Teams from the University of Coimbra get first and second places in the GISU 2022 Urban Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition

English version: Diana Taborda

The UC teams “SAFE Pack” and “ReneWaste” have won the first and second prizes (respectively) in the 2022 Urban Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, promoted by the Alliance of Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities – GISU. The competition took place on the 15th of November at the University of Padua, Italy.

UC students Alexandre Jorge and Cristiana Bento, representing team SAFE Pack, winner of the Concept Teams category, stated that “it was an honour to be able to represent the Ubiversity of Coimbra and Portugal in such a huge event and see the work of the whole team being recognized”, further adding that “we hope that this prize will allow us to launch our edible films on the market as soon as possible and that our project becomes part of the new circular economy the world needs.”

ReneWaste got the second place in the same category. Luiz Almeida complimented the work of the team, highlighting the importance of “being able to be part of the change towards a more sustainable and collaborative world”. Irvylle Cavalcante mentioned that the GISU competition “is a reminder that the world desperately needs innovation and there are more than enough ideas, such as ReneWaste, which aims to support digital sustainability”.

The UC made it to the Final with over ten teams. The second place was awarded ex-aequo to a team from the University of Padua called DNA Shitch, and the third place in the competition (also ex-aequo) went to three teams from Guangzhou University.

In addition to gold and silver, the University of Coimbra also won individual prizes awarded to Alexandre Jorge and Cristiana Bento (Safepack) and João Bigotte (Renewaste).

The SAFE Pack team won a cash prize of 100,000 renminbi (RMB), or around 13,700 euros at current exchange rates and still subject to taxes. Team ReneWaste was awarded a cash prize worth 50,000 renminbi (RMB), or about €6,850 at current exchange rates and still subject to taxes.

SAFE Pack team members are Alexandre Jorge, Cristiana Bento, Mara Braga, Marisa Gaspar, with mentoring by Cristiana Bento and Alexandre Jorge. The ReneWaste team has as members Irvylle Raimunda Mourão Cavalcante, Joel Alves Costa Filho, Luiz Felipe Magalhães Antunes de Almeida, Jônatas Augusto Manzolli, Mauro Pungo, and the mentorship of João Bigotte.

The competition Final took place yesterday, the 15th of November, at the University of Padua, Italy. This is the third year that the Urban Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition has been held, with the previous editions taking place in Guangzhou and Sydney. The third edition of the competition had as theme "Promoting Sustainable Urban Development with Scientific and Technological Innovation".

The UC is one of the founding members of GISU, an alliance that aims to promote cooperation between universities in cities twinned with the city of Guangzhou, to enhance the action of these higher education institutions for the development of education, scientific research and cultural exchange in their respective cities.

The 18 GISU members represent 15 countries, 17 sister-cities and friendly-cities with a combined population of almost 38 million and over half a million students with 44,000 faculty and staff.