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Waste-mapping tech firm beats rest of world to Circular Economy prize



Edinburgh waste analytics company Topolytics has won the Google Cloud and SAP Circular Economy 2030 Contest.

The contest was launched in February at the World Economic Forum to find the best revenue generating ideas to unlock $4.5 trillion of new economic output by reducing waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use and/or regenerating natural systems.

Topolytics fought off competition from more than 250 companies in more than 50 countries to win the $100,000 prize.

 

After a two-day intensive workshop, five finalists each delivered a pitch that was recorded for the judging panel of senior executives from Google, SAP, the United Nations, Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data.

Topolytics proposed expanding the scale and scope of its existing WasteMap data platform, making the system of movements of waste and by-products much more visible and so identifying opportunities to reduce its impact and make better use of materials. 

Topolytics was announced as the winner this week at the SAP global SAPPHIRE conference in Orlando, Florida.

The Challenge organisers said: “The business idea for Topolytics not only met our judging criteria in terms of originality, but also demonstrated a well-researched proposal with a high potential for advanced application of both Google Cloud and SAP technology.

“Moreover, we were impressed by Groves’ engagement and willingness to roll up his sleeves during the interactive workshop, where he demonstrated a strong level of commitment to learning and growth. We congratulate Michael and can’t wait to see more from Topolytics.”

Topolytics  is a data analytics business that maps the generation, movement and fate of commercial and industrial waste materials globally through a smart grid. It was founded by Dr Michael Groves, a geographer who did his PhD in aerial photo interpretation and 25 years’ experience of environmental management and sustainability reporting.

 

Groves said: “This is a big moment for Topolytics. We are extremely grateful to the organising team and are humbled to have won, particularly given the quality of the other finalists – all great companies. The range and quality of technologies developed by Google Cloud and SAP will undoubtedly underpin the rapid commercialisation and scaling of WasteMap.”

As well as the cash prize, Topolytics gets access to Google Cloud and SAP technologies and their global networks. To find out more about the challenge click here.



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