Every year, hundreds of local residents, employees from the sector and other interested parties ask (sometimes very) detailed questions to the State Supervision of Mines in Dutch Staatstoezicht op de Mijnen (SodM). In principle, the companies involved, such as NAM, Nedmag or Vermilion, can often easily answer the questions themselves. But instead the questions are directed to SodM, because they have more confidence in it.
SodM wants the questioners to ask questions to the companies and trust the answers given by the company. And that those companies will take answering them more seriously. We think you can achieve this by looking over their shoulder, or in some other way. The way to do it doesn't matter: that's the challenge.
We are looking for solutions in which questioners ask the companies questions and we as SodM can guarantee the reliability of the answers, without taking on the full answer.
Do you have a solution for that? Then we would like to receive your pitch!
About SodM
SodM is the independent supervisor of mineral and energy extraction in the Netherlands. We supervise human safety and environmental protection in energy extraction and the use of the deep subsurface, including, the gas network and wind energy at sea. SodM not only supervises from a technical perspective, but also explicitly includes social interests in its supervision.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for a solution that will help us get the questions among local residents, industry employees, and other interested parties about companies under our supervision, to where they get the fastest and best answer. It is hereby necessary that we as SodM can simultaneously check the quality and reliability of the answers if necessary, but can certainly guarantee them.
It concerns hundreds of questions per year. So very time-consuming solutions are not suitable. We prefer to automate and digitize as much as possible.
The questions must be able to arrive directly at the companies to which the questions relate, or be automatically forwarded by us (as much as possible).
Questions often arise around an installation, municipality or specific area. It would therefore be very useful to be able to keep interested parties informed about current and future developments, so that questions can already be addressed beforehand.
Keep in mind that the target group asking questions is as diverse as the inhabitants of our country. The solution must therefore also be useful for non-tech-savvy people.
We have a possible solution in mind, but other perspectives that solve our challenge are more than welcome!
What we have in mind now is a platform for guided three-way communication. As such, the company cannot lie, because we are watching, we do not always have to answer (because there is a certain confidence in the answer of the company) and the citizens can ask their questions in one place. And if the company does not answer, we will do it and we will then address the company again. Three-way communication that aims to normalize the conversation between company and neighborhood again. Think of SodM as the mediator who "helps two angry neighbors to take each other seriously again".
What are we not looking for?
No app groups with endless back-and-forth communication between those involved, such as the class app or those around the youth sports team. But just as accessible contact with the companies.
What is there to win
- An innovation budget of up to € 25,000.
- The chance of a follow-up assignment after the program.
- A 3-5 month guidance program in which you can take both the solution and the company to a higher level. You can find more information about the program and the various components on our programme page.
- Access to the government network.
Questions
Questions about this specific challenge you can ask on the discussion page till the 8th juli 2020. Questions about the programme and registration procedure you can find on the FAQ-page.
Registration
You can register by submitting a Proposal (here). This may not be longer than 6 A4 + 3 A4 attachment (in the same document).
The further requirements of this proposal and how it is assessed are set out in the formal Request for Quotation (pdf download). Read it carefully!
Send in with your proposal a completed UEA (Uniform European Tender Document (docx download)). Save this as a PDF.
By participating you also agree to the General Terms and Conditions for purchasing services and assignments: ARVODI-2018 (pdf download).
The proposal may be submitted in any form (presentation / slide deck, letter form), but must be uploaded as a PDF file (landscape or portrait A4) (max. 30MB).
Pitches in English are allowed.
Timeline
- 17 June - Challenge live
- 8 July - Deadline asking questions
- 28 July, 17:00 - Deadline for proposal
- 10 August - First selection
- 31 August - 4 september - Live pitch round
- 5 October - Final selection decision
- 2 November - Start of Startup in Residence programme
Background information
What is SodM?
SodM is the independent supervisor of mineral and energy extraction in the Netherlands.
Our mission is: “SodM is strongly committed to human safety and the protection of the environment in energy extraction and the use of the subsurface, now and in the future.” Preconditions in the performance of our work are transparency, care, commitment and role purity. SodM not only supervises from a technical perspective, but also explicitly includes social interests in its supervision. The tasks of SodM are laid down in, among others, the Mining Act and the Gas Act.
What does SodM do?
SodM supervises compliance with laws and regulations. If necessary SodM can enforce compliance. In addition, SodM has the duty to provide solicited and unsolicited advice to the Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate on mining activities. SodM has specialized in-house knowledge and a good overview of the various sectors.
You can read more information on our website: www.sodm.nl