- Cohort of 68 entrepreneurs selected for Leaders in Innovation Fellowships Global and Advance programmes to progress their engineering solutions to Sustainable Development Goals
- Bicycles made from recycled plastic bags and high-performance bamboo bricks for sustainable construction are among innovations chosen for participation
The Royal Academy of Engineering has announced the latest entrepreneurs selected for the Leaders in Innovation Fellowships (LIF) Global and Advance programmes that support startups working towards sustainable development in their respective countries.
The 68 participants across both programmes will receive entrepreneurship and commercialisation support to develop engineering solutions that address Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on a local and global scale, from circular agriculture to affordable clean transport, and green construction techniques. Funded by the UK’s Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and delivered by the Academy, the programmes support economic and social development though locally engineered solutions, strengthen business capabilities in participating countries, and provide a boost for technologies that are making a difference in communities.
A total of 58 innovators were selected for the LIF Global programme from Barbados, Colombia, Egypt, Jordan, Mexico, Romania, Turkiye and Vietnam, who will benefit from free, bespoke training and support to scale their businesses. Their solutions include ocean plastic recycling, accessible medical training devices, cancer treatment approaches, environmental de-contaminants, and a sleep-improving device for patients with chronic disease.
An additional 10 outstanding entrepreneurs were chosen from the LIF alumni community to participate in LIF Advance, an enhanced programme offering training in stakeholder relations and business growth to enable entrepreneurs to reach their full commercial potential. This year, innovators who are addressing SDGs 14 and 15 – Life Below Water and Life Above Land – were selected from Brazil, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, and Vietnam.
Over the next eight months both the LIF Global and LIF Advance cohorts will receive intensive training from the Academy and its network of UK and international experts, including online and in-person events both in-country and in the UK. The entrepreneurs will be able to connect with local innovation networks and LIF peers, receive tailored entrepreneurship instruction and one-to-one expert mentoring.
Ana Avaliani, Director of Enterprise at the Royal Academy of Engineering, said “The power of engineering and technology innovations in tackling sustainable development challenges cannot be overstated – it is why we are so excited to support the entrepreneurs selected for this year’s LIF Global and Advance programmes. Collectively their engineering solutions will impact global health, social mobility, and economic growth across the globe, beginning with tailored approaches to solving local issues.”
LIF has attracted international praise and strengthened partnerships between nations since its launch in 2015, with its companies catalysing more than 3500 jobs around the world and securing more than $100 million in funding. The LIF Global cohort will join their LIF Advance peers among an alumni community of 1,400+ engaged and passionate global entrepreneurs and can access the Academy’s international support to researchers and entrepreneurs and links to the UK innovation ecosystem. The programme is open to partners and funders to help reach thousands more.
Full details of the 2022/23 LIF Global participants can be found here.
Full details of the 2022/23 LIF Advance participants and their innovations can be found here and below:
- BAMBUILD, Marzieh Kadivar from Brazil – Novel sustainable building materials made from natural bamboo using a zero-waste process.
- Bagcycle, David Garcia from Colombia – Foldable low-cost bicycles made with recycled plastic from bottles and bags, avoiding plastic from becoming trash that poisons land and water.
- Hexpressions, Abhimanyu Singh from India – Ready to assemble, fast, modular and sustainable construction techniques that provide affordable homes to underserved communities.
- Peeschute, Siddhant Tawarawala from India – A waterless urinal system that allows reuse of human urine and its nutrients into lands and agriculture.
- PUFFER, Septian Suryo from Indonesia – A water treatment system that processes polluted water into clean water, reducing the impact of the water crisis and saving up to 50% on water bill costs.
- Oviponics farm, Jack Oyugi from Kenya – A vertical lake system that uses rainwater to produce fish for food in two weeks, as well as the water hyacinth plant, an invasive weed that covers nearly 70% of Kenya's lakes, to produce sustainable animal feeds.
- Jay Leatherman Ltd, Joseph Ondari Nyakundi from Kenya – A biotech innovation employing the use of an enzyme for hair removal during leather processing to solve the challenges of high pollution associated with the conventional processing technique.
- CIST ETHANOL FUEL, Awra Richard from Kenya – A second generation bioethanol fuel based on cellulose biomass from the invasive water hyacinth plant, which is nearly 40% cheaper than kerosene.
- TALARIA, Angelica R. Font from Mexico – A tool for naturally controlling weeds. TALARIA bioherbicide "Corazon Verde" technology is a microbial technology that is the answer to ban glyphosate, a popular weedkiller than can cause harm to the environment.
- Circular Organic Agriculture Model, Thao Nguyen from Vietnam – A circular agricultural production method that keeps the nutrient cycle as closed as possible for both environmental and agricultural benefit – making use of every by-product - while making use of nature-based technology and knowledge.
Notes for editors
- The Royal Academy of Engineering is harnessing the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone.
In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public.
Together we’re working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age. - Oxentia works in partnership with individuals and teams to build capacity, develop capability and create opportunities to enable innovation. Oxentia started life as an operating division of Oxford University Innovation, the University of Oxford’s technology transfer company. Since 2004 Oxentia have supported and empowered clients in over 70 countries.
- St John’s Innovation Centre (SJIC) supported engineering and technology start-up entrepreneurship for nearly 40 years, across the globe. Headquartered at the centre of the world-renowned and growing Cambridge innovation ecosystem, SJIC provides dynamic and supportive services to accelerate the growth of ambitious engineering and technology entrepreneurs.