Enlighten, an Australian manufacturer and distributor of energy efficient lighting products based around LED technologies, has been named the winner of Australia’s “Cleantech Open” – a competition to find the most promising local clean-tech technology.
Enlighten won the contest ahead of six other finalists that made the shortlist from more than 100 entries from transportation, smart power, energy storage, green building, renewable energy, energy efficiency and air, water and waste management sectors.
The runners-up were VR Tek, which reclaims rubber from used tyres to provide high value inputs to production, and Biofiba, a manufacturer of biodegradable shipping pallets made out of non-food crops.
Parliamentary Secretary for Industry and Innovation Mark Dreyfus, who presented the awards in Melbourne, said the competition had brought together emerging technology developers with mentors experienced in the commercialisation of new products, and venture-capitalists.
He said enLighten is assisting consumers to reduce their electricity consumption by up to 93 per cent, and their products were already being used in Australian universities, local councils and high density residential apartments.
The Sydney-based company says its revenue increased more than five-fold in the last financial year, and its clients include commercial property groups Colonial First State Asset Management, Dexus, General Property Trust, AMP Capital, and Mirvac.
enLighten and the six other finalists were mentored by the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education and competition partners, including Enterprise Connect, Commercialisation Australia, CSIRO and Austrade. The competition is being managed by Australian CleanTech a private research and advisory business
enLighten will represent Australia at the international Cleantech Open Global Ideas Competition in the United States, where the company will compete with entrants from 90 countries for over $100,000 in services.
With other finalists, enLighten and other finalists will also be introduced to investors, business-services and other entrepreneurs on a trade mission to the US to assist them gain global traction and footholds in overseas markets.
