BASF Innovation Hub: EcoTree qualified for the regional finals

The cloud solution for recycling designed to facilitate recycling through the use of artificial intelligence is the winner of the local stage of the BASF Innovation Hub competition for innovators and start-ups that contribute directly or indirectly to the pillars of the Green Agenda – clean energy, sustainable agriculture and circular economy.

The winner was chosen in a live event, organized yesterday, on Zoom. During the live event, the start-ups presented their innovative ideas to the four members of the jury. The members of the jury were: Andreas Lier, Managing Director of BASF Romania & Bulgaria; Sebastian Metz, General Manager & Board Member AHK Romania; Oana Craioveanu, co-founder of Impact Hub, the first co-working space launched in Romania, and Bogdan Herea, CEO & Founder of PitechPlus – WebHelp Group.

On Friday, November 12, at 12 CET, the Romanian start-up EcoTree will participate in the regional final of the best start-ups in Central and Southern Europe.

“EcoTree is a cloud platform that facilitates recycling, because everything is transparent and clear. This approach is important because it allows us to easily observe critical points and react faster and more accurately. In the grand finale I expect to see a lot of great ideas and be inspired by them. I can’t wait for the final pitch on Friday,” said Bogdan Andronache, EcoTree.

Over 80 ideas from start-ups from 11 European countries participated in the BASF Innovation Hub competition. Andreas Lier, Managing Director of BASF Romania and Bulgaria and the Jury President emphasizes that the winning team will have the opportunity to use the award for further development of the idea, launch of the solution on the market, promotion or any other way it deems appropriate for the development of that solution.

“As an official representation of the German economy in Romania, we collaborate with governments and non-governmental organizations and support Romanian and German companies, but also young people and start-ups. Especially at their debut, start-ups need a platform for capturing attention, for their presentation and for exchanging ideas with the big players in the sector. They also need to find additional opportunities to capitalize on their ideas. Sometimes, due to lack of funding, they often fail to even present their solutions, so their ideas remain simple sketches on paper or just in the mind of the creator. This is the reason why we are honored to have the opportunity to listen to local innovators, to share our experience with them and to support them,” concluded Sebastian Metz, General Manager and Board Member of AHK Romania.

The BASF Innovation Hub competition was organized by the chemical company and European leader in research and development, BASF. The competition was open for registration for six months and was organized in 11 countries in Central and Southern Europe. The winners of the local phases won 2,500 euros each, while the best idea from the final phase (Friday, December 12, 12 CET) will receive an additional prize of 5,000 euros.