Ariana Pintor and Mariko Carneiro win Innovation Prize

In October, LSRE-LCM researchers Ariana Pintor and Mariko Carneiro participated in the program BluAct, promoted by the Matosinhos City Council and UPTEC, aiming at business ideas for a blue economy and environment, born from knowledge, research and innovation.

Ariana and Mariko submitted a project entitled FilterCork, related to Mariko's PhD work (supervised by Cidália Botelho and Ariana Pintor), that consists of a practical application of a functionalised adsorbent based on cork granulates for the treatment of drinking water contaminated with arsenic.

The BluAct program included mentoring sessions with specialists in the Blue Economy sector and UPTEC. Based on their feedback, Mariko and Ariana were able to present a successful pitch of their business idea to commercialise the adsorbent product in the final session on 27 October at Matosinhos City Council, along with the other three finalists (Fykia Biotech, ISS – Inclita Seaweed Solutions Lda and Windcredible).

After evaluation by a jury composed of UPTEC, INDAQUA, Matosinhos City Council, and investor companies, FilterCork was selected as the program’s winner and granted the BluEco prize of 5 000€ by INDAQUA. Besides the monetary award, FilterCork was also given an incubation period of over 12 months and an accelerator program at UPTEC to develop the business idea. They will also integrate the network of Fórum Oceano, a Blue Economy hub, if/when the idea develops into a company.

This prize  highlights the viability and the importance of bringing the knowledge developed a LSRE-LCM to the business sector to boost innovation in the economy.