Sustainability Open Innovation Challenge 6th Edition

BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM

In large-scale oil palm plantations, pest control is critical for maintaining the health and productivity of the trees. One of the most damaging pests in these plantations is the rhinoceros beetle, which attacks the new fronds of palm trees. This leads to significant damage if uncontrolled, since the oil palm trees are a significant investment.

Traditionally, pest control in these environments is labour-intensive, requiring workers to manually inspect and spray pesticide on each tree. This process is inefficient, imprecise, and results in a waste of chemicals, as well as potential harm to beneficial insects needed for pollination.

Currently, workers use long poles to spray pesticides on the tall palm trees where the beetles tend to be. While effective, this method is not precise enough to specifically target the beetles, leading to the indiscriminate spraying of pesticides. The manual nature of the work also requires significant labour, with one worker able to cover only 1 to 1.5 hectares per day, leading to high labour costs and slow pest management. This is a big limitation considering that the industry is currently facing labour shortages.

Attempts to automate the process using off-the-shelf drones have been unsuccessful due to the lack of precision in applying pesticides to the correct parts of the tree. This challenge seeks to overcome these limitations by developing an automated (drone, robot or other) solution that can accurately spray pesticides directly into the top-centre of the trees (at shoots of new fronds). By spraying each tree individually and precisely, we can reduce pesticide usage while still covering the entire block of the plantation.

We are open to different novel solutions; although drones seem promising as they can operate autonomously, are easy to operate by less tech-savvy plantation workers and can achieve the desired precision in spraying. While precision spraying likely requires computer vision and AI technologies, we are not currently looking to use them to detect the beetles, as this is easily done while doing other work at the plantation. If solution providers have detection technologies available, this would be an additional benefit helping to limit the spraying of pesticides to only the neighbourhood of infected trees (instead of the entire block).

Given the priority of a low-cost system for accessibility reasons, we understand that trade-offs must be made for the system. We encourage solution providers to apply even if they do not meet all the above and are open to working together on balancing cost and functionality. Next to looking for new technologies that enable low-cost versions of existing precision farming systems, we are looking for novel technologies that can achieve a similar result in a disruptive way. Our main priority with this challenge is to improve farmers’ yields, providing reporting data is secondary.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS / PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Technical Requirements:

• Easy to operate: Solutions should require little training to utilise, and be easy to operate by workers who are not tech-savvy.
• Weight: The ability to carry a significant amount of pesticide (weight) as each oil palm tree requires 0.2l (approximately 0.2kg) of pesticide, and 1 hectare contains approximately 150 trees
• Precision: The ability to spray in the top centre of the palm tree, at the shoots of new fronds in a 20 to 25 cm radius
• Productivity: the solution should be able to cover a minimum of 10 hectares a day but ideally up to 50 hectares for a post-POC version of the solution

• The performance of the solution will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
• Savings in pesticides will be considered as part of our drive to be more sustainable.
• The solution should consider labour shortages in the industry as an important factor in design. The current labour cost for one person per day is 190,000 Indonesian Rupiahs (approximately S$16), and one person covers 1 to 1.5 hectares a day.

COST TARGET

Cost targets will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Solution providers should take note of the current labour costs mentioned above.

TIMEFRAME FOR DEVELOPMENT

Phase 1: POC development: Q2-Q3 2025.

Phase 2: Commercial roll-out: to be determined on a case-by-case basis

POTENTIAL MARKET / BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

If the solution is successful, Aastar Trading and KPN Group are willing to support a roll-out across our plantations. The potential market/business opportunity is huge as the plantations owned by KPN Group alone exceed 200,000 hectares. This solution has great potential for scaling up to other plantations or crops too.

RESOURCES

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

We are looking for SMEs and startups with solutions that can be implemented in a relatively short time frame (TRL of 5 and higher).

Intellectual Property (IP): For Background IP (BIP), both parties will retain their respective IPs bought into the project. In the event of new Foreground IP (FIP) creation, Aastar Trading is agreeable to the FIP being retained by the solution provider after a period of exclusivity.

BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM

ADNOC Onshore currently produces water as a natural by-product of the oil production process. Due to the poor quality of this water, it has to be either disposed of or treated intensively before reutilization is possible.

We are therefore looking for solution providers that can provide an all-in-one solution to treat the water to be reused. Presently, ADNOC Onshore produces approximately 500,000 barrels of water per day, with 75% of this volume being disposed. It is forecasted that the water production will increase in 5 to 10 years, as the field matures, (up to double of what is produced today). This challenge statement aims to stop this disposal of water.

Process by which water is generated and treated is outlined below:

1. Oil is produced together with water and gas byproducts, before undergoing a separation process.
2. The process uses three-phase separators, gravity or centrifuges to separate oil, water and gas.
3. The water is further treated and then disposed of in disposal wells drilled for this purpose.

For clarity’s sake, ADNOC is not looking for water sampling and analysis solutions, as this is already done in-house currently. We are specifically looking for solutions that can help to filter the water so that it can be fully reutilised, (e.g. for irrigation purposes). While the composition of the water varies, a typical specification of the treated water to be considered can include the following elements:

• Hydrocarbon Content (OIW contents)
• Salinity and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
• Chemical Additives 
• Heavy Metals
• PH Levels
• Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR)
• Born and other Micronutrients
• Radioactive Materials (Norms)
• Microbial Content     
• Suspended Solids and Turbidity 

Solution providers are expected to filter the water such that it can at least be reutilised for irrigation, considering the above-mentioned elements.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS / PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Technical Requirements:

• The final water sample composition quality should be adequate to reuse.
• The volume of water to be treated for the pilot project will be up to 50,000 bbl/d. However, the solution should be expendable to cover larger volumes.
• The ability to deal with different water compositions and contents: ADNOC Onshore will share various prototypes of existing produced water specifications for the solution providers to use in synthetic format.
  

Performance Requirements:

COST TARGET

Cost targets will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

TIMEFRAME FOR DEVELOPMENT

Phase 1: POC Development: Q2-Q3 2025.

Phase 2: Q3 2025 onwards.

POTENTIAL MARKET / BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

If the solution is successful, ADNOC Onshore could consider supporting a further roll-out across other locations. 

ADNOC Onshore would request to utilize the solution exclusively until a full implementation and scale-out across our various sites is completed.  

We would also request confidentiality regarding the solution until full commercial implementation is attained.

RESOURCES

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

ADNOC is looking for SMEs and startups with solutions that can be implemented in a relatively short time frame (TRL of 6 and higher). 

Intellectual Property (IP): For Background IP (BIP), both parties will retain their respective IPs bought into the project. In the event of new Foreground IP (FIP) creation, ADNOC could consider the FIP being retained by the solution provider.

BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM

CHN is one of the world’s leading agricultural machinery and equipment manufacturers and operates in over 180 countries worldwide. We are looking to support smallholder farmers in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region with a precision agriculture system, while at the same time expanding our tractor and equipment business.

Smallholder farmers in the APAC region play a crucial role in regional agriculture but often face systemic challenges that limit their productivity. These farmers typically manage small plots of land with limited access to technology, resources, and data that could help optimise their farming practices. Precision agriculture solutions, which are widely used in large-scale industrial farming, have the potential to revolutionise smallholder farming by providing (real-time) insights into soil health, moisture levels, and crop conditions. However, these technologies are often expensive and technically complex, putting them out of reach for smallholder farmers.

In addition to productivity challenges, global demand for sustainability reporting and traceability is increasing. Businesses along the agricultural supply chain must provide data on environmental impacts, such as water usage, carbon emissions, and fertiliser application, driven by regulations like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). Because most of their environmental footprint is associated with the first mile of their supply chains, they are turning to their suppliers for this data. For smallholders, collecting and reporting this data is a significant hurdle, as they lack the necessary tools and connectivity to meet these demands. This excludes them from larger, more lucrative supply chains, thus reducing their earning potential and leaving them vulnerable to market fluctuations.

