Global Innovation Award 2021 Announces Winners at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), together with award sponsors and co-judges Bee’ah, Diamond Developers, and DP World UAE Region, named Cambrian Innovation from the US the overall winner of the Global Innovation Award 2021. The company’s innovative waste-to-energy solution purifies wastewater while producing energy from the contaminants.

Organized by Globally on behalf of MOCCAE, the Award aims to attract innovations from around the world to the UAE to support the country in its quest to become a world leader in sustainable development.

The third edition has received a record number of applications – more than 1,200 from 65 countries. Global entrants submitted their innovations to www.GloballyGreat.com, an online video platform focused on the world’s most sustainable innovations.

A total of 113 applicants from 23 countries have been chosen to proceed to the next round. The selection criteria comprised the ability of the companies to present a highly innovative solution to a pressing sustainability challenge, their alignment with the sustainability objectives of the UAE Vision 2021, and the applicability of the solutions to the UAE. Six entries have been shortlisted for the main award.

His Excellency Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: “The UAE is firmly committed to innovation and sustainability. Innovation plays a vital role in delivering on the eight pillars of the UAE Environmental Policy. Therefore, we welcome innovators and entrepreneurs whose creativity and experience can go a long way in advancing the country’s sustainable development, and the Global Innovation Award provides an ideal platform to highlight this approach.”

Stefanie Schachtschabel, Managing Director of Globally, said: “We are delighted to be able to support Cambrian with its market entry into a region truly committed to sustainability. Our goal as a platform is to inspire, educate, and inform our audience about how we can make the transition towards a green economy, and Cambrian provides a truly inspiring example that is applicable worldwide.”

This year, the scope of the award was expanded to include three new categories, each dedicated to a different Sustainable Development Goal – Sustainable Cities (SDG11), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG12), and Life Below Water (SDG14).

The winner of the Sustainable Cities category, sponsored by The Sustainable City, represented by Diamond Developers, was Van der Hoeven Horticultural Projects from the Netherlands. Its greenhouse-cooling solution is a potential groundbreaking innovation for the UAE as it seeks to boost food security through urban agriculture.

The Responsible Consumption and Production award, sponsored by Bee’ah, went to Continuus Materials from the US, whose resilient roofing material is made of some of the lowest-value plastic and fiber waste, which cannot easily be used for other purposes.

The Life Below Water category, sponsored by DP World, was dominated by Holland Container Innovations, also from the Netherlands, whose foldable containers aim to reduce the cost and environmental impact of shipping empty containers.