Bright Minds Challenge Names Three Finalists In Global Solar Energy And Storage Competition
Finalists Selected from Ten Best Science and Entrepreneurial Team Submissions
Three finalists of the global Bright Minds Challenge for the most promising solar and energy storage solutions to move our planet towards 100% renewable energy were announced on April 12 in Somerville, MA, U.S.A. at Greentown Labs, the largest cleantech incubator in the U.S. The finalists are Cellulike (Tanzania) a pay as you go model for micro-grid solar power distribution systems, Inquimae (Argentina) a sustainable energy storage project from renewable energy sources (solar and wind) for remote electrification and Solar Ear (Brazil), focusing on solar powered hearing aids for the most impoverished communities across the globe.
The Bright Minds Challenge was created by DSM together with Accenture (NYSE: ACN); Chinese National Center of Supervision and Inspection on Solar Photovoltaic Products Quality (CPVT), Greentown Labs; U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL); Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, University of Oxford; Solarcentury; SolarAid and Sungevity.
The consortium will provide the finalists with a customized package of commercial, technical and mentoring support to help them bring their prototypes to market as rapidly as possible. In June the winner will be announced and will receive 500 hours (an equivalent of more than USD $100,000) of tailored support to fast-forward their solution.
At the event, the 10 nominees selected by the general public presented their solutions to a panel of expert judges, who ranked the nominees on the basis of societal impact, commercial scalability, uniqueness, technical quality and the quality of their presentation.
Pieter Wolters, Managing Director Venturing, Royal DSM and chairman of the jury commented: “The Bright Minds Challenge aims to accelerate the transition to renewable energy and unlocking the potential of bright minds around the world. With this initiative we help them to take their scientific solution to the next step for the benefit of society as a whole. These three finalists have shown they are ready to take it to next level and make a difference in turning solar and energy storage into the renewable energy source of choice.”
Finalists shortlisted in Bright Minds Challenge
energy and unlocking the potential of bright minds around the world. With this initiative we help them to take their scientific solution to the next step for the benefit of society as a whole. These three finalists have shown they are ready to take it to next level and make a difference in turning solar and energy storage into the renewable energy source of choice.”
Science can change the world
The Bright Minds Challenge builds on DSM’s “Science Can Change the World” campaign with the release of the short film Unsung Heroes of Science – a celebration of science and the recognition of the fact that scientists are changing our world for the better. The member companies of the consortium are jointly embracing the challenge to capture the power of science in the transition to 100% renewable energy.
Find out more about the 3 finalists Cellulike, Inquimae (Conicet) and University of Buenos Aires, School of Science and Solar Ear and watch the announcement of the finalists here.
