Applications are open for the SOCAR WIN Open Innovation Program (Sponsored)

Do you have a technology that can solve a real challenge in energy and industrial operations and is ready to be tested in the field?

SOCAR WIN – What Is Next? Open Innovation Program, led by SOCAR in collaboration with Viveka as the executing partner, connects real operational needs across SOCAR with innovative technologies developed by startups, scale-ups and technology companies worldwide.

Selected companies will have the opportunity to work directly with relevant SOCAR business units and validate their technologies through a funded Proof of Concept (PoC) in real-world energy operations. 

WIN goes beyond a traditional accelerator or pitch-based innovation program. It is designed around real operational challenges, structured testing and measurable outcomes, creating a pathway for successful technologies to progress from pilot validation toward potential deployment, commercial discussions and broader collaboration across SOCAR.

What do selected companies receive?

• Up to €17k ($20k) in PoC funding, with no equity taken
• Direct collaboration with the relevant SOCAR business unit and problem owner
• Access to SOCAR operations for real-world pilot implementation
• A structured 2-month PoC with jointly defined KPIs and regular progress reviews
• Potential opportunities for broader deployment, commercial discussions and long-term collaboration following a successful pilot

Who can apply?

SOCAR WIN is designed for startups, scale-ups and technology companies that have moved beyond the idea stage and are ready to prove their solutions in a live industrial environment.

Applicants are expected to:

• Have a technology at TRL 5 or above
• Have at least a working prototype or a product already deployed in another environment
• Offer a solution relevant to one of SOCAR’s focus areas or current challenge themes
• Have a team that can actively participate throughout the 2-month PoC process

The program is open to applicants worldwide, with no geographic restriction. 

Applications are welcomed across Production Enhancement, Efficiency & Optimisation, Business Excellence, Health & Safety, Industry 4.0, Low-Carbon Economy, Clean Energy, and cross-cutting industrial technologies.

If your technology does not fit neatly into one of the listed challenge areas but solves a meaningful problem in energy or industrial operations, SOCAR still encourages you to apply before the application deadline of 22 September 2026.

Learn more about SOCAR WIN here, and follow this link to apply.

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