In the course Business Models for Sustainable Energy, a student team will help you design and validate a business model around a sustainable energy solution you are planning to bring to the market.

They will receive training and guidance by lecturers from University of Twente.

✅ Key features of the challenge

• Students per team: 5-6 students
• Course: Business Models for Sustainable Energy
• Programme: Master Sustainable Energy Technology
• No. of hours spent per team: 250+ hours
• Deliverables: Presentation and a proper business plan (e.g. market research, financials, go-to-market plan, business model canvas, etc.)
• Company time investment: Your time involvement is 8-12 hours in total (e.g. weekly (short) meetings, interviews, final presentation, etc.)
• Matching fee: €850,- (ex tax, charged by Master Challenge (NOT the university))

📑 Challenge topics

Here are some examples that the students can work on, but not limited to:

• How to get energy from A to B efficiently
• Help us introduce a groundbreaking transformation to smarter, more efficient and more sustainable energy management
• Creating new business models with a Virtual Power Plant

Any challenge from the energy sector related to market research, strategy and business development are relevant to participate in this challenge.

🔎 Case study example

Curious for how such a project could look like? Have a look at 👉this case study about a collaboration between a team of students from the University of Twente and Energy Cooperatives Tilburg.

🏢 Requirement for participating companies

• Any company/organization operating or planning to operate in the sustainable energy market.
• Planning or considering to develop a new product/service.

💰 Costs

Master Challenge charges a matching fee of €850,- (ex tax) per team. This is to be able to further operate and close the gap between education and practice.

❗️You will only be charged when matched to a team.

📨 How to apply

You can submit the challenge directly through the website. Provide a title that summarises the challenge. Subsequently, briefly elaborate on your challenge. See link for a template you could use: https://link.masterchallenge.me/challenge-template or use the challenge generator: https://masterchallenge.me/challenge-generator

🗓 Planning

• June 19: Deadline for submitting your challenge
• July 15 (or sooner): Receiving message if your challenge is approved by the Course Coordinator
• September 1-4: Matching phase
  • September 1: Student teams rank the challenges
  • September 3: Challenge owners rank the student teams
• September 4: Matches are communicated
• September 7-9: Kick-off meeting (your team will contact you to schedule a kick-off meeting)
• October 28, 10:45-12:30 and 13:45-15:30: Final presentations in time slots of 20 minutes (after you are matched to a team, we will schedule the time slots)

Questions? Want to discuss your challenge before submitting one? Feel free to schedule a call 👉 here.