Buß and his team members - Valentin Geiger, Bas de Jong, Chris Slootweg - are working under the name BOR-LYTE to develop an environmentally friendly energy storage battery using borate, a natural mineral, and other industrial residues.

With the €10,000 cash prize, Buß and the BOR-LYTE team will further develop the idea. Their goal is to make the sustainable borate electrolyte feedstock suitable for industrial production and thus accelerate the transition to sustainable energy storage.

Huge leap for sustainable energy storage

BOR-LYTE makes eco-friendly batteries for energy storage using borate, a natural mineral, and residues from other industries. The technology relies on eco-friendly borate electrolytes for sodium-ion batteries, based on borate ore and industrial drilling waste. This reduces environmental impact and dependence on scarce materials, and is a safer and more sustainable alternative to lithium-based systems. The aim is to provide affordable, reliable energy storage for renewable energy sources

Florenz Buß, after receiving the AmSIA Award: 'We are honoured to have won this year's AmSIA award in the Environment&Climate category! This recognition confirms BOR-LYTE's commitment to create a lasting, positive impact for a greener future through the sustainable production of battery electrolytes. AmSIA provided an inspiring platform for exchanging ideas and showcasing the transformative power of sustainability-in-action. We will use the prize money to further develop our green BOR-LYTE technology and make our sustainable solution a reality even faster.'

Two more AmSIA winners

In the Health category, Anouk Post, Tyla Danskin and Johannes de Boer of VU University Amsterdam won with LightUp: a pill-sized camera for the early detection of oesophageal cancer.

In the Society category, the prize went to Quint Wiersma and Francisco Blasques of VU University Amsterdam with Readler: an innovative tool to help children with a speech impediment.

Jury chair İlknur Dönmez, director of Economic Affairs and Culture at the Municipality of Amsterdam during the award ceremony: 'I am incredibly proud of the breadth of innovative ideas and the passion with which scientists work on their product’. The three winners stand out because they do not only look for economic value, but also consider added value for the community.'

About the AmSIA

The AmSIA is an initiative of Innovation Exchange Amsterdam (IXA)- the knowledge transfer office of the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit and Amsterdam UMC. With the AmSIA, scientists are challenged to develop innovative ideas towards an application. With the ultimate goal of creating impact and contributing to the solution of major social issues.