Ben-Gurion University of the Negev’s (BGU) Clean Technology Business Plan Competition finals were held recently in Beer-Sheva, Israel as part of an effort to promote entrepreneurship that could significantly impact the future of the Negev.
The competition is part of the Negev Funding Coalition’s Clean Technology Initiative at BGU. The Negev Funding Coalition is a consortium of Jewish federations (Delaware, Metrowest New Jersey, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Montreal, and Toronto) and Israel’s Rashi Foundation interested in inspiring and supporting the development of the Negev.
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Professor Dafna Schwartz, director of BGU’s Bengis Center for Entrepreneurship and Hi-Tech Management, and Professor Asher Brenner, head of BGU’s Department of Environmental Engineering and lead judge of the competition, presented the winners with their awards along with Talya Levin, assistant director of global programs for Jewish Federations of North America, on behalf of the Coalition.
Winning first place was Chakratec, a company that uses innovative kinetic batteries to provide smart storage with unlimited charge/discharge cycles that is totally green and easily deployable.
RuBind placed second for development of a new type of rubber-based material, which can be used in asphalt pavement.
Two other Negev companies received honorable mentions: Solview, an online system for automatic solar potential analytics and Econcrete, a developer of ecological concrete for marine and coastal infrastructure.
“The Negev Funding Coalition’s work exemplifies strategic collaboration on behalf of Negev development. Their commitment to fostering the growth of clean tech business through BGU’s Bengis Center has brought significant resources to rising stars in the field, and has strengthened the ties between industry and academia: a winning combination all around, ” explains Doron Krakow, executive vice president of American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
“Their efforts are not only helping the Negev region, but are grooming future entrepreneurial talent by providing fellowships to BGU graduate students.”
