Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor

By AKANI CHAUKE
JOHANNESBURG – THE finalists for the final round of the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme for small and medium enterprises in South Africa (GCIP-SA) have been announced.
Among them are water saving taps, fly larvae that turn organic waste into animal food and plastic car parts made from agricultural waste.
Eleven entrepreneurs are behind the innovations.
These include Stephanie Pons (Beautiful-U), Albin Baecker (Biotrans Pole Sleeves), Euodia Naanyane-Bouwer (Gracious Nubian), David John Price (Green Iron Tech), George Oliver (IceEnergy),
Pontsho Moletsane (Yellow Beast) and Marius van der Merwe (NewCarbon).
Others are Sara Andreotti’s (Sharksafe barrier), Linda Linganiso (Unizulu), Clement Mokoenene (Vehicle Energy Harvesting System) and Bandile Dlabantu (Khepri Bioscience).
The categories include energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste beneficiation, water efficiency, and green buildings and green transportation.
Three provincial panels of independent judges selected the 11 from 22 semi-finalists from across the country.
“The selection of the top performers for 2017 was based on key business aspects such as product/market fit, business model, financing strategy, management team, and sustainability,” explained GCIP-SA national project manager, Gerswynn McKuur.
The winners and two runners up have also been selected by the judges, but will only be announced at a gala event on 3 November, with Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor as keynote speaker.
The winner will receive R120 000 and an all-expenses paid trip to the Cleantech Open Global Forum in California, USA, to compete against the winners of other GCIP programmes from across the globe.
The two runners-up will each receive R60 000.
– Guardian