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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOST-funded clean tech startup bags top award in Shell liveWIRE global

DOST-funded clean tech startup bags top award in Shell liveWIRE global

Published Nov 22, 2022 12:43 pm

A clean tech startup funded through the Department of Science and Technology's (DOST) Business Innovation through S&T for Industry Program (DOST-BIST) won the grand prize of the Business Innovation Category, Top Ten Innovators (TTI) of the Shell liveWIRE (SLW) global.

(Photo from Shell liveWIRE website)

Nanotronics bested 203 entries coming from 22 countries globally.

Nanotronics is a Philippine-based clean tech startup pioneering the production of sustainable nanomaterials derived from highly renewable indigenous plants for various industrial applications.

Through the Nanotronics project with DOST-BIST, the company’s nanotechnology materials are being used to develop and produce sustainable material solutions for packaging applications intended for the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry. Its nanomaterials are intentionally not sourced from trees nor food-based plants to allow full sustainability of its feedstock.

The win of Nanotronics is a historic moment for the Philippines as it is the first time in the 40-year history of SLW TTI to have a winner from the Philippines. This also opens opportunities for the winner to have access to the global market and support from SLW global.

This award is designed to highlight and reward impactful Shell LiveWIRE entrepreneurs who are making positive contributions toward social impact, environmental sustainability, and business innovation.

Nanotronics was also the inaugural Grand Tech Winner of SLW Philippines in 2020 besting 154 tech startups in the country. It was in 2020 that the SLW was first launched in the Philippines despite its long existence in 17 countries globally.

The selected feedstock for the nanomaterial products is highly renewable as it can be grown and harvested almost yearly. However, paper per se as a packaging material has inherent weaknesses lacking mechanical strength and barrier properties.

"The startup’s nanomaterial products enable mechanical strength and barrier properties on paper in packaging while maintaining the full biodegradability of the final paper-based packaging product," DOST said.

"Likewise, the final product can decompose at ambient temperature and without industrial intervention. More so, the same nanomaterial products have enabled the startup to recently produce its biobased and biodegradable plastic, which is intended as an alternative to single-use plastic," it added.

Related Tags

Department of Science and Technology dost-bist Business Innovation through S&T for Industry Program (BIST) Business Innovation through S&T for Industry Program DOST Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
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