UK entrepreneurs win EIT Awards

Antaco, a Climate-KIC supported UK start-up that has developed technology to turn biomass into biocoal, and Kate Hofman, a British entrepreneur who emerged from Climate-KIC’s education programme, have both won prizes at the annual European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Awards.

The EIT announced the winners during an event in Budapest, Hungary. The awards champion innovation and entrepreneurship in Europe and winners were selected from a group of 17 contenders nominated by the EIT’s three Knowledge and Innovation Communities – Climate-KIC, EIT ICT Labs and KIC InnoEnergy.

Antaco, founded by Dominik Peus, was one of the winners of an EIT Venture Award. The start-up has developed a way to turn organic waste into biocoal, a development that makes biomass conversion available on a global scale. The EIT Venture Award highlights newly emerging business ideas and innovative projects.

Kate Hofman is one of the winners of an EIT Agents and Next Generation of Entrepreneurs Award, or EIT C.H.A.N.G.E. Award. The C.H.A.N.G.E. Award has been designed to showcase the young entrepreneurs that are emerging from the EIT’s education and training programmes.

“It’s really exciting to have won this award for Climate-KIC,” Hofman said, “It’s a great demonstration of how the EIT and Climate-KIC support entrepreneurs and it’s great for GrowUp to get some exposure across Europe.”

Hofman was recognised for her showcasing the proactive attitude and entrepreneurial drive in the development of GrowUp Box, a London-based initiative that demonstrates a sustainable commercial model for urban agriculture and aquaponics.