There are two Cleantech finalists amongst the ten finalists for the 2008 25k award for “the next BIG thing”. The awards are sponsored by NISP Connect, Bank of Ireland, Invest Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council, the Northern Ireland Centre for Entrepreneurship, HSC, the EU and the two Northern Ireland Universities: Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster. Focusing on “Hi-tech, Biotech, Cleantech and Digital Media”, the 25k awards  aim to identify the best new knowledge based ideas from the public sector research base in Northern Ireland.

Finalists in the Cleantech area are:

Aquasere, QUB

A simple, inexpensive and rapid process for creating superhydrophobic (water repellent) particles (Hy-particles). The particle’s water repellence is near the theoretical limit, for example water drops roll off the surfaces when they are tilted at <1o. The particles can be used to make a wide variety of materials super water repellent when they are used as a coating.

Clean Tech Global, Ulster

Clean Tech Global has integrated product design with engineering science to produce efficient and affordable solar disinfection devices. We use solar energy to provide drinking water for the developing world and other niche applications. The sun provides more energy to the earth’s surface each day than humans have ever used. Through the development of nanostructured materials and smart sensors, novel, yet inexpensive devices have been developed which could significantly reduce the mortality rate of children in the developing world.  

The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony in Belvast on 25 September 2008