German Heliatek Awarded as Technology Pioneer by World Economic Forum
World Economic Forum today announced its selection of the world’s 49 most promising Technology Pioneers 2015.
- Heliatek GmbH, which produces flexible organic solar films, made it to the selection as the only German company
- The full list of recognized Technology Pioneers can be viewed here
Heliatek, the Dresden-based German company that produces ultra-light, flexible and less than 1 mm thin solar films, was awarded today as one of the World Economic Forum’s “technology pioneers”, a selection of the world’s most innovative companies. Heliatek is a spin-off from the Technical University of Dresden and the University of Ulm. The company is a leader in the field of Organic Electronics Energy holding the world record efficiency of 12%. It started commercialization of its solar films in July 2014.
Heliatek was chosen by a professional jury among hundreds of candidates as one of the 49 selected companies. Thanks to its selection, it will have access to the most influential and sought-after business and political network in the world, and be invited to the World Economic Forum’s “Summer Davos” in Dalian, China, this September, or the Annual Meeting in Davos in January.
Thibaud Le Seguillon, Heliatek CEO, remarks “We are delighted to be recognized by The World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer. We have developed ground-breaking technology and manufacturing process that will have a significant impact on the way energy is produced. By integrating our solar films to building facades, we turn these into localized power station”.
“We’re glad to see a German company make it to the selection,” says Fulvia Montresor, Head of Technology Pioneers at the World Economic Forum. “Heliatek is part of a group of entrepreneurs who are more aware of the crucial challenges of the world around them, and who are determined to do their part to solve those challenges with their company.”
The Technology Pioneers were selected from among hundreds of applicants by a selection committee of 68 academics, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and corporate executives. Notable members of the committee include Arianna Huffington (founder, Huffington Post) and Henry Blodget (editor-in-chief, Business Insider). The committee based its decisions on criteria including innovation, potential impact, working prototype, viability and leadership.
Past recipients include Google (2001), Wikimedia (2007), Mozilla (2007), Kickstarter (2011) and Dropbox (2011). More information on past winners can be found here.
The World Economic Forum is an international institution committed to improving the state of the world through public-private cooperation in the spirit of global citizenship. It engages with business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Incorporated as a not-for-profit foundation in 1971 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Forum is independent, impartial and not tied to any interests. It cooperates closely with all leading international organizations.
