Ocean Exchange announced this week that its 2022 Collegiate Award, sponsored by the Guy Harvey Foundation, has been presented to BlueGreen Materials for its solution focused on making building materials, such as carbon-negative bio-concrete, from the ocean.
BlueGreen Materials will get US$10,000/~€9,977 based on its solution that advances understanding of the ocean and that helps minimize humans’ impact on these resources, even while using them for human benefit, resulting in more resilient bodies of water including healthy marine life and coastlines.
Company Founder and Chief Executive Marcelo Lejeune accepted the award. Previously, he studied chemical engineering at Yale University and worked at Marble where he explored technology opportunities in carbon management.
Lejeune said:
“I am truly honored to have been awarded Ocean Exchange’s Collegiate Award, especially considering how impressive every single one of the other competitors was. These funds will be critical in accelerating the technology development of our process.”
Blue Green Materials was chosen from 10 finalists representing universities in the US, Canada and Spain. Following their presentation on the opening night of Ocean Exchange 2022, each finalist participated in a rigorous Q&A session with a VIP panel in front of approximately 150 delegates from business, NGOs, academia and government. The competition concluded with a lightning round, after which the delegates voted for the winner.
