ORLEN has opened a new round of applications for the ORLEN Skylight Accelerator, a programme dedicated to startups, spin-offs and spinouts from Poland and abroad. The initiative aims to jointly test and scale technologies with potential industrial applications. Submissions are open until 30 November.
The programme focuses on solutions that support, among others, the energy transition, digitalisation, energy efficiency, workplace safety, and customer experience enhancement. This edition features challenges proposed by various business areas across the ORLEN Group, including companies within the Energa Group. The scope of current challenges includes:
• intelligent wind farm management systems,
• AI-based platforms for managing energy grid connections,
• voicebots and tools for customer satisfaction analytics,
• heat recovery, free-cooling and trigeneration technologies,
• Digital Twin and AI solutions for process risk analysis,
• innovations in the areas of renewable energy, circular economy and digital workplace organisation.
From pilot to implementation
The programme operates on a non-equity basis, meaning participants retain full intellectual property rights. ORLEN provides funding for pilot projects, access to infrastructure, and expert support. Startups admitted to the programme can immediately begin testing their solutions under real operating conditions.
To date, the programme has delivered over 40 pilot projects, of which 10 have progressed to full-scale implementation. These include collaborations with startups from Spain and the Netherlands. The Spanish startup, together with the ORLEN team, developed a digital twin of a selected part of a production unit in Płock. Through advanced process modelling and analytics, the project identified areas for operational efficiency improvements of up to 10%. The solution can be replicated across other installations, ensuring high scalability potential.
The Dutch startup created a system for automatic recognition of rail tanker markings, which shortened transport handling times and reduced the risk of errors. The implementation of this solution is expected to generate tangible annual savings and enhance safety in rail logistics.
Together with a Polish technology startup, ORLEN has also launched a pilot tool for refining process data from refinery installations. The predictive models developed enable more accurate forecasting of production processes, resulting in raw material savings and improved technological efficiency.