Future Materials Bank Vies for Prestigious Brightlands Award
Brightlands, Monday, 23 September 2024.
Future Materials Bank, led by Giulia Benedetti, is among three finalists for the 2024 Marc Cornelissen Brightlands Award. The program, focused on sustainable materials and circularity, competes for €35,000 and valuable networking opportunities. The winner will be announced on October 10 at Brightlands Maastricht Health Campus.
Overview of the Marc Cornelissen Brightlands Award
The Marc Cornelissen Brightlands Award, established in memory of sustainability pioneer and polar explorer Marc Cornelissen in 2017, celebrates innovative contributions in sustainability and technology. The award ceremony is set to take place on October 10, 2024, at the Brightlands Maastricht Health Campus. This year, the competition is particularly fierce, with finalists Future Materials Bank, Aeroborn, and Closist bringing forward groundbreaking projects aimed at advancing sustainable practices.
The Finalists and Their Innovations
Giulia Benedetti, representing Future Materials Bank, is at the forefront of this year’s competition with her focus on sustainable materials and circularity. Coordinating the Future Materials program at the Jan van Eyck Academy in Maastricht, Benedetti emphasizes the importance of permanent reuse and circularity in material production. The other two finalists, Man Yong Toh of Aeroborn and Billy Kuper of Closist, bring equally compelling projects. Aeroborn, under Yong Toh’s leadership, has developed an alternative to Carbon Black by capturing CO2 from polluting industries, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Kuper’s Closist aims to mitigate textile waste through an innovative app that addresses the vast resources consumed by the textile industry annually.
Previous Rounds and Jury Deliberation
The selection process for the award kicked off on September 12, 2024, at the Brightlands Smart Services Campus in Heerlen, where six nominees presented their pitches. The professional jury, headed by Maurits Groen, selected the three finalists from these presentations. The finalists now look forward to the final round of deliberation on October 10, where the winner will be awarded €35,000 and access to a valuable network of industry professionals and sustainability experts.
The Significance of the Award
Winning the Marc Cornelissen Brightlands Award offers more than just monetary gain. As highlighted by Man Yong Toh, ‘The network behind the Marc Cornelissen Brightlands Award is invaluable.’ This sentiment is echoed by Giulia Benedetti, who stresses the importance of the contacts and support available within the Brightlands ecosystem. The award not only provides financial support but also fosters collaborations and partnerships that can significantly advance the winners’ projects.
Looking Ahead
As the finalists prepare for the final announcement on October 10, the anticipation is palpable. Each finalist brings a unique approach to sustainability, reflecting the diversity and innovation that the Marc Cornelissen Brightlands Award aims to promote. The event at Brightlands Maastricht Health Campus will not only crown the winner but also celebrate the collective efforts of all participants in advancing sustainable and circular solutions across various industries.