The eighth annual Ocean Exchange, to be held in Savannah, Georgia, has selected Graphite Innovation and Technologies (GIT), a Halifax-based materials company, as a finalist for the WWL Orcelle® Award 2018. GIT will present our GrapheneCoat™ product and compete for a $100,000 USD award at a pitch competition in Savannah from Oct. 7 to 9.
This year’s finalists are from five different countries:
- Graphite Innovations and Technology (Nova Scotia, Canada) – GIT developed marine coating materials which utilize graphene to create a formula that protects ship hulls from corrosion and biofouling.
- Ashored Innovations (Nova Scotia, Canada) – Ashored’s MOBI (Modular Ocean Based Instrument) system is a bottom-bound ropeless fishing system that prevents whale entanglements and trap loss, where damaged traps become ocean waste.
- Blue Nalu (CA, USA) – Blue Nalu is a pioneer in cellular aquaculture, in which living cells are isolated from fish tissue, placed into culture media for proliferation, and then assembled into fresh and frozen seafood products.
- Coral Vita (Freeport, Bahamas) – Coral Vita’s land-based farms integrate new methods to accelerate coral growth, while enhancing resiliency to changing environmental conditions.
- Hoopers Island Oyster Co (MD, USA) – Hooper’s Island Oyster Co developed a vertically integrated oyster aquaculture system that provides new and established growers with seed, grow-out equipment, and processing equipment to support oyster-preneurs.
- Jolt Energy Storage Technologies (MI, USA) – Jolt developed a new and highly scalable battery technology where no expensive catalysts or selective membranes are required.
- MicroSynbiotiX (Cork, Ireland) – MicroSynbiotiX helps solve the current fish vaccine challenge by engineering microalgae to lock the vaccine in the biomass which is a natural part of the fish diet and an essential dietary element in the early development of shrimp and fin-fish.
- OceanComm (IL, USA) – OceanComm has developed a wireless underwater modem that offers communication similar to Wi-Fi, negating the need for tethered communication links.
- Osmo Systems (CA, USA) – The Osmobot integrates a series of well-proven photochemical sensors into a single, low-cost robust probe, improving aquaculture management and monitoring.
- Pajarito Powder (NM, USA) – Pajarito Powder developed catalyst and engineered catalyst supports for improved Proton Exchange Membranes in fuel cells and electrolyzers, facilitating energy-dense onboard energy storage of electricity.
- Sailing for Sustainability S4S (Suva, Fiji) – Drawing on designs of the one of the greatest innovations of the Pacific Islanders, the proa boat, and using modern materials, S4S created a low-cost cargo and passenger sailing proa for last mile connection to scattered island communities around the world, helping solve logistics issues and saving the culture of island life.
- ThisFish Inc. (British Columbia, Canada) – Built for the seafood processing sector, Tally is simple, user-friendly software that enables companies to digitize all their production, traceability and quality control data, using visual data dashboards and data analytics.
GIT will be competing in the first of two $100,000 USD awards:
- The WWL Orcelle® Award 2018 will be given to the solution that can make our (WW) logistic operations more sustainable by advancing high-efficiency or zero-emission technologies that are commercially viable.
- The Neptune Award 2018 will be given to the solution that advances our understanding of the ocean and that helps minimize our impact on these resources, even while using them for human benefit, resulting in more resilient bodies of water, including healthy marine life and coastlines.
“GIT is very excited for this opportunity that Ocean Exchange has provided us,” says GIT co-founder Marciel Gaier (who will be presenting at the competition). “Not only for the opportunity to present and possibly win $100,000, but also for growing our network and gaining new contacts in our target market of the shipping and logistics industry.”
About The Wallenius Wilhelmsen Group
The Wallenius Wilhelmsen group (OEX: WWL) is a market leader in RoRo shipping and vehicle logistics, transporting cars, trucks, rolling equipment and breakbulk around the world. The company operates around 130 vessels servicing 32 trade routes to six continents and operates a global inland distribution network, 77 processing centres, and 13 marine terminals. The Wallenius Wilhelmsen group consists of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Solutions, EUKOR and ARC. The group is headquartered in Oslo, Norway with 7.500 employees in 29 countries worldwide. Read more at walleniuswilhelmsen.com
About Ocean Exchange
OceanExchange.org is a 501c3 with the sole mission to help advance the adoption of solutions in the field of sustainability. Ocean Exchange seeks solutions with working prototypes that reduce waste and the use of nature’s resources while increasing productivity and respecting cultures around the world. Read more at oceanexchange.org
About Graphite Innovation and Technologies
Graphite Innovation & Technologies Inc. (GIT) is a leading Canadian materials engineering firm focused on delivering disruptive uses for graphene and graphite ingredients.
Graphite Innovation & Technologies Inc. (GIT) works in partnership with its customers using its proprietary “bottom-up” process for the production of high specification graphene. Graphite Innovation & Technologies Inc. (GIT) owns the intellectual property and know-how behind this process. We provide dispersion and product integration expertise, to deliver solutions for a wide range of applications.