Six groundbreaking solutions to help cities accelerate decarbonisation and address their resource challenges have been shortlisted for the grand finale of this year’s The Liveability Challenge—a global search for innovative solutions to urban challenges of cities in the tropics.
Back for its fourth year, the initiative is presented by Temasek Foundation and organised by Eco-Business, and provides a platform for connecting investors and entrepreneurs in the sustainable development space.
Under the themes of decarbonisation and re-imagining resources, this year’s shortlisted solutions include technologies that recycle lithium batteries, large-scale removal of carbon dioxide through seawater, and a high barrier coating film that makes packaging recyclable.
Following a four-month global search, the finalists beat out more than 400 applications from over 50 countries. Most of the finalists are from Singapore, with other contenders from the United States and the United Kingdom.
Decarbonisation finalists:
1. Company: DiviGas (Singapore)
Solution: Carbon capture and hydrogen recycling at hydrogen plants
2. Company: Seawater Mineralisation (US)
Solution: Large-scale removal of carbon dioxide through seawater
3. Company: Econic Technologies (UK)
Solution: Use of carbon dioxide to produce sustainable polyurethanes, textiles and surfactants
Reimagining resources finalists:
1. Company: Aegis Packaging (Singapore)
Solution: Recyclable oxygen barrier packaging
2. Company: Neu Battery Materials (Singapore)
Solution: Recycling lithium batteries through electrochemical separation
3. Company: Seppure (Singapore)
Solution: Solvent recovery and reuse using nanofiltration technology
Grand finale on 28 July
Finalists will compete in the finale for a chance to win up to S$1 million (US $734,000) in funding for project development by Temasek Foundation, the philanthropic arm of government investment company Temasek.
Other prizes include a minimum of $50,000 investment by Planet Rise, a $50,000 investment by Amasia, and a $50,000 investment by Silverstrand Capital.
The Liveability Challenge Grand Finale will take place on 28 July 2021, where the six contenders will pitch virtually to a panel of Asia’s most sought-after investors.
Winners of past editions include a lab-grown alternative to cow’s milk, sustainable plant protein made from microalgae, and a replacement for single-use plastic straws using a biodegradable biopolymer.
