Albert Cot is Head of the Corporate Venture unit of COMSA Corporation and Member of the Board of Directors of the Energy Efficiency Cluster of Catalonia. Prior to his current position, he coordinated the R+D+i in the Engineering department of COMSA Corporation, specializing in energy efficiency projects, renewable energies, electrical transmission and distribution, waste treatment, railway infrastructure and sustainable mobility.
“The key is that startups can respond with new solutions that add value to their market environment, with a powerful team and a solid business project.”
Your company has joined Cleantech Camp this year. What motivations have led you to collaborate with a program with these characteristics?
At COMSA Corporation, we have promoted a new Corporate Venture unit to bring our innovation to the market. One of the important points of the strategic line of this unit is to collaborate with start-ups in open innovation schemes.
What is your contribution to the program?
We participate in the monitoring and mentoring of the start-ups. They are working on the challenge that we have raised about automation and network management.
What kind of solutions are you interested in, especially in the current edition of Cleantech Camp?
We are in favor of not restricting the solutions that may arise from start-ups. Also, the key is that they can respond with new solutions that add value to their market environment, with a powerful team and a solid business project.
What advice would you give to entrepreneurs who aspire to start in the field of energy and clean technologies?
It is a market with specific conditions and very differentiated from others, both in terms of regulation, time-to-market, investment costs of prototypes etc. Despite this, the energy transition and its potential for change help to introduce new solutions for the sector.
COMSA CORPORACION is an international company. How do you assess the situation of emerging companies in our country related to clean energy?
Overall, the assessment is positive. However, there is still much work to be done to ensure a prosperous path to the market. In fact, this point is a task that not only depends on the start-up. It also depends on the collaborative ecosystem that is found. Therefore, from COMSA Corporation, we will actively support the start-ups that have joined the program. We aim to help them in their development.
What are the main challenges that you foresee in your company?
Generally speaking, our main challenge is to incorporate innovation within the value chain of suppliers and customers. Also, to incorporate it in the internal processes of the company itself.