The Energy Box (TEB) refers to a demonstrator of new clean technologies, known as ‘the house of renewable energy’, located at the Greenbridge science park in the outer port of Ostend, Belgium.

TEB demonstrates, interacts and commercialises emergent energy technologies for both private as professional usage, aiming at energy production and energy efficiency. The box focuses on SMEs, in particular start-ups and (academic) spin-offs who didn’t find their way to the market so far. Yet valorisation platforms and business R&D departments are welcomed too. TEB provides promotion and marketing of innovative and combinative energy concepts, yielding marketable cleantech end products. Numerous letters of intent by young cleantech companies are received, validating the economic relevance and the (Flemish) potential of The Energy Box.

The concept of The Energy Box originated from the synergy between Greenbridge as a cleantech incubation and innovation centre, Power-Link as UGent R&D facilitator with a clear focus on sustainable and renewable energy, and SET, the valorisation consortium Sustainable Energy Technologies of the Ghent University Association (AUGent) as a leverage for the scientific perspective of new energy technologies.

Greenbridge NV is lead partner. The Greenbridge coastal science park of Ghent University aims at creating an innovative and enterprising climate for cleantech business in the Ostend region. It provides incubator facilities designed and managed to help high tech start-ups build up their company and settle at the science park. The company is incorporated by Ghent University, POM West-Flanders, AG Port of Ostend and the Catholic University College of Bruges-Ostend, later on extended with ADMB Social Secretariat. Greenbridge NV is charged with the management of the science park and the incubator.

The operation of the box is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the Flemish government and the province of West-Flanders. The skilled management team comprises a CFO and CTO, next to junior start-up coaches. The team is supported by professional business consultants with expertise in technological, industrial marketing, financial, legal and HR consulting. These consultants, liaised with one another through a joined venture, are ready to coach the technology on commercial level during a time frame of 6 months up to maximum 1 year. This is the same period in which a cleantech, after being selected, can be demonstrated and monitored in our Energy Box.

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