Berytech e-Hackathon 2020: bring your innovation into the cleantech sector!

The challenges identified by experts should inspire our Lebanese entrepreneurs and startups to innovate in the sector, specifically in Renewable Energy, Waste Management and Water and Wastewater

Berytech has announced that applications are now open for its first e-Hackathon, themed cleantech innovation and organized under its Cleanergy Accelerator Program. This first edition is taking place online on the 10-11-12-13 of June 2020. 

The Berytech e-Hackathon 2020 – Cleanergy is organized by Berytech in partnership with the full and unwavering support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Lebanon. 

This e-hackathon is an exciting opportunity to develop cleantech solutions using technologies such as Internet of Things, Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence. Throughout the e-hackathon, participants will receive the assistance of technical, industry and business experts, and will have access to the tools and hardware prototyping facilities at the Berytech Fab Lab.

4-Day Online Event

The Berytech e-Hackathon 2020 – Cleanergy will be an engaging 4-day online event, bringing together engineers, makers, data scientists, creatives, innovators, entrepreneurs, and young professionals from various backgrounds. 

During these four days, participants will discover real challenges facing the cleantech sector in Lebanon, learn how to transform their idea into a valid business solution through intensive online workshops, prototype their solution within 30 hours, and then pitch it to a panel of judges to have the chance to win cash prizes as well as 3-month access to Berytech’s validation support under the Cleanergy Accelerator Program.

“Berytech has been working with experts as well as the public and private sectors to identify a list of challenges within the cleantech sector, as we believe that these challenges can fuel and initiate a broad interest in the sector,” explains Ramy Boujawdeh, Berytech Deputy GM. “We are making available the different challenges identified by the experts we have been working with. These should inspire our Lebanese entrepreneurs and startups to innovate in the sector, specifically in Renewable Energy, Waste Management and Water and Wastewater.”

Opportunities to innovate lie in energy creation solutions (wind, solar, water, biomass), energy efficiency and optimization, and resource management systems. Berytech has identified nine challenges and what is needed concerning automated water heaters, solar panel positioning and functionality, household water systems, photovoltaic electricity, streetlights, biogas, solar farmlands, and windmill farms.

Water management solutions are one of the dominating opportunities in the industry. Berytech has identified four challenges and what is needed concerning regional water establishments, solar energy in irrigation, wastewater sludge, and valorizing organic waste.

Uncontrolled dumping of waste all over the country has caused water and soil contamination, numerous health and environmental problems and increased GHG emissions. Berytech has identified seven challenges and what is needed concerning medical waste, batteries, household waste reduction and compression, improved collection system, agriculture waste, and construction waste.

How It Works

Applicants must be in teams of at least three members. Those encouraged to apply are engineers, developers, coders, makers, data scientists, creatives, innovators, entrepreneurs and young professionals. They can apply with their own idea or can hack one of the preset challenges. The online event is open for Lebanese residing in Lebanon.

Their solution – an idea or within an early-stage startup, needs to fall under one of these 5 sectors: Energy, Solid Waste Management, Water and Wastewater management, Agriculture, or Transportation.

On Wednesday, participants will attend business workshops online to help them  shape their idea, understand the needs of their customers, and develop their business model.

On Thursday, they will attend technical workshops online to help them with their prototype, whether for hardware or software solutions.

On Friday and up until Saturday afternoon, they will be given the time and support to work on their solutions and develop their hardware or software prototypes.

Finally, on Saturday afternoon, they get to pitch their idea to a jury who will then announce the top 3 winners. The prizes are $5000, $4,000 and $1,000 respectively as well as 3-month access to Berytech’s validation support under the Cleanergy Accelerator Program.

Learn more and apply to the Berytech e-Hackathon – Cleanergy.


Cleanergy Accelerator Program

Berytech is catalyzing cleantech innovations through a yearly three-phase program that allows cleantech entrepreneurs grow their startup from an idea into a scalable business.

With the support of The Kingdom of the The Netherlands, Berytech designed and developed the Cleanergy program to make sure Lebanon has the most competitive companies innovating in clean technology. 

Learn more about the Cleanergy Accelerator Program.

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