Research and innovation

Developed at university.
Tested in the field.

From a question in Togo to a research chair in Wuppertal: eight milestones in eight years.

2018 · Origin
A question from Komi Amavi
Komi Amavi from Togo is looking for a solution to his family’s harvest losses. Enactus Köln e. V. takes up the question and remains the German host to this day.
2019 · First trip
Togo
Lenia gets to know the local conditions, and together they build a first Solar Dryer concept.
2021 · Prototype
TH Köln
In his bachelor’s thesis, co-founder Marvin Maul develops a new, detailed prototype, built and tested in Euskirchen.
2022 · Field test
Guinea-Bissau
First tests under real climate conditions, together with a local foundation and university.
2023 · Pilot
Senegal
With Meri e. V. the first dryer goes up, two more follow in Touba Toul. On behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, a unit is built for a women’s group in Saint Louis.
2024 · Funding
EXIST
The start-up grant secures twelve months of full-time work on Save the Grain. The same year, the Femmepact brand launches.
2025 · Research
EES chair, Wuppertal
Since September with Start‑up Transfer.NRW at the Chair of Electric Mobility and Energy Storage, Prof. Schmülling. Today the research home of the core technology.
2026 · Focus
Gender-transformative approaches
Together with the Ghana‑NRW University Alliance, for operators rather than recipients.

Awards

Six awards, one of them on the world stage.

2019 · €5,000
Innovation Race for Sustainability
National winner, third place internationally.
2020
Enactus National Cup
Winner.
2021
Hult Prize
Won the Cologne final, access to business coaching.
2022 · USD 15,000
Enactus Race to Feed the Planet
Winner in Puerto Rico among 80 entries.
2023
Enactus National Cup
Winner again.
2023
Enactus World Cup, Utrecht
Top 16 worldwide.