Big Innovation Pitch shortlist for Futurebuild 2020 revealed

Futurebuild and BRE have announced the shortlisted entries for this year’s Big Innovation Pitch, industry’s largest call-out for innovation to date. 

Covering each of the six sections of the event, which takes place from 3 – 5 March at ExCeL London, the finalists in the running each address one of the following six challenges facing the built environment:

 – Buildings: retrofitted, re-used, net positive and built to perform
 – Offsite: reliability and efficiency combined with creative placemaking
 – Interiors: sustainable and health promoting
 – Resourceful Materials: thinking circular to reduce, reuse and recycle
 – Energy: accurate data for carbon accounting and reduced clean energy usage
 – Critical Infrastructure: delivering integrated green, grey, blue and social infrastructure

Six innovations have been selected from each section to attend day one of the event, where they will pitch their ideas on the Keynote Stages.

The companies involved will benefit from unrivalled visibility, through showcasing to Futurebuild’s audience of industry leaders and decision makers.

The chosen entries that have made the shortlist for each challenge are

 – Buildings: The C.H.E.E.S.E. Project, Negawatt Supply Company Ltd, Envelope Architects Ltd, University of Hull, Werner Homes Ltd. and Airex
 – Offsite: Polysolar Ltd, World of Smart Homes UK LTD, Hughes Electra in collaboration with Theben, Passiv Pd Ltd, Adobe Industries Limited, and Rory Macken Sustainable Construction
 – Interiors: SerraLux Limited, VEGA, Adaptavate Ltd, Cambond Ltd, Redheat Solutions Ltd and IM-A studio
 – Resourceful Materials: Texfelt, Recovery Insulation, Shire, Kenoteq, Allot and Puustelli group Oy 
 – Energy: Redbarn Group Ltd, Soltropy Ltd, Q-Bot, Creol Ltd, The Mackinac Technology Company, and GAPOGROUP LTD
 – Critical Infrastructure: Plant-e, Hope Resources, Biotecture Limited, Arc Consulting, Scotscape Group and ACO Technologies

A winner from each Keynote Stage will then return on day two, to pitch in the Conference Arena, where a panel of a renowned judges will crown the overall champion.

The overall winner of the Big Innovation Pitch will receive a year’s worth of BRE Academy’s online training and a free stand at Futurebuild 2021. 

One company from each section will also be crowned winner, receiving free access to a BRE Academy online training course of their choice. Finally, all shortlisted companies will enjoy 20% of the BRE Academy’s online courses for 6 months. 

Previous years have seen innovative solutions, such as a sustainable alternative to plywood produced from mixed waste plastics and energy and cost saving air-conditioning units, take top spot.

Nico Stillwell, Imagineer from Protomax Plastics, winner of the joint top prize in 2017, commented: “Winning the Big Innovation Pitch really put my idea on the national stage. Since winning, my company has grown from just myself, to a team of thirteen employees.

“We also have grown a brilliant roster of clients, which include M&S and a number of companies that heard about us at Futurebuild itself. We’re so excited for the future and are looking to having a stand at the 2020 event!”

Martin Hurn, Event Director of Futurebuild, commented on the return of Big Innovation Pitch: “Innovation is more than just a buzzword to us here at Futurebuild.

“It is vital in driving positive change across the built environment and tackling the challenges that face the industry, challenges that can’t be ignored any longer.

“Seeing the talent across the UK and finding solutions that have the potential to meet wider industry issues is truly amazing, and we are excited to see the companies present their ideas.”

Gillian Charlesworth, CEO at BRE Group, added: “As an organisation which takes great pride in bringing brilliant ideas to life, we are delighted to be partnering with Futurebuild on The Big Innovation Pitch.

“It’s a fantastic competition which serves as an ideal platform for solutions to an array of the built environment challenges, we face today.”

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