Innovation Capacity Building Workshop, held on October 30, 2024, was organized by the Jordanian-German Energy Partnership as part of the energy sector innovation task force. The event aimed to support the creation of a platform for energy innovators and startups in Jordan, helping to stimulate the country's energy startup ecosystem.
The workshop was hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Jordan (MEMR) and the German Energy Agency (dena), with backing from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). Around 40 participants attended, including representatives from ministries, investors, universities, utilities, think tanks, and research institutions from both Jordan and Germany.
The Workshop agenda focused on developing Jordan's energy start-up ecosystem through a university-driven spin-off incubator:
• Foster Energy Innovation: Enhance Jordan’s energy start-up ecosystem by creating a support platform that bridges academia, industry, and government.
• Promote Collaboration: Encourage partnerships between MEMR, universities, and international entities to advance sustainable energy solutions in Jordan.
• Capacity Building: Equip Jordanian stakeholders with knowledge and strategies from German experts to support energy-focused start-ups and foster innovation.
Key sessions included welcome addresses from Dr. Jochen Zimmermann (BMWK) and Mr. Nidal Al Qasem (MEMR), both highlighting their support for youth entrepreneurship in the energy sector.
The first session featured presentations from:
- Dr. Simon Herzog (Entrepreneurship expert, UnternehmerTUM)
- Dr. Eric Weber (CEO, SpinLab)
- Pia Dorfinger (Start-up Ecosystems, dena)
These experts shared their experiences of collaborating with ministries and universities to support energy startups. The second half of the workshop involved an interactive brainstorming session and Q&A. This segment encouraged participants to discuss how the insights shared could be applied to the Jordanian context and improve its energy startup ecosystem.
Overall, the workshop emphasized the importance of incubation practices and collaborative partnerships to drive innovation and sustainability in Jordan's energy sector.
