This contest gives a unique opportunity to the participating startups as well as the international audience of JEC World to get some inspiration, network and foster business collaboration. Two exciting pitches sessions took place on March 4th and, after deliberation of the jury, 3 winners have been announced:

+ + +   Category “Products & Materials” + + + 

Tree Composites (Netherlands)

"Composite Joints for Offshore Structures"

Tree Composites aims to accelerate the energy transition through the innovative use of composite materials for joints in offshore wind foundations. As offshore wind parks move into deeper waters with larger turbines, traditional steel welding methods fall short. Our patented composite joint technology replaces welded steel connections, offering over 5,000 times longer lifetimes, reducing steel use by 50%, cutting CO2 emissions by 35%, and doubling production efficiency. After an extensive testing campaign with well-known partners, we are preparing for scale-up.

+ + +   Category “Process, Manufacturing & Equipment  + + +

Perseus Materials (USA)

"3D Printing Meets Pultrusion: Freeform Continuous Molding"

The design of composites fabrication methods and equipment are constrained by the modes and kinetics of resin cure. Revolutionary new methods require resins with novel curing behavior. Perseus develops a new class of continuous molding with the speed of pultrusion and the adaptability of 3-d printing, enabled by proprietary resins and their unique curing behavior.

+ + +   Sustainability Prize   + + + 

Strong by Form (Spain)

"High-Performance Timber-Based Structural Composites for a Sustainable Future"

Strong by Form is a pioneering composite company shaping the future of wood. Drawing inspiration from nature’s optimization processes, we’ve developed Woodflow, an advanced timber composite technology that replaces concrete, steel, and aluminum at a fraction of their weight and environmental impact. As the only biocomposite capable of scaling to millions of square meters for construction while meeting the weight-to-strength demands of automotive applications, we are driving a sustainable future in collaboration with industry leaders like BMW, VINCI, and Dassault Systèmes.

The jury who deliberated on March 5th included representatives from major manufacturers and investors:

• Jelle BLOEMHOF, Head of Composite Manufacturing Technologies, Airbus

• Karl-Heinz FUELLER, Manager Future Exterior & Materials, Mercedes-Benz

• Chris HSIEH, Assistant VP, Swancor Holding

• Smita KACKER, Opportunity Development Manager New Market Development, ExxonMobil

• Claude-Sebastien LERBOURG, Investment Director, Supernova Invest

• Chris SKINNER, Vice President of Strategic Marketing and R&D, Owens Corning