University of Bremen: CAMPUSiDEEN 2022 Projects Receive Awards
The CAMPUSiDEEN competition has once again been recognizing the best ideas from Bremen’s higher education institutions. A jury representing the worlds of business, start-ups, and universities announced three winners each in the “Business Ideas” and “Business Concepts” categories.
Coming out on top in a field of 28 submissions, the start-up concepts developed by the winners of the CAMPUSiDEEN competition were innovative and cost-effective. The award ceremony took place at the Bremen Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, October 13, where prizes totaling 20,000 euros were handed out. Awards were given to the top three places in the “Business Ideas” and “Business Concepts” categories.
The Winning Projects:
PARU té, an alternative solution in the caffeinated drinks scene, took first place in the “Business Ideas” category. Paulina Teuscher, Erik Ruge, and Paul Kukolka from the University of Applied Sciences Bremerhaven developed a healthy and fair alternative to cola, mate, and energy drinks. Their lemonade is made from cascara, known as coffee cherries, which is actually a waste product in the coffee industry. While its caffeine content is similar to that of an energy drink, the concoction is very mellow and refreshing. The raw material is purchased in organic form from Peruvian coffee farmers, allowing them to increase their income by up to 30%. This means PARU té makes a fair and sustainable contribution.
ReMedi promises to ensure medication can be taken safely at home. Leander Reimold, Marc Ulrich, Lauritz Zaeschmar, and David Schmitz from the University of Bremen were awarded second place in the “Business Ideas” category. Official figures show that around 50% of dispensed medication is not taken correctly. The risk of making a mistake is high due to the way many people use traditional medication boxes. ReMedi ensures the medication can be taken safely, even if the person has limited mental or physical abilities.
Third place in the “Business Ideas” category went to Joris Wegener and Felix Fisgus from the Bremen University of Arts for Pankraz Apparatebau, a design bureau for technical attractions. Using state-of-the-art technology, the duo designs, builds, and leases exceptional electronic attractions for events, trade fairs, and exhibitions. Expert audiences involved in IT, mechanical engineering, and digitalization are left inspired by products that combine machinery with design. The attractions are also a hit for museums, event agencies, and the art and design industry.
The winners in the “Business Concepts” category were Jo Ana Schunter, Julja Storz, and Daniel Diethei from the University of Bremen thanks to tuuli. Focusing on nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness, the AI-driven app provides evidence-based content, direct feedback, and personalized coaching for (expecting) mothers. With the help of a diary, the women receive analyses and evaluations. This information, coupled with personal goals, is incorporated into personalized coaching. In addition, tuuli provides answers to frequently asked questions.
Second place in the “Business Concepts” category went to monocles, the provider of ethical digital services developed by the University of Bremen’s Arne-Brün Vogelsang. monocles provides a complete alternative to common online services such as Google, Microsoft, or Facebook, as well as technical solutions and devices for professional and personal use. In doing so, monocles also takes aspects relating to sustainability into account – the system has its own independent power generation from renewable energy sources. Used or recycled components are repurposed for the hardware. Financed through its own means, monocles uses open-source software solutions and open hardware, rejects advertising and tracking, and operates independently of corporations, organizations, and institutions. This demonstrates that monocles has the potential to become a provider of the world’s most ethical digital and tech-nical solutions.
Florian Kirstein, Stephany Martelo, and Yunaris Cerra Campo from the University of Bremen finished third in the “Business Concepts” category with Ancol, a mobile production process that enables waste from fruit processing plants to be put to good use. The aim is to reduce food waste in agriculture. For example, grape seeds can be used to produce vegetable oils and fats that are well suited for use in natural cosmetic products. It is also possible to make good use of other waste products such as coffee grounds, orange peel, passion fruit seeds, and mango seeds. A flexible solution, Ancol can be deployed at strategic locations at short notice. Powered by solar energy, the process saves resources and can be operated from anywhere. This means the materials are processed in an environmentally and socially re-sponsible friendly way.
Audience prizes were also given out at the award ceremony. The finalists presented their ide-as to around 80 people at the Bremen Chamber of Commerce.