Mushrooms instead of chemical fertilisers and solar cells for refrigerated transport: these projects won the "Climate Innovations" business competition organised by the university-led "Network Innovation & Start-ups in Climate Change" (NIK).
The Northwest Metropolitan Region and EWE AG offered a total of 8,000 euros in prize money for the best innovations for adapting to the consequences of climate change in the Northwest. Seven projects were nominated for the final.
In the "Small and medium-sized enterprises" category, Wilhelms GmbH from Garrel impressed the jury from the worlds of business and science with its project "Mycorrhizal fungi instead of chemical fertilisers". At the award ceremony in the Bremen Chamber of Commerce, the company from the district of Cloppenburg received 5,000 euros from the Metropolitan Region Northwest.
The mushrooms make it easier for farmers in particular to deal with the consequences of climate change: they form an underground network that loosens the soil, increases the stability of plants during storms and heavy rainfall and ensures a more efficient water supply even during dry periods.
The winner in the "Start-up" category was Green Logistic System GmbH from Oldenburg. Their idea: a flexible solar cell technology connected to the refrigeration system and installed on the roof of lorries, which reduces fuel consumption during refrigerated transport and thus both CO2 emissions and operating costs. The start-up received prize money of 3,000 euros donated by EWE.
NIK Managing Director Dr Tina Schneider praised the exemplary nature of the winning projects, which contribute to securing the competitiveness of the Northwest metropolitan region. The high quality of the finalist and winning projects demonstrates the "diverse and innovative" approach to climate change and at the same time the entrepreneurial opportunities it opens up.
The "Innovation & Start-ups in Climate Change" network supports companies in identifying, developing and implementing innovative solutions and products for adapting to the consequences of climate change. NIK is the world's first regional network of its kind, coordinated at the University of Oldenburg. Under the scientific direction of Prof Dr Klaus Fichter, it also advises start-up and business promoters, chambers and associations. The network is sponsored by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, the Metropolitan Region Northwest and the City of Oldenburg.
