Swiss Sustainability Challenge 2024: EnableMe Insights, VERRETEX and Niatsu are the Winners

The 8th award ceremony of the Swiss Sustainability Challenge, sponsored and supported by the pension insurance company Pax and the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, was celebrated yesterday, October 23, 2024, with great joy and enthusiasm. In an inspiring atmosphere, young talents and visionary minds came together to present their innovative ideas for improving our planet. The jury was most impressed by the three projects “EnableMe Insights”, “VERRETEX” and “Niatsu”, which emerged as the winners of this year’s challenge.

Prof. Dr. Claus-Heinrich Daub, lecturer in sustainable corporate management at the FHNW and project manager of the Swiss Sustainability Challenge, hosted the entertaining and humorous award ceremony. He was accompanied by Ananda Wyss, research assistant, who spoke in English.

Peter Kappeler, CEO of Pax, emphasized the importance of the competition and the sustainable approach that the cooperatively organized insurer takes seriously and values. He stated: “The better we promote innovative ideas and projects from start-ups or non-profit organizations, the more impact we can achieve. That’s why we are delighted to work with the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland to support innovations that tackle social and environmental challenges and thus contribute to sustainable development.”

Formerly Swiss Student Sustainability Challenge

The 8th edition of the Swiss Sustainability Challenge was once known as the Swiss Student Sustainability Challenge. This change reflects the fact that sustainability appeals not only to students, but to all young people who want to deal creatively with change. This special event welcomed more participants than ever before to the premises of Basel’s Markthalle. The diversity of perspectives and a year full of remarkable projects with creative teams as well as the innovative power of young people working on sustainable solutions were celebrated yesterday.

According to Peter Kappeler, the final teams had the opportunity to present their projects in a “hardcore pitch” of just two minutes. After all, every idea deserved to be heard and the countdown began as soon as the pitchers took to the stage. Time, which is usually a problem with pitches, was not one last night. Most of them were finished after just over a minute and you could tell that it wasn’t the first time they had presented their ideas.

Winners in 2024

First place went to EnableMe Insights, which is committed to ensuring that the perspectives of people with disabilities are incorporated into the research and design of products, services and processes. The young entrepreneurs connect organizations with a community of over 12,000 people with disabilities in the DACH region. As the winner of this year’s challenge, EnableMe Insights will receive the equivalent of CHF 10,000 from Pax and the FHNW to support the further development of the project.

Second place went to VERRETEX, who have ventured into the recycling of glass fiber composites, an extremely difficult material to recycle. Their unique and cost-effective process produces high-quality glass fiber textiles that can be used directly in industry. The founders received the equivalent of CHF 6,000 for the further development of their concept.

In third place was Niatsu, which has set itself the goal of supporting companies in the food industry in reducing greenhouse gases. To this end, a B2B SaaS platform was developed that uses machine learning to calculate the carbon footprint of products. Companies are not only supported in complying with legal regulations, but also have the opportunity to make data-based decisions that improve both environmental and financial performance. Niatsu was awarded the equivalent of CHF 4,000.

Last night’s event celebrated innovative ideas to improve the global situation. The event emphasized the commitment of partners such as Pax and recognized the best ideas submitted.

thebroker

Read also: Pax Art Awards 2024 – Award ceremony at the HEK