At the Demo Day promoted by Tondo within the MUSA framework, B&Y, 2pack, and CrioPurA were awarded: over 45,000 euros for the most promising solutions for a sustainable transition.

The Ionian Department of the University of Bari hosted the Taranto CirTech Demo Day, the final event of the acceleration program promoted by Tondo, funded by PNRR funds linked to the MUSA – Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action ecosystem. The day featured eleven startups dedicated to transforming the principles of the circular economy into concrete market solutions, with the goal of stimulating sustainable development and territorial regeneration in Southern Italy.

The event opened with speeches from representatives of local and national institutions, including the Mayor of Taranto, Piero Bitetti, who highlighted how such opportunities can turn problems into resources, adding value to the city and the entire region. Following his remarks, Vincenzo Di Canio (Commissioner for Reclamation Structure), Carlo Gadaleta Caldarola (ARTI Puglia), Andrea Sianesi (MUSA), Francesco Castellano (CEO and Founder of Tondo), and Gianluigi De Gennaro (BaLab) all spoke, emphasizing the speed and effectiveness of the program, which began two years ago with the aim of creating new connections among startups, businesses, and research.

During the morning, six acceleration-stage startups (B&Y, 2pack, CrioPura, Myconic, BlueGeo, Techloop), three post-acceleration-stage startups (Be.Me, W3DS, AraBat), and two pre-acceleration-stage startups (iMensa Circle and Phytoroots) presented their projects. The pre-acceleration startups participated outside of the competition but still showed interesting prospects for the future.

A selected jury awarded a total prize pool of over 45,000 euros to the three most innovative projects:

  • 1st Place – B&Y: Transforms stone powders, sludge, and waste into a 3D-printable mortar, reducing waste and environmental impact in the construction sector.
  • 2nd Place – 2pack: Develops a water-repellent and recyclable paper-based packaging made from fish scraps and organic waste, in line with European anti-plastic directives.
  • 3rd Place – CrioPurA: Offers a patented polymeric cryogel to remove heavy metals and phosphates from water, which is also regenerable and capable of recovering valuable elements.