2022-11-23
NSS Water Enhancement, led by Björn Holmström, will help high-tech industries become self-sufficient in nanopure water. They are now receiving SEK 300,000 from the Innovative Impact Startups call. Within this initiative, Vinnova supports companies that not only work with sustainability in a responsible way, but where the whole business idea is to help solve a global social challenge.
- I am super happy that we have been selected by Vinnova. It gives us a great opportunity to scale up our project and conduct a lot of tests. It is also a nice feather in our cap that we have been selected, it gives us a wonderful boost, says Björn Holmström.
Norbite, which recently won the honorable mention "Impact Maker of the Year" in the Venture Cup Sweden final, will also receive SEK 300,000 in the Innovative Impact Startups category. Norbite has patented a technology that uses plastic-eating larvae to get rid of waste while serving as nutritious food.
- We are very happy and humbled! The competition is high and we perceive this as a recognition of our work. We want to contribute to a more sustainable future by eliminating non-recyclable plastic waste and converting it into proteins through the use of the insects. The money from Vinnova will allow us to further explore the potential of our solution and improve the efficiency of the developed process," says founder Nathalie Berezina.
Scroll down to read more about the companies.
Norbite, led by Nathalie Berezina, has patented a technology that uses plastic-eating caterpillars to get rid of waste while providing nutritious food. Around 100 larvae consume a plastic bag in about 24 hours. At the end of the process, the plastic is gone and replaced with high-quality protein, fat and fiber that can be used for food, feed and organic farming.
Since 2021, Norbite has been part of the national space incubator ESA-BIC, which Innovatum Science Park helps to run. Norbite's solution has great potential to make a difference in space when it comes to food and waste challenges. In space, circularity is an absolute necessity, especially during long space flights. Solid waste management and recycling are mandatory. Yet, plastic waste is particularly difficult to manage in space due to its chemical diversity and physical properties. Enabling the crew to become self-sufficient in food is also of high importance.
More reading about Norbite
In space, Norbite can dream big
Plastic-eating larvae become food for space travel
The larvae eat plastic and become human food: "Solves two problems at once" (DI.se)
NSS Water Enhancement Technology (NNS Wet) has developed a process to produce the world's first nano-clean water, completely free of particles above 10 nanometers. One nanometer equals one billionth of a meter. The aim is to help high-tech industries become self-sufficient in nanopure water.
The need for ultra-pure water is extremely important in high-tech industries such as life sciences and semiconductors. At the same time, it poses major challenges. The PCR water currently used in healthcare is difficult to produce and costs up to SEK 45 000 per liter.
The semiconductor industry uses large amounts of water in its production. Large factories can use as much water in a year as a medium-sized Swedish city. If the water is not clean enough, there is also a risk of destroying the components being manufactured.
More reading about NSS Water Enhachement
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