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Innovation

Innovators by nature

Innovators by nature

We pursue an open, horizontal and system-wide innovation strategy to respond to the constant changes in the world around us, by harnessing people’s knowledge and creativity to generate positive impacts for citizens, the industrial system and the environment. Innovation for us means not only doing new things, but also doing them better.

This commitment is driven by a clear goal: to generate shared value for people, businesses and the environment, contributing to the sustainable development of the areas in which we operate. The purpose “Hera for the Planet, People and Prosperity” guides our decisions and shapes the way we interpret innovation – as a concrete lever for improving quality of life and strengthening the resilience of communities.

Thanks to the opportunities offered by innovation and the most advanced technologies, we are accelerating the energy, ecological and digital transitions, creating shared value to help communities achieve their economic, environmental and social sustainability goals.

Together with research centres, universities and businesses, we design cutting-edge solutions based on Artificial Intelligence, Robotic Process Automation and Data Analytics, to develop sustainable and safe networks and infrastructure and to improve the quality and efficiency of our services.

We are pioneers and innovators, and this is our calling: our business model integrates industrial growth with real sustainability, supported by strategic investment. It is a journey that cannot happen without innovation as a key lever. It allows us to keep forging new paths, supporting the evolution of our businesses while making the areas where we operate more competitive, liveable and resilient to global challenges.

Orazio Iacono, Chief Executive Officer, Hera Group

The three dimensions of innovation

IN/Project

Innovation in projects

We develop new products and services, or improve existing ones by introducing new features or technologies, enhancing their performance and design.

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IN/Process

Process innovation

We redesign and optimise operational procedures, the sequence and structure of activities, by introducing digital tools and training programmes to improve efficiency and quality.

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IN/Place

Ecosystem

We foster the growth and development of our activities and of other businesses through an integrated ecosystem of platforms, tools and spaces, both physical and digital.

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The main areas of innovation in the Hera Group

Innovation supports the evolution of the Group’s activities with the aim of improving service efficiency and quality, while promoting behaviours and skills capable of effectively responding to today’s challenges

Energy transition

To pursue decarbonisation targets within the Group and support the energy transition of the local business community.

Regeneration of resources

To promote the adoption of circular business models and reduce resource consumption, maximising the recovery of waste and by-products.

Digital transformation

To implement AI-based solutions and digital services, and optimise production processes, data collection and analysis, automation and predictive maintenance.

Our Open Innovation Model

We adopt an open innovation model that goes beyond traditional organisational boundaries to harness ideas, skills and technologies from both inside and outside the Group. This approach allows us to address challenges collaboratively, engaging industrial partners, startups, universities and local stakeholders to generate practical solutions that improve services, processes and organisation.

Innovation is widespread throughout the Group: each unit develops and manages its own initiatives, including process reviews, the creation of new services, the adoption of digital tools, and the implementation of more effective operating models.

This is why we have set up the Innovation Management Department, a think tank tasked with analysing key market trends, identifying high-potential areas, evaluating and proposing projects and solutions for individual business units, and supporting developments with ICT tools and technologies.

Featured Projects
  • FIB3R: the plant that recycles carbon fibreand promotes the ecological transition

  • Captureste: Italy's first industrial CO2 capture initiative in the waste to energy sector

  • NexMeter: the smart gas meter offering innovation, safety and sustainability

Innovation in numbers

A combination of actions and results that makes a real difference: through innovation we generate positive impacts and accelerate the energy transition.

€171.3 million

invested in innovation

€300 million

of PNRR funds awarded

10

internal academies

Systems, technologies and tools for innovation

Find out more about the infrastructure, processes and innovative solutions we have implemented – the result of extensive research and development – which help strengthen more sustainable business models

Projects financed under the NRRP

We invest in projects of national and local interest, including through the support of NRRP (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) funding, to help build a more sustainable future.

NRRP projects

Hera for the cities of the future

Smart grid, Smarty bin, mobility, connectivity and telecommunications, energy efficiency: find out how we contribute to the sustainable evolution of cities.

Group Direction of Innovation

Salvatore Molè

Director

Contacts

Phone: +39 051 287111

Hera S.p.A.

Viale Carlo Berti Pichat 2/4 – 40127 Bologna

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Hera SpA, Viale Carlo Berti Pichat 2/4, 40127 Bologna, Tel.051287111 www.gruppohera.it