JEC Composites Startup Booster 2023 Winners

TW Special Report

During JEC World 2023, winners of the annual JEC Composites Startup Booster were announced. The competition, launched in 2017, is a prominent platform for entrepreneurial ventures in the composites industry worldwide. The competition not only offers a unique opportunity for participating startups but also allows the international JEC World audience to gain inspiration, forge connections and foster business collaborations. Each year, 20 startups with groundbreaking projects utilizing composite materials are selected to pitch their ideas before a panel of expert judges on the renowned JEC World stage.This year, the event featured two pitch sessions, culminating in three category winners.

The Winners

In the "Products & Materials" category, Canada-based INCA Renewable Technologies emerged victorious. For the "Process, Manufacturing & Equipment" category, Switzerland-based Composite Recycling secured the top spot. Finally, Egypt-based Agrona claimed the Sustainability Prize.

The awards not only bring visibility and recognition to the winners, but also provide them with connections to key decision-makers in the industry.

The Jury

The jury responsible for selecting the winners consisted of representatives from major manufacturers and investors including Turlough McMahon, Composite Industrial technologist, Airbus; Karl-Heinz Fueller, manager, Future Outside & Materials, MercedesBenz; Raphael Salapete, R&T Plan manager, Ariane Group; Christer Larsson, founding partner of The Impact Fellowship; and Chris Skinner, vice president of Strategic Marketing, Owens Corning.

JEC Composites Startup Booster award winners (left to right) Agrona, Composite Recycling and INCA Renewable Technologies ten said. “They are how you get there, but the actual finished pieces are certainly much more interesting.”

Oh, and yes the food available on the JEC World show floor was better, but after all, the event is held in Paris!

The use of composites only continues to grow and gain acceptance globally as evidenced by the wide array and variety of technologies, methodologies and composite part applications on display at JEC World. The event is held in Paris, which some may think of as a “boondoggle trip,” but attending JEC World should not be viewed in that way. Simply stated, attending JEC World is a fantastic way for anyone directly involved in or who may have some level of interest in the North American composites industry to either learn from or gauge where they actually stand in the global composites marketplace and even catch a viable glimpse of what the future will bring. TW