The project of DTEK’s young innovators developed within the Young SDG Innovators program, was recognized by the UN Global Compact as the best energy security project. Moreover, this project was pitched during the Uniting Business LIVE event held within the annual session of the UN General Assembly. The participants of Young SDG Innovators program presented their innovative ideas and plans for their implementation during the closing ceremony that took place on October 12, 2021.
This year, the UN Global Compact Network Ukraine in the Young SDG Innovators program was represented by the following companies: Caparol Ukraine, Nova Poshta, Energy Efficiency Fund, Infotech, Farmak, Ukrenergo, Ukrzaliznytsia and DTEK. For nine months, young innovators visited their colleagues' companies, attended training camps and developed projects to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals into the business models of their companies.
“Our innovators are people under 35. They are the leaders of tomorrow. We are confident that our graduates will conduct business responsibly, because they understand that business is a driver of change in the world,” commented Tatiana Sakharuk, Chief Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Ukraine.
DTEK's team includes representatives of the DTEK Youth Movement and ID.Community: DTEK Innovation Manager Vitalii Opryshko, Shift Supervisor at DTEK Luhansk TPP Dmitriy Savostianov, Chief Specialist for operational improvement at Corum Yevhen Benyshyn, and IT systems implementation and development Manager at D.Trading Mykyta Driabzhynskyi. They have developed a system that will allow consumers to improve the country's energy security, generate additional revenue from the provision of services in various segments of the energy market, and reduce the negative environmental impact of starting and stopping power units by aggregating demand response capabilities.
“Today, sustainable development is not a nice-to-have, it is a must-have. Since 2018, the Innovation DTEK team has processed 2,258 innovative solutions, launched 43 pilot projects and scaled 9 of them in 7 DTEK businesses. We are proud that all the implemented pilot projects meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” said Emanuele Volpe, DTEK Chief Innovation Officer.
The Young SDG Innovators Programme is an opportunity for participating companies of the UN Global Compact to identify young talent within their organizations to collaborate and accelerate business innovation towards the Sustainable Development Goals. This nine-month accelerator programme activates future business leaders and changemakers to develop and drive innovative solutions through new technologies, initiatives, and business models and deliver on their company’s sustainability objectives. The Young SDG Innovators Programme is designed to engage the brightest and best talent in not only advancing the companies’ sustainability efforts but driving innovation and delivering tangible solutions with potential market value for the companies.
