Through innovation, we strengthen our value proposition and diversify and enrich our portfolio of products and services in the energy market, to contribute to the economic growth, sustainability and integral development of our customers, our environment and our Organization. When innovating, we combine our ability to understand and anticipate the needs and trends in our environment with our strategy, resources and market position, to create new value, capture it and put it to the service of our stakeholders.
The energy market and the needs of our customers in the various stages of the value chain are in constant change, and a determining factor for competitiveness is the reliability, quality, and economic efficiency of energy and the capacity to develop residential, commercial, industrial and institutional users. A robust, dynamic, effective and relevant value proposition enables us to better fulfill our role in the energy value chain, making us a strategic partner for the companies and regions we serve.
Our comprehensive innovation portfolio includes responses to current needs, problems and opportunities, while at the same time developing technologies, products and services that enable attaining a long-lasting presence in a digital, distributed and decarbonized energy market.
Our innovation efforts involve the promotion of means to identify and capture new opportunities, to promote projects focused on enabling the energy transition of our businesses, led by cross-sectional and interdisciplinary teams that by structuring and implementing these projects strengthen their capabilities, manage own and external resources to support our initiatives and promote the adoption of new solutions.
It is important for us to continue strengthening and expanding the scope of our innovation actions and projects, and to obtain increasingly relevant results to ensure the sustainability of our energy businesses, strengthen the value proposition for our customers, diversify and enrich the portfolio of products and services, and achieve more efficient, safe and flexible operations.
In 2021, Promigas and its companies deployed strategies and actions to promote the culture of innovation, through contests and events to strengthen competencies and recognize the innovative spirit of our employees. Innovation projects were also implemented focused on speeding up and transforming the processes, increasing the portfolio of current services, and becoming leaders in the transition towards a sustainable energy future. Management of the CIIEG led 10 innovation projects with a strategic and cross-section impact, and four initiatives were structured related to green gases and distributed generation.
The following are highlights of some of these activities and projects:
Promigas and another eight companies created the
Colombian Hydrogen Association -– Hidrógeno Colombia. The Company also participated in the development of the
hydrogen road map for the country led by the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
Promigas began the development of the first exploratory pilot project on the production and use of hydrogen, in partnership with Compañía Energética de Occidente and Surtigas, which will begin to operate in 2022.
We strengthened innovation management capabilities by training 24 group employees as innovation mentors and 11 senior executives. An intellectual property training plan was also carried out with attendance by over 450 employees from all the companies.
Initiation of implementation of 4.0 technologies: (i) At the Transportation SBG, we began to pilot a portfolio of
4.0 technologies to support the operation and maintenance of natural gas transportation infrastructure, including inspection with drones, analytics using satellite images, detection of third parties and leaks using optical fiber and mixed reality; and (ii) at the Distribution SBG, we began pilot projects on intelligent metering and prepaid service, chatbots, on-site invoicing and mobile applications to increase service efficiency and speed and improve our users’ experience.
which created value for decision-makers and enabled mitigating risks, reducing costs and operating more efficiently.
Cross-sectional programs were launched in connection with operating efficiencies for the Transportation and Distribution SBGs, focused on themes such as the life cycle of assets in the areas of design, construction, operation and maintenance, industry 4.0, integrity and operating excellence.
The activities carried out produced the following achievements for Promigas, aimed at promoting innovation in each of our businesses:
The Superintendence of Industry and Commerce granted Promigas its first invention patent, the second at the corporate group level. It consists of a ‘modular cooling system, connected to vortex
equipment for the condensation of gases,’ which has the potential of making micro-liquefaction of natural gas technically and economically feasible at regulation points of the transportation grid. 
Promigas started up the first virtual twin of a compression station, which consists of an accurate representation of the existing infrastructure at the Filadelfia station. This innovative tool allows interacting with several users, making guided tours of the station, identifying critical equipment and their technical attributes, training personnel and planning changes with high levels of fidelity, without having to travel to the physical site.
Promigas and its related companies were included, as a group, among the 60 most innovative companies in the country. Promigas was ranked within the top 25 companies perceived as being the most innovative. CEO and Surtigas were highlighted among the top emerging innovation ecosystems.
The following are our goals and outlook for 2025, aimed at strengthening our value proposition and diversifying and enriching our product portfolio: The innovation management targets are:
The financial contribution of innovation will be at least 3,7% of operating revenues.
-
Increase our companies’ expenditures and investment in research, development and innovation to 1,8% of gross sales in 2025.
-
Achieve savings derived from innovation, including those leveraged by tax benefits for investment in R&D+i, of
COP 20 billions per year in 2025.
In 2022, Promigas and its companies will continue to strengthen and expand the scope of their innovation activities and projects, and obtaining relevant results to ensure the sustainability of our energy business, strengthening the value proposition for our customers, and achieving more efficient, safe and flexible operations. We highlight the following activities:
-
Consolidate our national positioning as leaders in the production and use of green gases by starting up and launching new pilot projects and through the establishment of partnerships with participants in the national and international ecosystem.
-
Promote the efficiency, flexibility and safety of our operations through the implementation of 4.0 technologies to monitor the infrastructure, and mixed-reality tools to support operations and maintenance.
-
Strengthen our value proposition through the design of new services and the creation of innovative channels to bring us closer to our customers.
