The Awarding Ceremony of the 3rd edition of GI Goes Business took place in Brdo, Slovenia, on 15 November 2024. The winning teams had the chance to present their business models in the EUSALP Annual Forum plenary with participants from all over the Alpine macroregion. High-level representatives of the sponsors from Slovenia, Italy and Germany handed over the certificates. A huge thank you to everyone involved in this great event – and good luck to the winners for their future business journey!
Winners 2024
We want to thank you all for your submissions and for your work towards a Green Economy in the Alpine macro-region! There are many great ideas and a broad variety of submitted issues and business approaches in order to create a positive impact on GI and the climate.
The international jury has selected eight winning teams. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!
Winners
HydroMontania - Irrigation solutions for sustainable agriculture in mountain areas
Natur ImPuls.e - Reconnect. Experience. Change.
Optigrün Smart Flow Control
City life faces weather extremes: heat and drought followed by heavy rain that floods streets and basements. Optigrün's Smart Flow Control addresses this on green roofs with water storage. It keeps drains closed to store rainwater for plants and empties the tank before heavy rain to prevent overflow and prepare for dry periods.
Pocket Parks – blau-grüne Oasen
Pocket parks support urban climate protection by integrating into water management. With special soil modules, they absorb and store rainwater, reducing flooding and providing water during dry spells, thus minimizing the need for drinking water. They also filter pollutants, slow water runoff, and protect infrastructure during heavy rain.
EauRoot
EauRoot argues that “drip irrigation” systems are inefficient for modern water and energy needs, as they irrigate the soil surface, losing millions of liters annually to evaporation and weed growth. EauRoot’s patented system embeds water capsules underground near trees, connecting them to a central tap. This automated, energy-free method efficiently delivers water directly to tree roots, saving at least 150,000 liters of water per hectare annually.
HydroMontania - Irrigation solutions for sustainable agriculture in mountain areas
Global warming and changing precipitation challenge mountain regions, causing water scarcity and conflicts. HydroMontania addresses this by providing model-based soil saturation data and water demand forecasts, allowing precise, resource-saving irrigation for plots or catchment areas. Remote-controlled valves reduce time, supporting sustainable water use for mountain farmers and communities.
BORKY - battle bark beetles better
Alpine forests face growing threats, especially from bark beetles damaging spruce trees. Infected trees must be identified and removed within four weeks to prevent spread. Traditional pheromone traps require weekly monitoring, a challenge in alpine areas. BORKY’s add-on for pheromone traps enables near real-time data transmission, eliminating weekly checks and freeing time for control efforts. This patented solution also allows for prediction models of bark beetle activity, aiding in proactive management.
Mirage Urbain
The idea of Mirage Urbain is to provide training in the use of new techniques that have been developed to promote biodiversity in built-up areas. It also teaches methods to make areas more resilient to climate change. The workshops can be selected à la carte - flexible and adapted to the interests of the participants.
Natur ImPuls.e - Reconnect. Experience. Change.
Natur ImPuls.e is a unique farm: a sustainable living lab for mindfulness training (reconnect), hands-on sustainability education (experience), and project implementation in rural Bavaria (change). Workshops connect personal well-being, ecosystem health, and tech use in harmony with nature, while students and teachers explore sustainable solutions in a real-life setting.
Building material solutions from annual fibre sources
The construction industry faces resource scarcity: finite minerals, dwindling gypsum, and slow-growing wood signal looming shortages. istraw GmbH & Co. KG, however, sees a solution in grasses. Harvested sustainably, grasses boost biodiversity and provide added value from rewetted moorlands. They also store CO₂ long-term and enable direct circular use without energy-heavy recycling. Through this approach, istraw GmbH & Co. KG is pioneering circular economy practices and embedding sustainability in construction.
