Wien Energie Innovation Challenge #10
At a glance
In this Innovation Challenge, Wien Energie will work together with start-ups to develop energy solutions for Vienna’s future. This year the focus areas are:
- ChargeVoice: AI-powered customer support for e-charging stations
- Short-term solar forecasting: Solar forecasting solutions for efficient energy generation
Application deadline extended to May 19, 2026
Wien Energie Innovation Challenge #10
Wien Energie is looking to join forces with innovative start-ups in order to develop solutions for a future powered by sustainable energy and mobility. By bringing innovative start-ups together to work with its in-house experts, Wien Energie aims to develop sustainable energy solutions for a climate-neutral Vienna.
Since 2017, Wien Energie has been working with start-ups and strategic partners from all over the world on “Innovation Challenges” and other programs to develop sustainable solutions in the areas of carbon-free energy generation, circularity, electromobility and digital transformation.
Why does Wien Energie value its collaborations with start-ups? Wien Energie can develop products with more agility and speed when working together with start-ups. Successful pilot projects from these collaborations can be scaled up at a later stage, generating new products and business models for Wien Energie and the city of Vienna. Young companies can also benefit from Wien Energie’s infrastructure, expertise and access to over 2 million customers, thus helping start-ups to successfully launch their ideas and products on the market. Collaboration is a win-win for everyone.
Focus areas
ChargeVoice
Wien Energie strives to provide customers and their electric vehicles with fast, reliable, round-the-clock support whenever they encounter issues at public charging stations.
Wien Energie seeks an AI-powered solution that can independently handle first-level support calls, process common service issues and malfunctions, and generate trouble tickets. This will reduce wait times, increase customer satisfaction, and alleviate the workload on internal service teams. The solution should be specifically suited for service-critical processes in the e-mobility sector and be expandable to the telecommunications sector.
Solutions must fulfill the following requirements:
- High-quality support in German and English; additional languages are desirable;
- The solution must be capable of seamlessly integrating with existing CPMS system and process landscapes, as well as relevant backend systems;
- All relevant IT security, data protection and governance requirements—GDPR, EU AI Act, ISI, etc.— must be met.
Example Use Case: AI-assisted troubleshooting during charging
A customer with an electric vehicle calls the Wien Energie hotline, because the charging process at a public charging station cannot be started or was stopped prematurely. The AI solution takes the call, identifies the issue, guides the customer through a structured problem analysis, and—where permitted—accesses relevant information from the CPMS or backend.
If the issue cannot be immediately resolved, the system automatically creates a ticket with a problem summary, classification and next steps, and forwards it to the appropriate support team.
The goal is to achieve a high, first-call resolution rate while ensuring that complex cases are efficiently and transparently handed over to human agents.
Short-term solar forecasting:
Photovoltaic power generation is a cornerstone of the energy transition with the number of installed photovoltaic modules rising rapidly every year. This form of renewable energy presents the energy supplier Wien Energie with significant challenges.
Wien Energie needs new forecasting methods that can make quick, short-term predictions of solar availability and cloud movement, so that they can plan more efficiently for electricity demand.
Many of its customers nowadays cover part of their electricity needs with self-generated solar power . This dependence on solar power generation can result in enormous costs due to energy balancing, if the predicted photovoltaic generation in any quarter of an hour is much higher or lower than expected.
Our goal is to generate the most reliable possible forecast of our customers’ electricity demand in the ultra-short-term range of 15 minutes to three hours. To do this, we need a robust and precise forecast of global radiation — the key factor influencing PV generation and feed-in — that will be available for solar power generation in our Greater Vienna service area during this immediate timeframe. In a further step, we aim to improve our forecast of electricity sales to our customers for whom we do not have detailed data on PV generation and self-consumption.
Wien Energie is seeking innovative solutions that can collect and incorporate data from novel sources, such as sky cams, webcams or area-wide live PV generation along with a methodology that goes beyond traditional weather models. The forecasts should cover about the upcoming twelve quarters of an hour on an update frequency of less than one hour.
How it works
Feedback& exchange
Intensive cooperation and exchange with Wien Energie experts. You have the opportunity to work on a joint project together with Austria’s largest energy provider.
PoC Budget
The top start-ups and projects will receive an award budget of up to 50,000€ for their PoC or pilot project. With this award you can get straight to work on implementation.
Partnership with Wien Energie
Benefit from Wien Energie as a partner or customer. You could also gain access to Wien Energie’s network to support scaling up.
Who should apply?
Start-ups that meet the following criteria are invited to apply:
- Your product or technology is ready to use.
- You already have customers or (pilot) projects in the energy sector or similar industries.
- You are ready to cooperate with Wien Energie.
- The founder or director of your start-up can participate, preferably in-person, at our Innovation Bootcamp in Vienna on Nov. 11-13, 2026.
Important:
Wien Energie is a public company and required to issue calls for tenders. After applying via the button below, you will receive a link to the ANKÖ platform. An application for Challenge #9 is only valid if the ANKÖ process has also been completed.
How will applicants be selected?
Your application will be evaluated by a jury made up of Wien Energie experts. The jury will evaluate your application based on the following criteria:
- Sustainability and CO2 savings
- Need for the solution
- Feasibility in the coming year(s)
- Revenue or savings potential
Timeline
The online pitch sessions will be held on June 9, 2026:
Short-term solar forecasting: 10:00-12:00
ChargeVoice: 14:00-16:00
Success Stories
Kraken
Using the data platform from Kraken IM, Wien Energie can now forecast and analyze the CO2 emissions for projects still in the design phase and track them through to implementation. This allows the company to make data-based decisions that will help bring Vienna closer to its climate targets. This project was started as part of the Innovation Challenge #7.
