From wool bubble wrap to paper batteries: How these innovations can impact the world soon

COULD sheep wool replace plastic bubble wrap one day?

Estonian startup Woola thinks so. It discovered waste wool to be elastic, water-repellent and resistant to temperature extremes, making it suitable for cushioning delicate products.

This means that it can be an eco-friendly substitute to the plastic bubble wrap found in millions of products worldwide.

At the recent Inspiration Challenge 2023, a global competition organised by OPPO to showcase new innovations for the planet, Woola emerged as one of the top five teams in the competition.

Anna-Liisa Palatu, Woola's chief executive officer, said: "About 200,000 tonnes of sheep wool is burned or buried in countries across Europe. This is the wool that is so coarse that it cannot be used to produce yarn for the textile industry but it makes a great replacement for bubble wrap."

Thanks to OPPO, Woola now has the opportunity to accelerate its go-to-market plans by tapping into a US$190,000 (S$260,000) incubation fund and also contribute to sustainable packaging prototypes for the smartphone company.

Accelerating startup innovations

OPPO first held the Inspiration Challenge in 2022 to help entrepreneurs and technology professionals bring their ideas to life. 687 entries from 66 countries were submitted this year, up from 536 entries from 39 countries last year.

OPPO's Inspiration Challenge accelerates startup innovation by providing access to global resources and a vast business network, helping innovators hit the market faster.

The top 45 teams in the competition have gained access to the OPPO incubation fund. They will also stand to establish strategic partnerships or receive investment from the company.

Jason Liao, president of the OPPO Research Institute, said: "Our mission, 'Technology for Mankind, Kindness for the World' is the driving force behind our innovation. With the Inspiration Challenge, we offer entrepreneurs and startups the necessary support to scale their meaningful innovation."

After the initial judging rounds earlier this year, regional events for the Inspiration Challenge were then held in Boston, Shenzhen and Bangkok from July to August to shortlist the top 15 teams.

These 15 teams, including Woola, took the stage in the Global Final Demo event held in Singapore on Oct 18. After an intensive afternoon of judging, five teams emerged to win US$50,000 in funding each.

New ways to save the Earth

Local startup Flint, which took home the People's Choice Award and Media Choice Award at the Inspiration Challenge 2023, developed a paper battery that might address the environmental challenges posed by traditional lithium-ion batteries, such as hazardous e-waste and resource depletion.

Rechargeable batteries take a heavy toll on our planet. When disposed of in landfills, heavy metals such as cobalt in these batteries can leak and contaminate the soil. Moreover, lithium mining is not only energy-intensive but also results in a host of other environmental issues, such as water depletion and habitat destruction.

Flint's paper battery is made with hydrogel-reinforced cellulose paper. The paper is coated with zinc and manganese that will not poison the soil when disposed of. Flint also claims that the battery does not explode when damaged and costs less to produce than lithium-ion batteries.

With paper being a flexible material, this battery may just revolutionise the design of electronic products.

Pranav Prasad, chief growth officer at Flint, said: "A paper battery can be rolled into the shape of an AA battery, or we can wrap it around the sides of an object. This means phone designs are no longer held back by the shape of the battery pack."

Flexible enough to bend or stack, these paper batteries hold promise for use in electric vehicles, remote sensors and even clothing.

Prasad said the paper battery is slated for production in 2024. Flint is also partnering with energy storage provider Collinson Power to commercialise these eco-friendly batteries.

SkiteLight, another team among the top five winners of the competition, offers a display technology 100 times brighter than existing device displays, all while consuming just 10 percent of the power.

This means that wearable devices such as smartwatches can go uncharged for many more days, in turn, reducing electricity usage.

Giving startups more exposure

OPPO's efforts do not end with the conclusion of the Inspiration Challenge. It is constantly looking for ways to help participants gain more visibility on the world stage.

For instance, OPPO encouraged Inspiration Challenge finalist Aiverest (Shenzhen Huayi Medical Technologies) to join Slingshot 2023, a deep tech startup competition.

Slingshot 2023 was held during the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology, from Oct 31 to Nov 2, and is organised by Enterprise Singapore. At Slingshot 2023, teams stand a chance to win up to $200,000 in grants and rent-free space at startup hub LaunchPad.

Aiverest has developed contactless health monitoring equipment using millimetre-wave radar technology. This equipment can continuously track one's heart rate, breathing and sleeping status.

OPPO is clear in its vision to help entrepreneurs make a real impact on the world. Liao said: "Health and sustainability are among the biggest concerns for people today, and it is urgent to promote innovation in these fields.

"OPPO is committed to investing and sharing our experience to help startups help humanity."

Learn more about the OPPO Inspiration Challenge.