The jury of the Marc Cornelissen Brightlands Award 2024, chaired by Maurits Groen, has nominated six entrepreneurs. Next Thursday, the six lucky ones will get the chance to pitch their story to the jury; three of them will then go to the finals on Oct. 10 to decide who wins with the trophy and the €35,000 prize.
Giulia Bellinetti (Maastricht Future Materials Bank), Man Yong Toh (Rotterdam Aeroborn), Kim Poldner (Groningen Trashure), Michael Pieneman (Heerhugowaard Darwin-G4), Olga Koshkina (Enschede Phos4nova) and Billy Kuper (Maastricht Closist) will get to pitch their ideas on Sept. 12.
The judges say they were impressed by the “courage, creativity, and entrepreneurship” of the entries. “All with that one unifying thread: the passion to contribute to the circular transition to a more sustainable world with revolutionary ideas and inspiring leadership. In the spirit of Marc Cornelissen.”
Marc Cornelissen was a pioneer who pushed the boundaries, a connecting leader with one goal: a more sustainable world. Anyone who wants to be considered for the award named after him should not be afraid to tread new paths or go on an expedition. Like the previous five editions of the Marc Cornelissen Brightlands Award, the jury chose six entries that most closely meet these criteria.
These are the six nominees for the Marc Cornelissen Brightlands Award 2024:
Giulia Bellinetti, Maastricht – Future Materials Bank
Giulia Bellinetti works for the Jan van Eyck Academy in Maastricht. She coordinates the Future Materials program, a hybrid platform focused on disseminating knowledge and use of sustainable materials by artists, designers, scientists and other specialists.
Man Yong Toh, Rotterdam – Aeroborn
Man Yong Toh has developed a method to replace the harmful Carbon Black as a filler in car tires and cables, among other things, with a sustainable alternative: CO2. Aeroborn is currently building a pilot plant.
Kim Poldner, Groningen – Trashure
Kim Poldner founded several sustainable fashion startups and is now an associate professor at the University of Groningen. With Trashure, she wants to drive textile recycling.
Michael Pieneman, Heerhugowaard – Darwin-G4
Michael Pieneman is director/owner of Dolphin in Heerhugowaard. He is the inventor of Darwin-G4, a system that quickly and accurately detects water, oil, hydrogen and gas leaks and can be applied to monitor pipelines against theft and sabotage.
Olga Koshkina, Enschede – Phos4nova
Olga Koshkina is developing a biodegradable, safe contrast agent for MRI scans that is harmless to both humans and the environment. With Phos4nova, she wants to contribute to more accurate diagnoses.
Billy Kuper, Maastricht – Closist
Billy Kuper wants to use AI to extend the life of clothing and textiles, reduce waste, and ensure that your clothes never bore you. He is developing Closist, a pioneer in comprehensive AI-driven Circular Fashion Technology.
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