Brussels, 28.02.2024 Innovators from the EIT RawMaterials network have been awarded top prizes at the prestigious 2024 EIT Awards which celebrate Europe’s most innovative entrepreneurs and changemakers. Mohamed Elamir, an AMIS master’s programme alumnus and co-founder of Woamy, has won the EIT Changemaker Award, while the HiQ-CARB project has secured the EIT Public Award through a public vote.
Changemaker Award
Winner of the Changemaker Award – Mohamed Elamir – is co-founder of Finnish start-up Woamy, which is transforming the foam industry with its eco-friendly, 100% biodegradable cellulose-based foam. Their product is both strong and lightweight and does not use plastics, chemical additives, or high-impact manufacturing processes.
The Changemaker Award is given to a leader within the EIT Community education and skilling programmes, whose activities and achievements have the potential to generate a significant social impact.
Elamir credits his educational experience at EIT RawMaterials as being instrumental in steering his academic curiosity towards impactful solutions against plastic pollution. The blend of innovation, entrepreneurship and academia in the AMIS Master’s programme helped foster his strong entrepreneurial mindset as well as expanding his network.
Public Award
The Public Award winner, HiQ-CARB, is at the forefront of lithium-ion battery nanomaterials innovation. Their development of eco-friendly carbon additives, using ultrapure acetylene black (AB) and biobased ultrathin carbon nanotubes (CNT), enhances battery performance, affordability, and reduces environmental impact. This innovation leads to electric vehicles that charge faster, have longer-lasting batteries, and improved safety features.
HiQ-CARB’s success can be attributed not only to its innovative technology but also to the support from EIT RawMaterials, which backed the project with a robust network, communication channels, and financial support for scaling up operations and bringing the groundbreaking technology to market.
“We are immensely proud of the extraordinary achievements of our network at the EIT Awards 2024. These triumphs highlight the impact of our collaborative efforts to drive sustainable innovation, support entrepreneurial talent, and bring forward solutions that address critical environmental challenges. It’s a testament to the vibrant ecosystem we’ve cultivated, which continues to play a pivotal role in shaping a sustainable future for Europe.” Bernd Schäfer, CEO, EIT RawMaterials