KI-Produktberater
With its AI-powered product advisor, Wien Energie has significantly reduced customer inquiries regarding rates and products, while simultaneously helping more people find the right plan online. The solution supports customer acquisition, increases digital sign-ups, and leads to higher customer satisfaction. The project was developed as part of Innovation Challenge #8.
Smart Inspection
With the help of intelligent drones, Wien Energie can quickly and efficiently check its facilities for defects, day or night. This innovative approach helps them to minimize the downtime of their wind and photovoltaic plants. Smart Inspection was launched as part of the first Wien Energie Innovation Challenge in 2017.
FAQs
How does the application process work?
You can start the application process by completing the application form, which will be available until May 19, 2026. You must also submit an additional application via the ANKÖ platform. The link to the ANKÖ platform will be sent after the initial application is received.
After we have reviewed all applications, we will contact the applicants. If your start-up is working on an exciting solution and we want to learn more about it, then we will invite you to an online pitch session. During this session, we will get to know each other better and clarify any initial questions from both sides. The best start-ups per focus area will then be invited to take part in the Collaboration Phase.
Why do I need to submit an additional application on the ANKÖ platform?
Wien Energie is a public company and is required to run open calls for tender. As the goal of this challenge is to successfully implement, roll-out and scale projects, it is subject to the tendering process as carried out on the ANKÖ platform. All start-ups that apply on the landing page will receive a link to the ANKÖ platform. An application for the Innovation Challenge will only be valid when the ANKÖ process has been successfully completed.
How should the application questions be answered?
Your application should contain as much information as necessary for third parties to assess your business model and market potential.
You are invited to describe your contribution to sustainability and CO2 savings in qualitative manners. Quantify sustainability and CO2 savings to the extent that the nature of the challenge you are addressing for Wien Energie allows for. We are open to any adequate format and convincing key figures you provide to illustrate the potential of your solution concerning revenue or saving potential including educated assumptions and relative, specific or normalised figures that allow for scaling them to the portfolio of Wien Energie.
We will contact you if something is unclear or more information is needed. Based on this information, we will make an initial selection.
Which KPIs or benchmarks are particularly helpful for the evaluation of my application for the project “Short-term solar forecasting” (e.g., MAE, RMSE, hit rate, savings calculation)?
The primary objective during the InnoChallenge is to identify in detail the specific added value of the product for us as Wien Energie. We are therefore aware that it is often not yet possible to provide a fully tailored presentation in the initial application.
The general focus is on avoiding or reducing balancing energy costs in our electricity sales to customers. The following are therefore particularly suitable for evaluation:
- Lead times: To ensure operational flexibility.
- MAE (Mean Absolute Error): For example, in W/m2 or as a percentage, with particular attention to the relevant time windows (spring/summer at midday).
Is it possible to apply if we have already received funding?
Yes, absolutely. This program is all about collaboration and finding solutions together.
What happens at the online pitch session?
Applicants that show the most potential will be invited to a short, online pitch session. At this session, the start-ups should present their solutions, USP, market potential and proposals for a collaboration with Wien Energie. The pitches will take place virtually and Wien Energie experts will be present to evaluate each presentation.
What happens during the Collaboration Phase?
We will select max. 5 start-ups for the Collaboration Phase. In this phase, the start-ups will work together with Wien Energie experts to prepare prototypes, pilot projects and business cases, and a collaboration manager will support the joint working process.
How many start-ups will be selected for the Innovation Bootcamp?
Up to five teams made up of start-up staff and Wien Energie experts will develop their concepts and pitches at the Innovation Boot Camp.
In-person participation is preferred, however online participation can be arranged if necessary.
What will happen at the Innovation Bootcamp on Nov. 11-13, 2026?
Five start-ups will work together with Wien Energie experts to develop concepts, pilot projects and pitches at the Innovation Bootcamp. On the last day of the camp, the teams will present their concepts to a jury, which will then select the most promising concepts for the Acceleration Phase.
In-person attendance at the bootcamp is desired, however virtual participation can also be arranged as necessary.
Who will be in the jury at the end of the Collaboration Phase?
The presentations at the end of the Innovation Bootcamp will be given in front of a jury of Wien Energie experts.
How many pilot projects will be selected by the jury?
The number of pilot projects to be selected for the Acceleration Phase is not defined in advance. All pilot projects that Wien Energie considers relevant could advance to the next phase.
The start-ups that are invited to the Boot Camp but are not selected by the jury will receive compensation of up to 2,000€.
What happens during the Acceleration Phase?
The goal is to build a prototype and/or prepare the project for a long-term cooperation. A budget for the first prototypes and pilot projects can be provided.
What happens after the Acceleration Phase?
After the Acceleration Phase, successful pilot projects can be rolled out and/or scaled up. A decision on follow-up projects or future activities will only be made after the pilot project has been completed.
Are travel expenses reimbursed?
Travel and accommodation costs for the program, incl. the Innovation Bootcamp, will not be reimbursed. Alternatively, virtual participation at the Innovation Bootcamp is also possible.
Partners
Wien Energie supplies two million people and 230,000 commercial and industrial facilities with a reliable source of energy. Supply security and climate protection are two of our top priorities. Electricity and heat production come from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydropower as well as biomass, waste recycling and cogeneration.
With 3,042.0 million euros of revenue and 2,179 employees (2022), Wien Energie is one of the 30 most profitable companies in Austria and one of the largest employers in Vienna.
