Indicators of innovation : empirical insights into activities, challenges and strategies of Swiss energy sector start-ups

Wemyss, Devon; Blumer, Yann

Publication type:	Working paper – expertise – study
Title:	Indicators of innovation : empirical insights into activities, challenges and strategies of Swiss energy sector start-ups
Authors:	Wemyss, Devon Blumer, Yann
Extent:	18
Issue Date:	2015
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Winterthur
Language:	English
Subject (DDC):	658.1: Organization and finance
Abstract:	Entrepreneurial activity can be seen as a signal for opportunities opening up in a changing market. This working paper covers the progress to date in developing an understanding of the activities, challenges and strategies of start-ups in the Swiss energy sector. The study, has compiled a list of 77 active start-ups in the heat and electricity fields who are contributing to four distinct challenges relevant to the national Energy Strategy 2050 goals: increasing renewable energy production, reducing energy demand, decreasing system complexity, ensuring availability of energy. So far, 14 interviews were held with selected start-ups in order to cover all of the four areas and varying customer segments, from within the energy business to end users. These interviews were conducted to specifically qualify the value proposition and current activities of the firms, as well as internal and external challenges that they faced during their development. Nine distinct challenges were identified that are specifically relevant to the energy sector. These, e.g., refer to customer awareness, possible channels for acquisition, access to finance and building legitimacy as a new entrant. Furthermore, this working paper also presents ten strategies that helped these start-ups to overcome the stated challenges. The report concludes with a number of recommendations for future research on energy entrepreneurship and to promote entrepreneurial activities in the Swiss energy sector.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/8534
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	School of Management and Law
Appears in collections:	Publikationen School of Management and Law

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Wemyss, D., & Blumer, Y. (2015). Indicators of innovation : empirical insights into activities, challenges and strategies of Swiss energy sector start-ups. ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.

Wemyss, D. and Blumer, Y. (2015) Indicators of innovation : empirical insights into activities, challenges and strategies of Swiss energy sector start-ups. Winterthur: ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.

D. Wemyss and Y. Blumer, “Indicators of innovation : empirical insights into activities, challenges and strategies of Swiss energy sector start-ups,” ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Winterthur, 2015.

WEMYSS, Devon und Yann BLUMER, 2015. Indicators of innovation : empirical insights into activities, challenges and strategies of Swiss energy sector start-ups. Winterthur: ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften

Wemyss, Devon, and Yann Blumer. 2015. “Indicators of Innovation : Empirical Insights into Activities, Challenges and Strategies of Swiss Energy Sector Start-Ups.” Winterthur: ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.

Wemyss, Devon, and Yann Blumer. Indicators of Innovation : Empirical Insights into Activities, Challenges and Strategies of Swiss Energy Sector Start-Ups. ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, 2015.