FRIBOURG, WHERE INNOVATION GROWS
Innovation Award | 02.09.2021
And the winner is… innovation ! In May 2021, the Fribourg Development Agency (FDA) and the Fribourg Cantonal Bank announced the recipients of the Fribourg Innovation Award. Ascenseurs Menétrey took home the Business Award; the Start-Up Award, which is voted for by the public, went to GBY; and Bloom Biorenewables won the inaugural Sustainable Economy Award. For the first time in its history, the award ceremony was livestreamed on YouTube.
BUSINESS AWARD : ASCENSEURS MENÉTREY
CelticLift is an elevator that scales new heights: it has a more spacious cab, offers an upgraded user experience re-engineered ergonomics as well as easy maintenance, and is the first elevator in the world to be made from composites. The elevator is the result of a three-year Innosuisse project that drew on the combined expertise of Ascenseurs Menétrey, the Fribourg School of Engineering and Architecture, HE-ARC in Neuchâtel and the EPFL in Lausanne.
START-UP AWARD : GBY (GO BY YOURSELF)
Go-Tryke is a revolutionary three-wheeled bike designed specifically for people with reduced mobility. It has two sets of connected pedals – one for the hands, the other for the feet – which, when activated, replicate the body’s natural physiological movements. It also comes with a power-assisted rear wheel to prevent excessive strain on the rider’s joints and muscles. The all-terrain, ergonomic and comfortable Go-Tryke allows users to combine physical therapy with the fun of the great outdoors.
SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY AWARD : BLOOM BIORENEWABLES
Tapping the hidden value of biomass is the secret behind the success of Bloom Biorenewables. The start-up has developed a procedure that extracts soluble lignin from wood waste. The natural polymer can then be used as a substitute for petrochemical compounds, which are widely found in all manner of products, from perfumes, cosmetics, drugs, plastics through to textiles. Bloom is the perfect example of a circular economy in action. It takes the waste generated by a major local industry and transforms it into a product that helps reduce dependency on fossil fuels.