Circular Innovations: The Carborem Pathway with the Greenthesis Group
In this interview, the Carborem team talks about their innovative solution from their experience and success through their collaboration with the Greenthesis Group, thanks to the Trace x Greenthesis project, implemented by the Circular Economy Lab. They also share valuable advice for startups and innovative realities that wish to participate in the Call4Circular x Greenthesis regarding the concrete opportunities that, participation in entrepreneurial development paths of this kind, offer.
Michela Lucian, CTO & Project Manager and founder together with Fabio Merzari, Plant Manager and Process Engineer and founder of Carborem, tell us about the value of this synergy.
Could you provide us with more information and details about Carborem, with respect to vision and mission, and particularly with respect to the innovative technologies you are developing, and how these align with Greenthesis Group's strategic goals?
Carborem's mission is to engineer and build sludge treatment plants based on our patented hydrothermal technology. Our vision is to offer these plants to as many multi-utilities as possible that manage civil sewage sludge in Europe and around the world, recovering raw materials such as ammonium sulfate and Hydrochar, which can be reused in different sectors. This mission unites us with the Greenthesis Group, which aims to be one of the leading players in Italy in the energy and environmental transition, capable of processing millions of tons of waste each year and transforming it into new products or green energy.
Could you describe your experience with respect to participating in the Trace x Greenthesis project, carried out by the Circular Economy Lab, in collaboration with Greenthesis Group, and how this has supported you in your path of development and growth?
The path we took allowed us to get to know Greenthesis Group and establish an initial relationship aimed at testing the feasibility of Carborem technology at the first plant built in Mezzocorona, in the autonomous province of Trento. This plant, named C-700, allowed for a test on a smaller scale than the quantities processed at the Greenthesis plant in Liscate (MI), but necessary to provide positive feedback and initiate the next phases of corporate investment.
How did the Trace x Greenthesis project catalyze and enable your collaboration with the Greenthesis Group, and what was the impact of this project on the development stages of your startup?
From the test organized with the Greenthesis Group, there emerged a willingness to invest in our company, both through a dedicated capital increase and with sums earmarked for the construction of an industrial-scale plant, as per our request linked to the investment itself. This was certainly a catalyzing effect, since without the possibility of scale-up, the capital investment in the company would not have had the same impact.
What are the main pluses and opportunities of collaboration with Greenthesis Group, both at present and for the future, especially in relation to the ongoing energy and environmental transition?
Collaboration with Greenthesis has brought a significant organizational advantage at the administrative level. In fact, our company adheres to the Group's fiscal budget consolidation, adopting the same ERP software and purchasing procedures. This allows us to offer customers a perception of integrity and solidity, differentiating us from standard start-ups not included within a group.
Belonging to the Group also allows us to gather information on potential business opportunities nationwide and to benefit from the availability of colleagues and technical consultants with experience in the field of sewage treatment and biogas plants, who can collaborate on the implementation of new plants with Carborem technology.
Speaking of the new Call4Circular x Greenthesis | Innovation for environmental services, what advice would you give to startups wishing to participate, and why do you think this initiative is important for the innovation ecosystem?
The main advice is to demonstrate the effectiveness of your technology even on a small scale and to ask the investor, whether an individual, an industrial company or a venture capital fund, for the support needed to cover the costs of the team and to scale the product or technology to a real customer. In addition, it is critical not to be afraid to ask for significant figures based on sound assumptions, as technologies in the environmental sector are often deep-tech and require significant start-up capital compared to software-based technologies.