NowCare, founded by Claire Meuwly, recently took home the first prize at the Pitch’n’bar competition, held during the forum for business creation in the canton of Vaud. The company developed a powder-to-liquid soap that promotes mindful consumption and health. NowCare’s win at the pitch competition has earned them a prize worth over CHF 7,000, which includes cash, coaching, and branding packages from various organizations.
KimboCare, a digital health platform that ensures the traceability of medical services delivered to healthcare providers, won the 2023 SHINE Social Innovation Prize by the Swiss Re Foundation. As part of the prize, the company will participate in a six-month immersive nurturing experience, where they will work closely with Swiss Re experts and leadership coaches to enhance their value proposition and expand their outreach and impact in sustainable ways.
Qaptis, another promising cleantech start-up from Western Switzerland, has been selected to join the Plug and Play Program in Alberta, US. The company is the only Swiss participant among 58 start-ups and focuses on creating a CO2 capture solution to retrofit heavy vehicles, supporting the freight industry in achieving its climate goals.
Western Switzerland, a catalyst for sustainable innovation
Western Switzerland is an ideal location for sustainability innovators, thanks to the region’s strong commitment to sustainability and resource management. With its academic expertise and cutting-edge know-how in sectors such as photovoltaic systems, small-scale hydropower, waste recovery and recycling, smart grids, industrial ecology, energy efficiency, as well as eco-mobility and enabling technologies, Western Switzerland is developing ever more efficient and resource-saving solutions that enable the region to meet environmental challenges and promote a circular economy.
The region can also count on numerous incubators, technology parks, and centers of excellence offering the latest infrastructure to support the development of innovative products and services in the field of energy and environmental technologies. These include CleantechAlps, a regional mechanism providing support and international visibility for start-ups and SMEs in the field of cleantech, as well as blueFACTORY, which hosts companies and platforms related to sustainable development and environmental protection. Here are 10 initiatives, companies, or start-ups that are working on sustainable solutions through the initiatives or technologies they develop.
As the global demand for sustainable solutions continues to grow, Western Switzerland’s cleantech companies are well-positioned to play a pivotal role in driving innovation and progress. With start-ups like NowCare, KimboCare and Qaptis already making an impact on the international stage, the future looks bright for this region’s cleantech innovators.
