Indian innovations won in key categories of the Cleantech Open Global Forum held in Silicon Valley, California, held over 6-10 February 2017.
The Global Cleantech Innovation Award was won by India’s national winner team, Green India Building Systems and Services Private Limited (GIBSS) which has developed a geothermal heat exchange air-conditioning system that brings up to 60% energy savings and 100% water savings compared to conventional building cooling systems.
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India also won the energy efficiency category award, second year in a row, for an innovation in the DLC fan by team Atomberg Technologies. The two other runners-up for the Innovation Award were Eko-Geste of Morocco with an integrated platform solution for household waste collection and recycling, and Baoberry of South Africa with a nature-based, ecologically engineered water-purifying solution.
The other winners were: iCEE from Malaysia, Green Team from Pakistan in the waste-to-energy category, and Thevia from South Africa in the green building category.
The Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) India chapter was started in 2013 is a joint initiative of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Ministry of MSME , Government of India and is conducted in partnership with the Cleantech Open, USA (CTO). The 2016 GCIP accelerator cycles conducted in the seven countries received a total of 1,261 applicants, and 236 semifinalist teams participated in the accelerators.
The competition and accelerator approach selects the best cleantech entrepreneurs across India, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, South Africa, and Turkey and support them in developing their innovative technologies into full-fledged market-ready products. Selected startups in each country participate in a rigorous and competitive national acceleration programme that trains, mentors, promotes, and connects them to potential investors, customers, and partners. The national winners compete in the Global Cleantech Forum and also meet international investors, partners and specialists.
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The Indian delegation in the event was led by Mr. Surendra Nath Tripathi, Additional Secretary & Development Commissioner MSME, Government of India and four cleantech teams from India along with the GCIP India National Project Coordinator Ms. Amrit Raj. Two mentors of the programme Mr. Deepak Gadhiya and Mr. Karthik Chandrasekar also accompanied the official delegation to support the teams.
The continued expansion of the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme over the last three years has affirmed and strengthened UNIDO’s vision of building an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem for clean technologies around the globe.
The joint efforts of Government, UNIDO and Cleantech Open will support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, including those that relate to clean energy, inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and innovation.