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About VERBUND X

Who we are

VERBUND X is the Innovation Unit of Austria's largest electricity provider. Our approach to innovation can be described as an 'Innovation Symphony', reflecting our reliance on diverse teams and expertise working together in harmony. The 'Corporate Innovation & New Business' department coordinates these efforts, ensuring transparency and facilitating interactions among various stakeholders. Alongside VERBUND business units, we form the core of VERBUND's innovation strength. To achieve success in the energy transition, we also collaborate with external innovation ecosystem partners. This collective effort drives progress and transformation in the energy sector.

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What we do

Our coordinated efforts at VERBUND are demonstrated through a diverse array of innovation projects across various business units.

In the Hydropower division, several projects, such as the 'Blue Battery' initiative, focus on frequency stabilization using battery storage.

 

The Wind & PV unit has engaged in numerous projects including Predictive Maintenance, aiming to reduce costs via early damage detection.

 

VERBUND’s commitment to Green Hydrogen is evident through multiple projects like 'Green Hydrogen @ Blue Danube,' which seeks to establish a green hydrogen value chain within the EU.

 

In the realm of E-Mobilität, we have successfully completed projects like the 'Central European Ultra Charging' initiative, aimed at developing ultra-fast charging infrastructure across Europe.

 

Further, we are actively exploring new storage technologies, having assessed numerous technology providers and currently implementing a few pilot projects. Through VERBUND X Ventures, our Corporate Venture Capital arm, we have invested in leading climate-tech startups and facilitated numerous collaborations through the VERBUND X Accelerator.

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Franz Zöchbauer, Managing Director of VerbundX, smiling warmly in a blue sweatshirt over a white shirt. The background is plain.

“Our goal is to foster innovations that shape tomorrow’s energy sector. We drive disruptive technologies and partner with visionary talents & organisiations to build the energy solutions for tomorrow”.

Franz Zöchbauer Managing Director of VERBUND X

Our strategy

Our strategy at VERBUND X focuses on driving innovation by fostering collaboration between our business units, startups, and industry leaders, and supporting the implementation of innovative projects through co-financing and corporate venturing. We provide services to support innovative projects financially and personnel-wise, while our Corporate Venturing team invests in and develops startups, with the VERBUND X Accelerator enabling effective collaboration between startups and industry leaders. Trend management helps us identify and address disruptive innovations early, and initiatives to strengthen our innovation ecosystem and culture are central to our approach. 

Our comprehensive strategy aims to unlock new growth opportunities, optimize processes, and ensure structured implementation of ideas through clear processes and cross-departmental collaboration. We aim to build long-term expertise in future fields, guide strategic decisions, and minimize risks through foresight and trend analysis.

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Innovation Day

The VERBUND Innovation Day is an annual internal event that brings together VERBUND employees from various departments and business units to exchange ideas, stay updated on the company’s latest innovation projects, and collaborate on shaping the future of energy. It serves as a platform for sharing knowledge, fostering creativity, and connecting with leading experts from both within and outside the company. Through presentations, interactive sessions, and discussions, employees gain insights into new technologies and sustainable energy solutions, while also being inspired by visionary speakers. The Innovation Day strengthens VERBUND’s culture of continuous innovation and teamwork, empowering all participants to contribute to the company’s progress in the energy transition and its commitment to pioneering a more sustainable, efficient energy future.