PHYSEE has become the winner of the Innovation Top 100, organised by the Chamber of Commerce. This startup is making something that is likely to benefit the construction sector greatly in the future: glass facades that make buildings drastically more energy efficient.
PHYSEE, a startup from Delft, developed the so-called Smartskin: a glass facade with integrated solar cells and sensors. The facade transmits power and data to the building which can save quite a bit of energy. The product, for which PHYSEE has a patent, consists of four parts:
POWER, solar cells in the glass that generate electricity 2.
SMART, sensors that make the glass smart
EESY, connects the windows to an energy-efficient system
4. SKIN, the platform for linking to other applications, such as automatic control of awnings, ventilation grilles or charging phones.
With their solution, founders Ferdinand Grapperhaus and Willem Kesteloo aim to contribute to making the Netherlands more energy efficient. The guidelines are now set to require only energy-efficient construction from 2020. They realised they had to do something with materials. In an interview with PT Industrial Management, Grapperhaus says: "During our research into new materials with special light properties, we discovered that the materials we worked with can absorb light and emit light just like glow-in-the-dark stars. The light emitted by the material is not green like stars, but infrared. If you then integrate this material into a coating or paint, it opens up huge possibilities."
PHYSEE is now slowly starting to get its foot in the door in the fairly consolidated glass market; more and more glass manufacturers have shown interest. EU grants have also been obtained in the meantime. TU Delft is a shareholder and partner in this company. From a small start-up, PHYSEE is now a scale-up with more than 30 employees from 10 countries. The first international order (Dublin) has just been secured.
Innovation Top 100
The winner of the KVK Innovation Top 100 was announced on 25 September at the Amsterdome in Amsterdam. All innovations were judged on impact for the industry and society, originality, availability and realised turnover and growth potential. No cash prize is attached to the KVK Innovation Top 100. Active Cues from Utrecht finished in second place with the Tovertafel they developed. The cabinet, suspended from the ceiling provides interactive light projections on the table, floor or a wheelchair tray. Three versions were developed: for people with dementia, for people with mental disabilities and one especially for children. Among other things, the magic table increases pleasure and reduces restlessness.
Amersfoort-based HydroLogic Systems, which helps 4,000 water managers worldwide with the 'HydroNET Water Control Room', came third. Through a smart combination of satellite measurements, water and weather models, the system generates advice and alerts to manage water in the best possible way. For example, it has enabled some 450,000 small farmers in South Africa to increase their agricultural production by over 10%, with BUKU going away with the public prize.
The complete top 100 can be viewed here (and it is quite worthwhile).
Source: PT Industrial Management/KVK/PHYSEE
