12 days of COP

Over the 12 days of COP28 we will be highlighting 12 innovative student and staff companies that are committed to delivering solutions to the global climate crisis.

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As the world turns towards COP28 in the United Arab Emirates we reflect on the University of Edinburgh’s staff and student entrepreneurs who are making their ideas work for a better world.

At Edinburgh Innovations, the University’s commercialisation service, our Enterprise Services team helps University staff and students take their ideas from concept to real-world impact, and ensures that the commercial potential of new ideas, research and inventions can be fully realised.

Over the 12 days of COP28 we will be highlighting 12 innovative student and staff companies that are committed to delivering solutions to the global climate crisis.

Sunsave Solutions

Sunsave Solutions is on a mission to increase access to clean, constant, and affordable electricity to rural communities in Africa, starting in Cameroon. Its low-cost, portable solar system can be installed in individual homes or businesses, along with a Pay-As-You-Go scheme which allows users to pay for solar electricity in weekly or monthly instalments. Clean electricity becomes more affordable and accessible for the average rural household, enabling social mobility through evening education, for example.

 

E.V.A Biosystems

E.V.A Biosystems is developing synthetic biology approaches to help tackle plastic pollution by producing bioplastics that selectively degrade in response to programmable environmental stimuli. This will produce packaging that harnesses the benefits of classic plastic manufacturing while improving the sustainability of the industry and the end-of-life outcomes for plastic products.

 

Raygonal

Raygonal is an agricultural technology company that aims to tackle some of the world's greatest aquaculture and crop production challenges. Deploying deep tech in tackling food production in some of the poorest regions on the planet. They do this by leveraging innovation and creativity to create sustainable technological solutions that are humane to the environment whilst empowering people to live better lives. Presently they are piloting their aquaculture system in Africa in anticipation of commercialisation. We aim to be a global player in agriculture technology sector.

 

CrustaTec

CrustaTec aims to build a circular economy in Guatemala around waste management from the seafood industry and wastewater treatment. From the biorefinery of the shrimp shell waste, a valuable polymer (chitosan) is obtained, which is the base of  their two main products: a recirculation filter for textiles wastewater treatment and a natural conditioner for general wastewater management.

 

SolarSub

SolarSub is focused on a new invention designed to increase solar panel efficiency by up to 20% and have positive impacts on the environment. Consisting of a specifically designed cooling system that is related to floating solar panels that are mounted on bodies of water, it offers a more sustainable and efficient solution than traditional solar panels on land.

 

CEXAL

Founded by graduate Matteo Cese of the School of Social and Political Science, startup CEXAL identifies harmful organic and inorganic compounds with very accurate rapid test kits that are environmentally and clinically safe. By doing so they aim to harness the power of biology to make molecular testing truly accessible and affordable to the people who most need it.

 

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