Meet the Finalists: Israeli Startups that Provide Innovative Solutions to Global Environmental Challenges to Present at ‘SustainIL’

Israel, ranked sixth on the Global Cleantech Innovation Index, is among the countries with the greatest potential to produce commercially viable cleantech companies over the next 10 years. Overall, there are more than 750 sustainability-related tech companies and startups in Israel, according to the Start-Up Nation Finder, the innovation discovery platform developed by Start-Up Nation Central, which maps Israel’s tech ecosystem.

While Israeli entrepreneurs continue to build on their achievements in water management, AgriFood-tech, and solar energy to tackle global climate challenges, the world is working to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); decisionmakers from around the world are increasingly looking at Israel’s innovation ecosystem for solutions to meet these ambitious targets, including affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities, and climate action.

“Israeli entrepreneurs apply their skills to achieve impact on people and our planet”

Against this backdrop, Start-Up Nation Central has joined forces with the Environmental Sustainability Innovation Labs (ESIL) to showcase some of the top Israeli startups with solutions to environmental challenges in the fields of clean energy, water, pollution management and waste recycling, in the format of a startup competition called “SustainIL 2021.”

“This is a critical moment to prove that technology can be applied to solve challenges at scale, from COVID-19, to social and economic inequalities, to climate change,” says Eli Cymbalista, CEO of ESIL. “Never shy of challenges, Israeli tech entrepreneurs are applying their best skills and abilities to achieve impact on people and our planet.”

Start-Up Nation Central and its partners screened nearly 100 outstanding mature and early-stage startups for the SustainIL 2021 competition; consequently, six companies were selected as finalists by a judging panel of innovation leaders from Israeli and global corporations, including Anheuser-Busch InBev, EDF Renewables Israel, Bazan Group, Johnson Matthey, HCH Ventures, Halliburton Labs, AXA Climate, as well as EY, private investors and venture capital firm Good Company.

On January 27, 2021, the six finalists will pitch their innovative solutions to a panel of SustainIL expert judges, including investors and executives of multinational corporations. One of them will be announced as the winner of the SustainIL 2021 competition. Here are the six startups that will showcase some of the areas where Israel is best positioned to lead the next environmental tech revolution:

SoLED

SoLED will be showcasing its LED-based, off-grid water disinfection device, which is uniquely designed for infrastructure-limited areas such as developing countries and deserts. The patented device provides low-cost disinfection with minimal human intervention for installment and operation.

Luminescent

Luminescent Solar Power offers year-round solar electricity generation; it has developed a cost-effective, day-round solution for electricity production without using fossil fuels. Luminescent is based on patented technology born at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.

UBQ Materials

UBQ Materials has developed a conversion technology that transforms household waste into green thermoplastic material that can substitute oil-based plastics in everyday products. With the goal of eliminating the need for landfills, UBQ is working with the world’s largest McDonald’s franchisee, as well as with car manufacturers.

SGTech

SGTech has developed an anaerobic digestion technology that produces enriched biogas, and removes and recovers nutrients from livestock waste. The end products of the process are clean energy, reusable water, and a safe, solid fertilizer, which can be used for various operations at the livestock facility.  

Clairion

Clairion has developed a proprietary process for efficient mercury removal from gas streams. The company’s system preforms regeneration and mercury-separation processes that remove all forms of mercury, including elemental mercury, at rates of over 95%.

Chakratec

Chakratec offers kinetic energy storage technologies that facilitate the deployment of fast-charging stations for electric cars, including in locations with a weak electrical grid. The technology also avoids increased high demand charges from utility companies.

Click here to join us at the SustainIL final event.

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