Cleantech comp: The hunt for the best ideas

Cleantech competitions seems to be all the rage at the moment. Following the successful conclusion of GE’s low-carbon competition last week, the third annual Australian Clean Technology Competition (ACTC) was launched in Sydney on Tuesday night, with more than 150 applicants expected.

The competition is seeking the best Australian ideas in the high-tech cleantech sector – be it for pollution control, waste treatment, energy storage, energy efficiency, building materials, transport systems, public utilities and buildings, or clean energy production.

There are five categories – renewable energy, food and beverage, manufacturing, built environment, and mining cleantech – with one overall winner.

Event co-coordinator John O’Brien, the head of Australian Cleantech, says the competition is now open to larger companies (although less than 100 employees), and more partnerships have been created with industry associations to enable improved channels to market for competition entrants.

The winners of the last two competitions were LED lighting technology innovator enlighten, and air conditioning technology developer SMAC Tech. Both companies boast significant reductions in energy consumption – more than 80 per cent – from their products

Semi-finalists (the top 30 entries) in the competition will qualify for an intensive, tailored mentoring program on commercialisation pathways, business modelling, venture capital funding solutions, and will have the opportunity to pitch at the national Cleantech Investment Showcase in October, and will  in front of industry participants and potential customers and investors.

The category award winners will also be partially funded on a trade mission to China to seek opportunities for sales, finance and collaboration, and the overall winner will represent Australia in the global finals of the Cleantech Open Global Ideas Competition.

The competition is being sponsored by Autodesk, which is offering SME’s focused on developing clean technologies and the opportunity to receive $US150, 000 of Autodesk design software for a nominal $US50 fee.

Other sponsors and partners include the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and Dairy Australia, which are looking specifically for renewable energy and food industry solutions, and the Department of Industry Innovation.

Submissions close on June 3.