New technologies for tunnelling ground improvements treatments

  • 09 INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRAESTRUCTURE
  • 11 SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
  • 13 CLIMATE ACTION

New technologies for tunnelling ground improvements treatments

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January 22

OPEN CALL

I’MNOVATION 2024 is here! Check out the open challenges and sign up.

February 29

END OF INSCRIPTIONS

Haven’t applied yet, run! The deadline for applications is February 29th.

May 17

SELECTION DAY

The finalist startups will pitch to a committee that will decide the winner. This startup will develop a pilot in a real environment for 6 months with us.

December 11

DEMO DAY

Each team will present the results obtained to the decision committee that will evaluate the continuity and scaling of the program.

SOLUTIONS
Transport
DURATION
6 MONTHS
LOCATION
BUDGET
50 000 EUR €
BUDGET
50 000 EUR €

Tunnelling involves risks associated with ground instability, which are often difficult to predict and which significantly affect the development of the project. Due to these geological instabilities, it is necessary to resort to ground improvement treatments to resolve incidents such as: presence of water pressure, instability of the excavation face, consolidation in fault crossings, advances in karst areas, junctions between the main tunnel and connecting galleries, etc. These treatments are often not included in the design phase, which means that they are not initially planned activities and have a negative impact on the execution time and cost of construction projects.

The implementation of new ground improvement treatment techniques in tunnelling projects presents a significant opportunity to reduce downtime in unplanned events, which in turn improves competitiveness in tenders. The use of more sustainable materials and the reduction in their consumption are essential in this approach, aligning with the current trend towards greener construction practices. In addition, these techniques contribute to the optimisation of processes and systems, thus minimising wasted time and increasing operational efficiency. These advances in ground treatment not only improve the technical and economic feasibility of tunnel projects, but also enhance environmental sustainability and construction safety.

ACCIONA is launching this challenge to identify solutions that offer innovative alternatives in the area of ground improvement treatments in tunnels. The aim of this challenge is to find new ground improvement treatment techniques that improve current treatments from an economic, implementation and sustainability point of view. To this end, any aspect related to the treatment technique can be addressed: design, inspection, materials, equipment, procedures, digitalisation, data management, etc.

Frequent questions

Yes. This Open Innovation Program is designed for the co-creation and co-development with startups, spinoffs and scaleups. Although we wouldn’t expect to work with mature companies, ACCIONA understands that developing a new product is hard and pivoting to find the Market-Fit needs from time and work, so we will analyse case by case.

Yes. As companies grow, they develop commercial agreements. Corporate open innovation programs are one of them, although ACCIONA wouldn’t accept to develop a project if the startup is working on a project with the same scope with a competitor.

Usually, ACCIONA will publish that a pilot has been developed with your company at the end of the project. If you need to share some kind of information of the project, privately or publicly, please contact us.

At the beginning of the project, the ownership of the IP is from each part. Only after the ending of the project, ACCIONA and your company would negotiate over the results of the product or service developed if ACCIONA has had a relevant participation.

No. Open Innovation program doesn’t take any equity. Only at the end of the project, ACCIONA would analyse if an investment has a fit in the company strategy and if the startup has an investment round open.

No. Sometimes startups captable is complex. We would accept that one of the founders signs if he/she has power of attorney.