By developing an affordable, easy-to-use precision agriculture system, this challenge seeks to bridge this technology gap, empowering smallholders to make data-driven decisions that improve yields and resource efficiency.

We are seeking a solution that would ideally (but not necessarily) include:

• Be low-cost and accessible
• Integrate with and/or partly attach to CNH’s equipment (E.g. tractors)
• Leverage the geolocation data that is already available from CNH’s tractors
• Could use sensors if they are easy to use, low maintenance, and can withstand the high temperatures, humidity, and soil and water conditions typical for the APAC region.
• Use geospatial data and other data sources that are available (at reasonable cost levels)
• Be an integrated system as end-users are not technology-savvy (no sub-systems)
• Be adaptable to a wide variety of crops such as rice, wheat, corn, sugar cane, cotton, etc (rice and wheat are a priority)
• Provide (near real-time) data on soil health, moisture levels, and crop needs
• Provide actionable insights into the application of fertiliser, nutrients, pesticides, and water (irrigation)
• Have low infrastructure requirements for connectivity and should be able to handle periods of no connectivity. However, mobile data coverage is generally available in the regions of interest.
• Should be accessible from a smartphone but also for less tech-savvy users (E.g. through SMS).

Given the priority of a low-cost system for accessibility reasons, we understand that trade-offs must be made for the system. We encourage solution providers to apply even if they do not meet all the above and are open to working together on balancing cost and functionality. Next to looking for new technologies that enable low-cost versions of existing precision farming systems, we are looking for novel technologies that can achieve a similar result in a disruptive way. Our main priority with this challenge is to improve farmers’ yields, providing reporting data is secondary.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS / PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Technical Requirements:

• Should provide actionable recommendations on water, soil, pesticides, and nutrients
• Maintenance should be limited.
• If batteries are used, they should be long-lasting, and changes should be infrequent and simple
• The system should integrate with and/or partly attach to CNH’s equipment, such as our tractors
• Work in low connectivity environments
• Accessible from a smartphone with SMS as a backup system
• Simple user interface
• Have data export capabilities so data can be included in BI systems

• Cost to the smallholder farmer is an important performance criterion
• We are aiming for a win-win situation for solution providers, smallholder farmers and CNH. We are interested in a solution that adds value to our products, differentiates them from competitors, and helps to increase sales.
• Performance criteria metrics can vary depending on the solution, so we will evaluate the business performance of solutions on a case-by-case basis.

COST TARGET

Since accessibility of the solution for smallholder farmers in APAC is a main concern, the cost level should be as low as possible. Since cost targets will be specific to the solutions offered, we cannot give general guidance. Please note that we are open to exploring different business models together with solution providers (E.g. leasing, financing) to keep the cost of the solution for smallholder farmers as low as possible.

TIMEFRAME FOR DEVELOPMENT

Phase 1: POC development: Q2-Q3 2025.

Phase 2: Commercial roll-out: to be determined on a case-by-case basis

POTENTIAL MARKET / BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

If the solution is successful, CNH is willing to support a roll-out across the APAC region. We are the 2nd largest agricultural machinery manufacturer in the world, our distribution network is large and our reach in the region is significant. We are willing to support the go-to-market of solution providers with our distribution resources.

As stated before, we are also willing to explore different business models to make the solution more accessible to farmers.

RESOURCES

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

We are looking for SMEs and startups with solutions that can be implemented in a relatively short time frame (TRL of 5/6 and higher).

Intellectual Property (IP): For Background IP (BIP), both parties will retain their respective IPs bought into the project. In the event of new Foreground IP (FIP) creation, FIP ownership is determined on a case-by-case basis where co-developed IP is owned by both parties.

BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM

As a semiconductor manufacturer, GlobalFoundries is one of the larger users of electricity in Singapore. In line with our net zero goal, our factory roofs that can support the weight of traditional solar panels have already been outfitted. These standard solar panels are fully optimised but only generate a small amount of electricity in comparison to the huge demand needed. We are looking for solutions that can achieve a step-change in our on-site green electricity generation (clean or renewable).

We welcome solutions providers with any type of on-site generation solution that would work at our Singapore location. This might include, but is not limited to:

• Solar
  • Lightweight or flexible solar PV panels for the remaining roof structures that could not structurally support traditional solar panels
  • Structurally sound PV panels that can be placed on the ground on roads and carparks
  • Other types of PV panels integrated in facades or windows, for example
• Wind, lightweight roof mounted or otherwise
• Offshore or nearshore renewable energy solutions if they work close to our Woodlands campus site by the Johor Straits
• Small nuclear modular reactors that can fit into rooms
• Small scale organic solvent waste incineration
• Other clean or renewable energy generation methods that can work on our Woodlands campus site in Singapore

Frequency and time of day for the generated energy is of lesser importance as we can accept switching back to reliance on the grid when the renewable energy might not be available.

Characteristics of our site and buildings include:

• Location in the north of Singapore, 300m from Johor Straits
• The factory buildings are about 8 typical storeys high
• There are metal roofs, concrete roofs, concrete walls and glass windows. The roofs are generally flat surfaces.  
• The remaining roof spaces have lower structural loading limits so they are not suitable for traditional PV panels.
• Small indoor rooms (around 5m x 5m 3m) may be available for equipment/fuel as needed.

We are not looking for:

• Optimisation solutions for our traditional solar PV panels which increase yields by a few percentage points.
• Traditional solar PV panels with greater efficiency of a few percentage points.
• VPPA, RECs, carbon credits, or other non-physical arrangements.
• Cogeneration systems / power plants which require a supplied combustible fuel (carbon-based, ammonia, or hydrogen, etc.). We are looking for on-site generation with sources captured from (close to) our site. We are not interested in a separate supply chain or supply infrastructure for fuels. 

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS / PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

COST TARGET

Cost targets will be determined on a case-by-case basis. 

However, as general guidance USD 12 to 25 cents per kWh when at a stage of mature and scaled up solution is deemed acceptable for the scope of this challenge.

TIMEFRAME FOR DEVELOPMENT

Phase 1: POC development: Q2-Q3 2025.

Phase 2: Commercial roll-out: To be determined on a case-by-case basis

POTENTIAL MARKET / BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

If the solution is successful, GlobalFoundries is willing to support a rollout at scale at our Singapore location. Depending on the nature of the solution proposed and its ability to fit to our site, this scale may vary. Given our electricity demand this can be significant (5 semiconductor fabs). If the solution is also suitable to the characteristics of our other global locations we are willing to support a rollout there as well.

Additionally, we are open to solutions providers deploying their solutions with other players and industries. We are willing to actively support sharing the solution with others in the same sector and to cooperate for a case-study or white-paper.

RESOURCES

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

We are looking for SMEs and startups with solutions that can be implemented in a relatively short time frame (TRL of 5/6 and higher). 

For Background IP (BIP), both parties will retain their respective IPs bought into the project. In the event of new Foreground IP (FIP) creation, GlobalFoundries is agreeable to the FIP being retained by the solution provider.

BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS / PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Technical Requirements:

COST TARGET

Cost targets will be determined on a case-by-case basis. 

We are willing to pay an additional 30% compared to current emulsifier market prices. In absolute numbers, we are targeting a cost level at scaled up production volumes that should be approximately around US$20 per kg.

TIMEFRAME FOR DEVELOPMENT

Selection (To select a solution provider for POC development, we will need to be able to test a sample (1kg to 5kg of volume)): End of February - April. 

Phase 1: POC Development (500kg - 1,000kg of volume): Q3- Q4 2025.

