Innovation challenge in Skåne is looking for climate-smart water solutions

Today, Innovation Skåne, Venture Cup and WIN Water together with Microsoft launch an innovation challenge to promote smart water solutions for a more sustainable food production. Three winners will be selected, with the chance of winning SEK 100,000 each.

Fresh water is a limited resource and in many parts of the world a scarcity. Skåne, already today having water shortages parts of the year, is vulnerable as important industries such as agriculture and food production are dependent on having access to large amounts of fresh water. Smart use of water, with the help of new technology and circular solutions, will become an increasingly important issue in the future.

- The goal of this challenge is to find innovative solutions to the real societal challenge, namely the lack of fresh water. All solutions that can lead to an efficient use of resources of fresh water and that directly or indirectly benefit food production are welcome in the challenge, says Marie Greco, project manager at Venture Cup.

- Microsoft is pleased to partner with Innovation Skåne, Venture Cup and Win Water and to support the innovation challenge for more sustainable food production,” said Holly Beale, Community Environmental Sustainability Senior Program Manager. “The Microsoft Community Environmental Sustainability initiative is an important way for Microsoft to extend our company’s commitments and help inspire new solutions for environmental sustainability into the communities in which we operate datacenters.”

About the Water Challenge

The competition starts on November 3 and runs until March 1, 2021. All startups and innovators with a scalable and innovative solution for how to reduce or streamline water consumption in food production can participate, however, the company's turnover should not exceed SEK 3,000,000. Ten chosen participants will get the chance to present their idea in front of a jury consisting of representatives from the food industry, Microsoft, LTH, Win Water and Innovation Skåne. Three winners will be selected to each receive a prize of SEK 100,000. In addition to a chance of winning the prize, all participating startups receive valuable feedback for further development of their solution and the opportunity to create valuable new contacts.

Read more and register: www.venturecup.se/sv/water-challenge

Press contact

Andreas Wingren

swedenpress@microsoft.com

08-410 455 56

Participating organizations:

Innovation Skåne

Innovation Skåne is Region Skåne’s innovation company. Together with Region Skåne, business, academia and other actors, the company identifies and develops new opportunities for innovation and growth that strengthen the innovation capacity in Skåne.

Venture Cup

Venture Cup hosts one of Sweden's largest competitions for entrepreneurs and offers a platform to connect with experts in the network including innovative persons and entrepreneurs of the future. Venture Cup has a foundation with a well approved process for everyone that wants to try out or develop their business ideas. Since the start 1998 has more than 15 000 business ideas have been included in the competition and a large range of growth companies has started.

WIN Water

WIN Water offers a platform with expertise and tools which makes it possible for innovators to actualize their ideas to commercial companies within our target group of water, energy and social security. We together with WIN’s experts, companies, scientists and authorities creates circular solutions for the society's challenges.

Microsoft

The Microsoft Community Environmental Sustainability initiative, part of Microsoft’s Datacenter Community Development program, actively works to protect the long-term environmental health of Microsoft datacenter communities. Through partnerships with local leaders and organizations, Microsoft supports and empowers innovative solutions to address community environmental needs.