Budimex S.A. has completed the next stage of the programme, the aim of which is to review and implement innovative solutions for the Polish and then the European construction sector – the Budimex Acceleration Program (BAP). As many as 124 applications met the formal criteria of the call, and 15 of the most promising startups from 5 countries were invited to participate in the final Pitch Session.
The process of selecting and selecting the solutions best suited to Budimex’s needs required the involvement of several Budimex experts – including directors of key departments – who evaluated the proposals of young companies in terms of their implementation potential and compliance with the company’s strategic priorities.
Variety of solutions and areas
During the summer pitching session, there was no shortage of projects to choose from. The most popular area among startups turned out to be AI technologies for construction – as many as 52 solutions were submitted. Intelligent algorithms optimizing planning, management and analysis of construction processes have a chance to take root in an industry that only a few years ago was based on paper document circulation. ConTech came in second with 48 projects, covering advanced construction technologies, modern construction materials and quality monitoring systems. The third place went to the Cleantech area, where as many as 39 applications were analyzed, primarily concerning the efficient use of resources, recycling and circularity of raw materials. Not only the authors of innovative software applied for the program. Hardware solutions also played a large part in the recruitment, primarily in the areas of robotization, green energy and health and safety.
International dimension of the programme
About one third of applications came to Budimex from abroad. Although most of the applications came from Polish, startups from Austria, Germany, Spain and even Hong Kong were also invited to exclusive Pitch Sessions.
” During the Pitch Session, we were able to see how 15 technology companies from 5 countries look at the same challenges that we and other major players in the industry face today. This is a valuable experience for our business teams, but above all a real opportunity to choose partners who will accelerate digitization and green transformation of the construction industry ,” says Krzysztof Szulc, AI Coordinator at Budimex and coordinator of the BAP program itself.
Step-by-step selection
The Budimex Acceleration Program, which was launched at the beginning of this year, has received an unexpectedly large response. The Startup Hub Poland Foundation, the substantive partner of the program, recorded nearly 150 applications. 124 of them met the formal criteria (appropriate age and technological maturity of the solutions) and were qualified for analysts’ assessment.Then, in several stages of selection, experts narrowed down the number of startups to 50, then 30, and finally 15 teams went to the Pitch Session, which gives a selectivity coefficient of 0.9 (10%).
” Construction is a sector with a significant impact on the economy, the environment and social life.It is our duty to look for new ways to increase efficiency and safety, and the way to do this leads, m.in, through meticulous selection and meticulous analysis of startups. The best ones will help us respond faster to these market needs ,” emphasizes Jakub Jedliński, Director of the Innovation Office.
Next steps
Selected teams, initially no more than 5, will now enter the stage of dedicated acceleration, conducted by the Budimex Innovation Office in cooperation with the Startup Hub Poland foundation.Projects that agree with Budimex on the details of cooperation will receive individual support from experts and access to Budimex’s infrastructure, which will allow pilot tests to be carried out on real construction sites.
” Our distinguishing feature is that we not only get inspired by startups’ ideas, but we actually give them space to check how their solutions work in large-scale conditions. This is the shortest way from prototype to implementation ,” adds Marek Klusek, Director of the Warranty, Innovation and Contract Terms Department at Budimex.
About the Budimex Acceleration Program
The Budimex Acceleration Program is an initiative aimed at startups developing technologies for the future of construction. The program focuses on six strategic areas: ConTech, Cleantech, Green Energy, AI, Robotization and Automation, and Occupational Safety. Its goal is to enable young companies to test and scale solutions with the support of one of the largest general contractors in Poland and the region.
