The 10 most innovative technologies according to Ecomondo

When it comes to sustainable transition, innovation is the key to speeding up change. New ideas, experimentation and courage are needed to break the mould and look ahead towards the future. This is what start-ups and new businesses do every day, combining digitalisation, respect for the environment and sustainable productivity in tangible projects. But that's not all: even companies with a long history behind them keep innovating, investing in the quest for real solutions to environmental protection, from the water cycle to the circular bioeconomy, from advanced material recycling to new-generation agritech. 

Innovation District: room for innovation 
Innovation took centre stage at Ecomondo 2025 through an extensive project dedicated to this theme. The Innovation District was in fact launched at the fair, a space designed to promote technology transfer, partnerships and the exchange of expertise. It hosted 40 high-tech start-ups, including 20 from Morocco and Tunisia, selected as part of the Lab Innova for Africa “Luca Attanasio” programme, promoted by the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI). 

“Lorenzo Cagnoni” Award for Green Innovation  
During the event, the Lorenzo Cagnoni Award for Green Innovation was also granted, an acknowledgement for the most promising technologies developed by companies in the field of sustainability. Seven solutions were awarded, one for each of the thematic areas of the Rimini event, testifying to an increasingly vital ecosystem in which science, business and the environment walk together towards a greener future. 
These seven companies were flanked by three start-ups, awarded in turn for the innovations they have been able to devise and bring to market. 

 

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The seven award-winning companies 


Bioenergy & Agriculture
1. PURAGEN SARL 
Founded in 2019 from the merging of several industrial companies with over thirty years of experience, Puragen, now part of the Invica group, is an international leader in the supply of efficient, economical and environmentally friendly purification systems for air, water and gas. The company develops advanced high-porosity activated carbon filtration technologies capable of effectively removing contaminants from industrial liquids and gases. A particular accolade was given to its CR3 technology for the reactivation of sulphur-saturated activated carbon from biogas plants, preventing disposal and reducing waste and emissions. 

Circular & Regenerative Bio-Economy 
2. PRECO SYSTEM 
Established in 1984 in Gemona del Friuli (Udine) by entrepreneur Raul Venier, Preco System is part of the German group HAHN Kunststoffe GmbH, specialised in the production of post-consumer recycled plastics. This led to the creation of the proprietary material hanit resistant goods for street furniture, animal husbandry and industry, it reduces the use of virgin raw materials and contributes to environmental protection. goods for street furniture, animal husbandry and industry, it reduces the use of virgin raw materials and contributes to environmental protection. 
The technology awarded at Ecomondo 2025 is HyperCrib, which allows the construction of eco-sustainable retaining walls made from post-consumer recycled plastic (98%), modular, draining and 100% recyclable. An alternative to concrete walls and gabions, with the advantage of CO₂ reduction and easy installation. 

Earth Observation & Environmental Monitoring 
3. LAB3841   
Lab3841 is a hardware, software and firmware design and development studio for the industrial, civil and transport sectors, operating in Cuneo since 2006. It engages in the design of electronic devices and the use of innovative technologies, such as Pera, presented at the Lorenzo Cagnoni Award: an autonomous biomimetic environmental sensor shaped like a stone, with energy harvesting and LoRaWAN communication for climate monitoring in extreme environments. It blends into the surrounding landscape and is capable of measuring and transmitting a range of data in real time (air and soil temperature and humidity, atmospheric pressure, hours of daylight, position       

Transport & Automotive 
4. COSMIC   
This Puglia-based company, headquartered in Monopoli, designs and manufactures tailor-made solutions for all types of professional vehicles, incorporating connection wiring, signal and power distribution systems, and advanced technologies for safety during manoeuvres. In collaboration with LUIS Technology, it has developed LUISCO System, a mobile safety system with AI and video-acoustic alerts for the protection of operators in sectors such as logistics, construction sites and transport. The aim is to reduce the risk of accidents in complex work environments by offering a more active and smarter safety system. 

Sites & Soil Restoration
5. ECOSTERYL AMB SA 
Belgian leader in sustainable treatment of infectious medical waste, Ecosteryl operates in over 65 countries with the mission to ‘imagine, develop and deliver innovative environmental solutions’ to eradicate the health and environmental impact of hospital waste. Its 100% electric technology transforms infectious medical waste into safe, inert and recyclable materials. The treatment and recycling systems are based on microwave technology, enabling dry disinfection without combustion or harmful emissions, thus reducing waste volume and energy costs.  
The award-winning technology is R-Steryl, a separation and recycling system for sterilised medical waste, which recovers plastics and reduces 80% of hospital waste destined for disposal. 

Water Cycle & Blue Economy 
6. SANIPUR SRL  
Created in 1985 in Brescia by Gianfranco Garusi, Sanipur specialises in water treatment and disinfection in large buildings and infrastructure. The company's main breakthrough is its chlorine dioxide technology, designed for continuous, effective and safe disinfection of water networks: it controls bacterial growth without altering the chemical and physical characteristics of the water and with minimal environmental impact. In particular, Sanipur invented and patented Sanikill, the world's first solution based on monochloramine, the most effective technology against Legionella, and the only one in Italy registered as a biocide for drinking water according to the European Biocides Regulation. 
The Lorenzo Cagnoni award was awarded to Zero.B, a two-phase bio-based technology capable of removing biofilm and organic deposits, ensuring deep and safe sanitisation for water and sanitary systems. 

Waste as Resource 
7. CITY NET ECOLOGIA & AMBIENTE SRL    
Established in 2004 and based in Nola (Naples), City Net Ecologia & Ambiente Srl is an Italian company focused on integrated urban and special waste management, separate waste collection, and environmental services for public bodies and private companies. It is known for developing smart solutions for separate waste collection, with the introduction of sensors, RFID devices, and digital platforms. The award was given in particular for the KCE solution, an AI-controlled electromechanical rotating cylinder composter designed to accelerate zero-emission, odour-free organic composting. 

The three award-winning start-ups 


Water Cycle & Blue Economy 
1. 4PEOPLEHOLDING SRL  
This start-up, established in Trentino-Alto Adige, has developed HydraX, a purification system based on controlled cavitation and on-demand ozone insufflation. The technology drastically reduces brine production and energy consumption compared to traditional desalinators, while guaranteeing effective removal of harmful substances and improving the quality of wastewater, rendering it reusable in a circular perspective. 

Waste as Resource 
2. VORTEX SRL  
From Piedmont, the company has patented an upcycling process that converts perishable plant matrices into flours and functional ingredients with high added value for food, pet food and cosmetics. The technology preserves bioactive properties and is characterised by modularity, scalability and the use of renewable energy, thus cutting down on waste and environmental impact. 

Circular & Regenerative Bio-Economy 
3. W.N.T. SRL  
This Lombardy-based start-up develops ceramic-based nanotechnological anti-corrosive coatings that replace traditional chrome plating, which is instead highly impactful on the environment. The solution guarantees comparable performance in terms of resistance and hardness, but with greater sustainability, and finds application in sectors such as automotive and aerospace. 
Article written by Maria Carla Rota 

This blog is a joint project by Ecomondo and Renewable Matter