Phase 2: Commercial roll-out: to be determined on a case-by-case basis

POTENTIAL MARKET / BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

If the solution is proven successful during POC development, we will commercialise the emulsifier with our current and future customer base and expect volumes to reach 100mt per annum. 

Additionally, we are open to solution providers to deploy their solutions with other players.

RESOURCES

• Mentorship and support for solution development.
• Access to relevant datasets and pilot site(s).
  

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

We are looking for SMEs and startups with solutions that can be implemented in a relatively short time frame (TRL of 5 and higher). 

Intellectual Property (IP): For Background IP (BIP), both parties will retain their respective IPs bought into the project. In the event of new Foreground IP (FIP) creation, Maha Chemicals is agreeable to the FIP being retained by the solution provider.

BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM

This challenge aims to resolve several issues in the current building materials industry:

• Vast amounts of concrete demolition waste (CDW) is currently not recycled, resulting in a large environmental footprint.
• Demolition waste contributes to emissions that reflect in the product’s life-cycle analysis.
• Current building materials use a lot of virgin sand and limestone materials as fillers, both of which are non-renewable resources.
• Mining operations for sand and limestone contribute to environmental degradation and additional emissions.
• Pre-mixed building materials rely heavily on sand and limestone fillers.

Saint-Gobain is looking for ways to reduce the climate impact of our operations and make our business practices more circular. Therefore we would like to include CDW in our cement based products as a replacement of sand and limestone filler materials. We are looking for solution providers who can help us with some key challenges to make this a reality. These challenges are:

1. Filtering CDW for foreign materials such as regular- and heavy metals.
2. Crushing the large pieces of CDW into small powder particles.
3. Achieving physical properties to sand and limestone.

This challenge aims to find a sustainable, economic and scalable process to utilise CDW as a filler substitute without compromising product performance, particularly in terms of strength, setting time, and water demand. We are looking to replace up to 20% of our current filler by processed CDW. To further minimize our impact the solution should be conducted in close proximity to our production locations.

In the past we have looked at other industrial waste streams as a filler replacement, but these were not successful. However, if solutions providers believe they can use other waste streams that are available in sufficient quantities, we are open to considering these solutions as well. This might include non-earth based waste materials.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS / PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Technical Requirements:

• Waste reduction: Able to divert high volumes of concrete demolition waste into filler materials to achieve a circular economy. The filler should be able to be reused into a cement mixture.
• Sustainability: The process of converting the concrete demolition wastes into fillers requires minimal energy usage and utilizes non-toxic and/or low-impact methods. It should reduce our carbon footprint.
• Non-reaction: The CDW based filler should not cause any reaction with the other materials in our cement based products
• Heavy-metals: The CDW based filler should be free from heavy metals
• Particle size: The particle size of the CDW based filler should be between 0-4mm (preferably by weight: 0-1mm (40%), 1-2mm (30%), 2-4 (30%)), although some particles between 4-8mm is acceptable.
• Performance parity: Ensure that the alternative filler maintains or improves the mechanical and aesthetic properties of existing products, including compressive strength, setting time, and water demand.
• Cost-effective: Economically viable for large-scale implementation. Criteria to be considered includes cost of processing and transportation.

The business performance of solutions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. However, generally speaking we would be looking for the following benefits:

• Cost-effective: The proposed solution must be cost-effective at scale, although initial lower volumes may allow for higher costs if significant sustainability benefits are demonstrated
• Ability to replace 10-20% of the filler materials by CDW based filler materials.
• Significant contribution to reduction of emissions and improvement in circularity of our products that contain fillers.

COST TARGET

Cost targets will be determined on a case-by-case basis but must be equivalent or less at full scale production levels. Initial lower volumes allow for higher costs.

TIMEFRAME FOR DEVELOPMENT

Phase 1: POC development: Q2-Q3 2025

Phase 2: Commercial roll-out: to be determined on a case-by-case basis

POTENTIAL MARKET / BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

If the solution proves successful in a POC setting in our Johor plant, we are willing to support further deployment in our remaining plants in Malaysia and potentially in the region.

