PITCCH Challenges; winners receive €15 k award

Recently a new round of PITCCH challenges has been launched. PITCCH offers unique open innovation opportunities in advanced technologies for innovative startups, scale-ups and SMEs of EU member states. Last PITCCH round, our member EV Biotech won one of the challenges! The winning organization receives an award of €15 k of which €5 k to implement innovation activities and €10 k to access services from one or more selected technology centres. Furthermore, companies can benefit from free-of-charge brokerage services from the PITCCH consortium.

The deadline to apply for the challenges and to submit solutions is November 15, 2021. There are five new challenges which are described below. You can also continue to the PITCCH website.

Challenge by Repsol: Production of Bio-Butadiene from Ethanol

Repsol is a global multi-energy provider that strives to drive the evolution towards a low-emissions energy model.​ To advance in the implementation of bio-based routes in the Butadiene production, diverse R&D activities based on the design of new processes and reaction systems have to be developed with the aim to optimize the economic and environmental impact of the global production process compared to fossil production routes.

The technology they look for

REPSOL is looking for an SME or Startup to develop a cost-competitive Bio-Ethanol-to-bio-BD technology to reduce CO2 footprint from fossil Butadiene production processes and increase the use of non-food and waste biomass as feasible low-cost feedstock.​

See the challenge here.

Video: Challenge by Repsol: Production of Bio-Butadiene from Ethanol – YouTube

Challenge by Signify: Truly organic 3D printing material

Signify is the largest lighting company in the world and is based in The Netherlands. 3D printing is coming off the ground, more and more this technology is used for larger quantities and with that, the environmental impact is increasing. Signify produces luminaires based on 3D printing already in large quantities and this will increase further in the coming years.

The technology they look for:

They are looking for a partner to materials develop advanced biomaterials with a bio-origin, where the biomaterial should not degrade in the application, should be 3D printable and fulfil the product requirements like reduced carbon footprint and a new sustainability proposition, temperature resistance, strength, reliability etc. See challenge here.

Video: Challenge by Signify Truly organic 3D printing material – YouTube

Challenge by SGS: Automated Samplers for Environmental Monitoring

SGS is the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. SGS has identified a growing demand for innovative “Microbial & Molecular Biology”. To focus on and capture these opportunities, a Global Biosciences Center (GBC) was established in Lisbon.

Around a million species face extinction worldwide.​ On-site biodiversity assessments and biomonitoring through environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is a promising tool however still largely dependent on specialised manpower and provides a single snapshot.

The technology they look for:

An autonomous and portable device for the collection and preservation of eDNA for molecular applications, would greatly overcome all the above and standardize sampling​. An innovative and efficient tool for large scale monitoring of ecosystems and biodiversity, and sensitive enough to detect important anthropogenic/environmental changes.​

See the challenge here.

Video: Challenge by SGS: Automated Samplers for Environmental Monitoring – YouTube

Challenge by Mondi: Fly Ash as feedstock to specialty materials

Mondi is offering packaging solutions for food and non-food applications. While most of their chemicals are recycled within the mill, a small amount of fly ash plus minor contaminants like dirt particles and chlorides cannot be recycled and is presently an underutilized side-stream. Furthermore, fly ash has a low apparent density and a hygroscopic behaviour which are a hurdle to its utilisation.

The technology they look for:

Mondi wants to find an SME or a Startup who can provide meaningful solutions to utilize fly ash as an additive to specialty materials and possibly has a technology to compact the fly ash to bring it to the market, improving transport and handling at the customer level. See the challenge here.

Video: Challenge by Mondi: Fly Ash as feedstock to specialty materials – YouTube

Challenge by Electrolux: Food Recognition APP

Electrolux is a leading global appliance company that has shaped living for the better for more than 100 years. They strive to be at the forefront of sustainability in society through their solutions and operations.

The technology they look for:

Electrolux is seeking an SME or a startup that can develop an Android and/or iOS APP to use the camera of a smart device (e.g. mobile phone, tablet) to detect and recognize a set of food objects and estimate the relative quantity in number or size.​The APP and the Algorithm are the key focus of this Challenge. The objective is the features, not the interface. See the challenge here.

Video: Challenge by Electrolux: Food Recognition APP – YouTube