Sterilux supported by Swiss Bluetec Bridge

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23.12.2016
Sterilux

Sterilux with its very innovative Steribox will receive a loan from Swiss Bluetec Bridge. In addition, Swiss Bluetec Bridge reports about successes of other start-ups supported by the organisation.

The Swiss Bluetec Bridge was launched in November 2012. It strives to accelerate sustainable access to water and sanitation for local residents – especially the poorest in society – in rural areas and in small towns in developing and emerging economies, by providing them with advanced Swiss technology and innovation.

The organisation offers financing and encouragement to Swiss-based start-ups, SME and social entrepreneurs at the early stage of their journeys. At the end of the process, entrepreneurs who have succeeded in the field get recognised and promoted through the Swiss Bluetec Bridge label and network.

For the sixth call for proposals the Selection Committee received several valuable proposals, which it later narrowed down to 3 finalists. These candidates presented their project to the Committee in Bern. In the end, Sterilux with its very innovative Steribox and Fontes Switzerland with a seminal business model received a loan. A third project is still under review.

Sterilux
The Steribox sterilizes medical instruments using 1000 times less water and 100 times less electricity compared to conventional sterilizers. Other assets are its ease of use, cheap  consumables and affordable price. Thus it meets well the needs of health centers and smaller hospitals located outside of main cities in developing and emerging countries. Steribox' low running costs will allow to serve low income patients in particular.

Fontes
Fontes AS started off as a geological consulting company in 1985 under the name of GEO-RECON. Fontes GmbH Switzerland was established in August 2016 to support management and technical developments within the sector of water service delivery. Through its local partner Fontes will provide water delivery services in DR Congo by taking over existing schemes to serve large communities living in rural and semi-urban areas. Fontes will add energy services as needed and develop the needed monitoring and payments systems.

Ennos and NV Terra achieve important milestones
Ennos develops and distributes the sunlight pump, a portable solar water pump for irrigation and domestic water supply in developing countries. Thanks to the financial assistance of Swiss Bluetec Bridge, ennos could start its activities beginning of 2016. In March, the company was converted into an “Aktiengesellschaft”. At the same time, it decided to look for a new production partner in India, found in Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd. (www.jains.com), a strong and reliable partner for manufacturing and distribution of the sunlight pump. The first batch of pumps are planned to come out of production by end 2016.

Since the beginning of the year, ennos was active in building up the market in Honduras/Nicaragua and in Kenya/Uganda. It has partners in those countries who are checking the market situation and the rules for import trade. Sales are expected to begin in early 2017.

The Swiss-based company ennos ag was founded in 2006 as a spin-off of Berne University of Applied Sciences in Biel/Bienne. The purpose of ennos is to further develop the sunlight pump and new innovations in the same product family, to produce those renewable technologies and make them accessible to BoP clients in developing countries through the establishment of a last mile distribution network.

The objectives of NVTerra’s project are to supply safe and affordable drinking water to rural populations in the Ivory Coast, to promote hygienic approaches (through awareness raising and distribution of bleach) as well as to create jobs and wealth for the local population.

The water treatment unit set up in February in the village of Addah runs fine. The system is monitored locally by techicians trained by NVTerra and remotly by Swiss staff. Building on this success, a new project was approved by the local community, the Ministries of Health and Infrastructure for Jacqueville in May and got a nice press coverage. Early 2017, the Jacquevill unit will be handed over to the community and a microenterprise selling water in canisters launched.

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