BioSecurity Challenge Submissions
Demonstrate Demand For Collaboration Across Organizations
We’re in the midst of Phase 2 of the Wallenius Wilhelmsen BioSecurity Challenge and the chance for the winner(s) to get a Proof-of-Concept funded up to $30,000 each. We’ve received countless submissions by participants from around the world wanting to offer specific and environmentally sustainable solutions to curtail the growth of stink bugs.
The participants competing in the BioSecurity Challenge represent various areas of expertise, not all specific to invasive species. This alone validates our assertion that the best way to realize opportunity is through collaboration and partnerships with startups, investors, and established organizations. Some of the participants include:
- Ph.D.s’ in Electrical Engineering
- University professors and students
- Startup Founders
- Shipping, logistics, and transportation subject matter experts
- Government agencies
- Large enterprises
- Entomologists
- United States Navy veteran
- Maritime consultants
- Vehicle manufacturers
The submissions might be even more impressive. The participants and their presentations are evaluated on stage, time to market, technology, business model, and use of funding ($30,000). The creativity of ideas, proof of concepts, and MVPs that we’ve reviewed have pleasantly surprised us. Below are just a few of the submissions for invasive pest identification and treatment that stand out to us:
- High-frequency piezoelectric resonator
- Vapor, acoustic, and chemical sensors
- Electrostatic sprayers to apply insecticide
- Pest-specific hormone emission
- Automatic biosecurity thresholds for wheeled & pedestrian movement
- Frequency of visible light
What is possibly more pleasing is the participants’ willingness to co-create and collaborate with other teams. We will provide updates on the BioSecurity Challenge as we continue to evaluate submissions and conduct virtual interviews. Additionally, due to interest and increased submissions, we are extending our deadline until March 25th, 2020. For more, visit the BioSecurity Challenge website.
The Partners
Wallenius Wilhelmsen
We are Wallenius Wilhelmsen, a market leader in RoRo shipping and vehicle logistics, managing the distribution of cars, trucks, rolling equipment, and breakbulk to customers all over the world.
We are 9,500 dedicated employees in 29 countries worldwide, headquartered in Oslo, Norway. Our main brands are Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Solutions, EUKOR, ARC, and Armacup.
We operate around 130 vessels servicing 15 trade routes to six continents, together with a global inland distribution network, 120 processing centers, and 11 marine terminals. Our purpose is to build sustainable supply chains, imagining new, more sustainable solutions for the changing world of mobility and transport on land and sea. Our goal is a zero-emission full-lifecycle supply chain for vehicles; working in partnership with customers and business partners, we can get there.
The world will keep surprising us, and we will take an active role in defining the future of logistics.
Ogilvy
We are the global strategy and innovation arm of the world’s greatest creative network, The Ogilvy Group.
At Ogilvy Consulting, we believe in the power of brand, customer experience, data and technology to transform businesses, and drive growth. In an era of great fragmentation, brands are the connective tissue for complex organizations and global economies.
Strong customer-centric brands are proven to increase shareholder value and to drive market share, revenues and profits — future-proofing business performance.
humble ventures
Humble Ventures is an inclusive alternative to venture capital.
We are a venture development firm that accelerates growth for tech-enabled startups in partnership with established organizations and investors.
We focus on diverse entrepreneurs that are solving problems for the fastest growing demographic segments. We believe that diverse entrepreneurs provide opportunities for disproportionate returns and represent the markets of the future.
