Clean-tech companies including Cambrian Innovations, Genomatica and Autogrid are among the 24 Technology Pioneers selected by the World Economic Forum as companies at the forefront of their industries for 2015.
As Technology Pioneers, the companies have demonstrated the ability to harness creativity to design and create transformative products and technologies, the World Economic Forum says. The companies will be honored during the Forum’s Annual Meeting in September in Tianjin, China.
Cambrian Innovation was recognized for developing a way to use bioelectric technology to cost-effectively clean wastewater by generating clean energy in the process. The company’s product, EcoVolt, can reduce biological oxygen demand by up to 90 percent, while generating more than 50 percent of a facilities’ electricity needs. Treated water can later be reused on-site.
Genomatica was selected for driving the first commercialization of a bio-based process for the production of the intermediate chemical 1,4-Butanediol, used in a number of everyday products. The company is now developing processes for butadiene, a basic chemical used in tires, carpeting and latex products.
AutoGrid was recognized for its Energy Data Platform, which leverages petabytes of data generated by smart meters and other equipment to let users fine-tune power consumption and costs. EDP can forecast electrical consumption at up to a million end-points every 10 minutes, allowing companies to reduce emissions, shave peak power, integrate a larger share of renewables into a grid network, reduce outages and maximize the use and value of power and power generating assets.
Other companies recognized for 2015 include Avegant, BlaBlaCar, Canonical, Couchbase, Eta Devices, Guardant Health, Health Catalyst, HiBot Corporation, Ionic Security, Jasper Technologies, Kakao Corporation, Labcyte, LearnUp, Mera Gao Power, Newlight Technologies, Organovo, Proterra, Raspberry Pi Foundation, Silicor Materials, SmartThings and Vaxxas.
Previous Technology Pioneers include Nest Labs in 2014 and Google in 2002.
After predicting that cleantech would backtrack in 2013, Kachan & Co. predicted it would rebound in 2014.