Swiss know-how at Expo Dubai
Various entrepreneurs will be on hand at Expo Dubai to promote innovative and sustainable technologies - and to open up new markets. As part of the Expo this year, the Climate Show will take place on October 7 and the actual show on October 8 in the Swiss Pavilion.
Different economic standards and customs prevail in the Emirates - and yet things can move very quickly when it comes to new, sustainable technologies. Engineers in the United Arab Emirates, or VAR for short, are interested in traffic calming solutions, for example. In the case of Dubai, for example, it's ground sensors that coordinate the flow of vehicles and inform them of full parking zones. The sensors were developed by a start-up based near Winterthur.
But other Swiss know-how exists. At least six companies - including Eptes Natura, CleantechAlps, Reballs and small businesses below - are presenting themselves in the Swiss Pavilion at the Expo in Dubai.
Energy Engineering and Consulting
There is a lot of potential in district heating and cooling networks in particular. Miles of four-pipe systems are still being installed. Depending on the geographical location, but also a one-sided energy demand limit the efficiency and compactness of a heating network. The company Exergo from Sion offers integrated solutions (photovoltaics, heat pumps, battery and heat storage, etc.) for renewable energies. As a spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Exergo understands software modeling and optimization of industrial systems. But when it comes to renewable energy solutions, there is neither a standard solution nor magic. District heating systems usually involve high costs. The company knows about energy recovery, licensed products for connected buildings and control systems. More than that, they help reduce costs through their optimized engineering and consulting offerings.
Innovative recycling and waste management
LeThiec SA from Etoy near Morges specializes in recycling and waste management solutions. The company is exhibiting scalable waste separation containers for urban areas and office interiors not only in Dubai but also in Paris at the Salon des Achats et de l'Environnement de Travail. The company focuses on both design-oriented and safety-related requirements (e.g. fire protection, lockable containers) and sorting solutions. The latest product from Etoy is called "Cliiink". This rewards deposit returns through incentive schemes. For each returned glass bottle, busy sorters receive a discount at local retailers. LeThiec is currently in the process of establishing a widely networked "Cliiink" community.
Data optimization for the energy transition
The company E-nno was founded in 2017 by two engineers in Geneva, but has more than 20 years of experience in real estate, construction and energy. Through sophisticated data analysis and optimization algorithms, the company manages to contain and reduce unnecessary environmental impacts in buildings - on average, it says, 17 percent of a building's energy consumption. For this reason, the Geneva-based company also wants to create a win-win situation for real estate investors in Dubai. They are making their collected data available to real estate professionals (for data collection and consolidation, building monitoring, etc.) to facilitate IT and management work and accelerate the energy transition.
Financial specialist with a 360-degree view
On site is also Olivier Ferrari and his financial institution Coninco based in Vevey. Ferrari has been a financial specialist, author and speaker for over 30 years. His financial institution supports new investment businesses and markets in the service of institutional, sustainable and philanthropic management. Coninco also supports foundations and institutions, as well as engineering firms. The financial institution has been supervised by FINMA since 2012, has sound management processes (ISO 9001:2015), and meets the requirements of the ISO 14001:2015 environmental management standard.
The vision of the Climate Show
Frank Eggmann, the Swiss Consulate General of the Swiss Business Hub, is pleased about new relationships that are developing between the Middle East and Switzerland. Already, participating companies at the Swiss Climate Show have been able to establish their first, successful relationships in the Middle East. "After a few years in the UAE market, we see a strong traction for Swiss technologies. In the Emirates, and especially in Dubai, it is the VAC systems that consume a lot of energy. Therefore, it is interesting to see how Swiss companies are getting involved in areal and building management issues. I am very happy to see local players and innovative Swiss doers together to advance the complex social and environmental goals", underlines the Consul General regarding the Expo in Dubai.
Nadia Plata, the director of the Swiss Climate Show, is looking forward to meeting Frank Eggmann at the Swiss Business Council Dubai & Northern Emirates and the stakeholders at the Swiss Pavilion at Expo Dubai. "Despite a data-driven and technological approach, the human element remains at the heart of our DNA. This equally means embracing other cultures and challenges, investing in training specialists and quality services, and involving as many partners as possible in strategic decisions for environmental and climate protection. Our shared vision and the values we uphold ultimately make a country like Switzerland attractive."