We are looking to process sufficient CDW to achieve a volume of 1,000 to 2,000t/month of filler material.

Additionally, we are open for solution providers to deploy its solution with other industry players.

RESOURCES

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

We are looking for SMEs and startup with solutions that can be implemented in a relatively short time frame (TRL of 4 and higher).

We expect solution providers to be able to work in Singapore and Malaysia to conduct the pilots and potential scale-up.

Intellectual Property (IP): For Background IP (BIP), both parties will retain their respective IPs bought into the project. In the event of new Foreground IP (FIP) creation, Saint-Gobain is agreeable to the FIP being retained by the solution provider.

BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM

Saint Gobain Singapore & Malaysia is committed to reducing our carbon footprint and is seeking to innovate our packaging to achieve our sustainability goals. Sustainable packaging not only reduces the carbon footprint of the product but also reduces potential waste in the landfill.

Paper packaging is widely used for shipping heavy products (e.g., 25kg to 40kg bags) due to its strength and relative sustainability compared to plastic. However, paper production still results in a significant carbon footprint. This challenge aims to reduce the environmental impact of these paper bags by incorporating at least 30% recycled materials while maintaining durability and functionality.

We are looking to use materials that are sustainable, e.g. bio-based, and have a lower carbon footprint than paper packaging or should consist of post consumer recycled (PCR) material. Since our products are heavy, strength and durability are vital criteria. Our ultimate aim is for our packaging to be fully circular.

Our current packaging consists of 2 to 3 layers of which one layer is a plastic film (PP liner). This challenge is not aimed at finding alternatives for, or replacing the plastic film layer.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS / PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Technical Requirements:

• Material composition: The solution must achieve at least 30% recycled content while ensuring that the packaging remains as strong and durable as current two- or three-layer paper packaging. Note that multiple layers are allowed and, if necessary, the current plastic film can be used in the packaging to achieve this requirement.
• Strength: Packaging must retain enough tensile strength for product transportation and handling (25kg and 40kg bags). The packaging must pass strength and durability tests comparable to current packaging, including load-bearing capacity, puncture resistance, and pressure.
• Protection: The material should offer the packaged product protection from moisture, contamination, and leakage.
• Printability: The material should be suitable for standard printing and labeling.
• Environmental footprint: The packaging must demonstrate a lower carbon footprint than current alternatives.

Performance Requirements:

• Cost-effectiveness: The new packaging should have a similar cost level to the current packaging when mass-produced.
• Sustainability: The new packaging should have a minimized environmental footprint (10% reduction) and increase circularity (10% reduction).
• Sources: Sources for the material are preferably local to the Malaysia and Singapore area to prevent transportation-related emissions
  

COST TARGET

Cost targets will be determined on a case-by-case basis. The new packaging should have the ability to achieve cost levels similar to or less than our current packaging.

TIMEFRAME FOR DEVELOPMENT

Phase 1: POC development: Q2-Q3 2025.

Phase 2: Commercial roll-out: to be determined on a case-by-case basis

POTENTIAL MARKET / BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

A successful packaging solution will be used for relevant products from our Johor Plant, with the potential to be implemented in our remaining plants in Malaysia. We are targeting 20% of total 40,000 bag/month. Additionally, we are open to solution providers deploying its solution with other industry players.

RESOURCES

• Awarded innovator will receive a cash prize of S$5,000.

• Mentorship and support for solution development.
• Access to relevant datasets, and pilot site(s).

• NOVA by Saint-Gobain is the venture capital and partnerships branch of the company.
• (Upon successful POC completion) Solution providers will be assessed by NOVA for potential venture investment.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

We are looking for SMEs and startups with solutions that can be implemented in a relatively short time frame (TRL of 4 and higher). Intellectual Property (IP): For Background IP (BIP), both parties will retain their respective IPs bought into the project. In the event of new Foreground IP (FIP) creation, Saint-Gobain is agreeable to the FIP being retained by the solution provider.