The Baltic Sea Nutrients & Carbon Reuse Challenge

BONUS RETURN hosted a competition for ecotechnologies with the potential to reuse nutrients and carbon in the Baltic Sea region from 1st December 2017 to 1st April 2018. Four finalists were selected to present their innovations to a group of investors, researchers and public sector actors at the Baltic Sea Future Conference in Stockholm, which took place on 8th and 9th March 2018. Three winners: RAVITA – Finland, TerraNova – Germany and Aquacare – Netherlands, were chosen to be part of the project’s pre-commercialization phase.

Finalists of BONUS RETURN Innovation competition

Finalists receive their awards at the Baltic Sea Future Congress 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden.

From left: Karina Barquet (SEI), Marc Buttmann (TerraNova Energy), Hans Kjellberg (Carbonext), Mari Heinonen (Ravita), Joris Salden (Aquacare) and Johan Kuylenstierna (SEI).

Watch livestream event: Presenting the innovation challenge finalists

Download Competition guidelines

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, your innovation:

This competition is only open for residents in Europe.

1. Addresses nutrient or carbon reuse from the agricultural or waste water sectors, or both.
2. Can be applied in the Baltic Sea environment
3. Is a biological, physical, or chemical intervention designed to minimize harm to the environment and provide services of value to society
4. Is a prototype Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 or higher, according to the EU framework programme H2020

FAQ

1. What are eco-technologies?

Eco-technologies are human interventions in socio-ecological systems in the form of practices and/or biological, physical, and chemical processes designed to minimize harm to the environment and provide services of value to society.

What is the Technology Readiness Level (TRL)?

Private yet affordable elementary school offering a stimulating curriculum and a supportive environment.

Who can apply?

Anyone whose innovation fits the eligibility criteria stipulated above as well as in the Fact sheet. This includes innovations, entrepreneurs, municipalities, etc so long as your eco-technologies can be adapted to the Baltic Sea environment. Geographically, you must be currently living in Europe.

When is the deadline?

The deadline to submit your application is 12th February. We will review applications as they come, so send in yours as soon as possible.

Prize

Bonus Return offers to the winning innovations the opportunity to:

1. Perform tests

The project will assist winning innovations to identify and perform the necessary tests to improve their innovations through on-site testbeds for agricultural and waste-water treatment sectors in the Baltic Sea Region.
2. Match their product to local needs

Through a framework for Pre-Commercialization, BONUS RETURN will guide enterprises through the process of analysing the market and developing a business strategy specific to local needs.
3. Obtain tailor-made procurement and business plans

BONUS RETURN will co-develop business and public procurement plans with a focus on the three case studies in the project: Finland, Sweden and Poland.
4. Link with private sector and investors

The winners will have the opportunity to be part of BONUS RETURN’s Baltic Sea Region network. Shortlisted candidates will be invited (all expenses paid) to present their eco-technologies at the Baltic Sea Future Congress taking place 8th - 9th of March in Stockholm, Sweden. At the conference, the innovators will have the opportunity to meet municipalities, investors, researchers, and other private sector actors across the Baltic Sea Region. <br> The 1-3 winning innovators will also be invited to participate in the Regional Exchange and Learning Events that will be taking place in Finland 2018 and Poland 2019. These events will gather investors and actors from across the region to learn more about the products and tools developed in the project; as well as provide a platform for networking and knowledge-exchange.
5. Introduce the product to potential markets

The designed framework for pre-commercialization will help the innovators to identify potential clients and take the necessary steps to establish business relationships with municipalities and potential clients.

Timeline

Provides a platform for interaction between researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and municipalities; and develops a decision support tool to simulate scenarios and facilitate interaction.

Application

01 Dec 2017 – 12 Feb 2018: Application period

Shortlist

16 Feb 2018: A shortlist of 5 eco-technologies are selected and announced on our website.

Presentations

8-9 Mar 2018: Shortlisted candidates present their innovations to a group of investors, researchers and public sector actors at the Baltic Sea Future Conference in Stockholm, Sweden.

Commercialization

1 Apr 2018: 1-3 selected winners are announced and they will receive pre-commercial support in the BONUS RETURN project.