Colombia. The Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, Colciencias, described as Innovation the EPM project Consolidation of Control Centers, an initiative of the organization that contributes to the development of the country and the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.
This project seeks to consolidate the processes of operation and technological support of the control centers for the companies and services of the EPM Group in Colombia, through the implementation of advanced technological systems, unique for EPM and its subsidiaries CHEC, EDEQ, ESSA and CENS.
In accordance with Resolution 1856, Colciencias stressed that the project presented by EPM "responds to a real need of the energy, gas and water utility sector that, with the help of process innovation, will be able to obtain enormous benefits in its productivity and quality of service."
The score of 100 is divided into two aspects. The first, of 96 points, corresponds to the evaluation of the proposal itself, and 4 additional points for the contribution to the SDGs, since with a modern Scada it will be possible to detect and improve the attention times of failures, including water leaks, while advanced applications will be implemented for the operation of electric power services, contributing to the goal of "Improving technology to deliver modern and sustainable energy services".
This qualification as an innovative project represents a recognition for EPM and for the project. In addition to being a demonstration of the commitment to innovation, from the economic point of view it will have two tax benefits for the Company:
1. You will be able to deduct from your income 100% of the approved items ($38,817 million, between 2018 and 2021).
2. You can deduct from the tax to be paid 25% of what is actually invested in the project.
According to Colciencias, this EPM project is an example of the way the Company seeks to "continue to maintain its leadership in the market and be able to respond, in agile and timely times, to the new business challenges associated with the energy, gas and water utility sector".
