VITO spin-off Blue Foot Membranes has taken home the gold in the ‘Impact Delivered’ category at the EARTO Innovation Awards. This continues the trend set in previous years when we won bronze with Carbstone and silver with Unifly.
The prestigious EARTO Innovation Award, organised by the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations, honors projects in two main categories. The first, Impact Delivered, recognises innovations that stand out for their social or economic relevance and creative originality. These are solutions that are already on the market and have proven their impact.
The EARTO Innovation Awards also feature a second category, Impact Expected, which highlights innovations that have yet to reach the market but are expected to make a significant impact in the future. Blue Foot Membranes secured the gold in the first category, where the impact is already clear, outperforming 29 competitors from 23 countries.
Founded in 2017, Blue Foot Membranes helps industries and local governments transition from wastewater discharge to water reuse. This not only saves energy but also significantly reduces the environmental footprint and cuts costs.
At the heart of Blue Foot Membranes' success is the Permeate Channel (IPC®) membrane technology – 3D textile membranes anchored on both sides to create an integrated permeate channel. This breakthrough was developed by VITO and spun off into its own company in 2017.
However, Blue Foot's impact goes far beyond its technological innovation. With a strong alignment to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 12, and 9, Blue Foot Membranes has the potential to revolutionise water and sanitation practices, promote responsible water consumption and production, and drive industrial innovation.
This award is a significant recognition of Blue Foot Membranes' proven impact and future potential. It also underscores VITO's vital role in developing cutting-edge technologies and creating spin-offs that advance sustainability and improve quality of life globally.
In the Impact Expected category, gold went to INESC TEC for their development of iLoF, an AI-driven photonics technology designed to match the right patients with the right clinical treatments.
