Cleantech Open challenge to the rest of the world was a fantastic idea, a perfect opportunity for entrepreneurs to showcase their innovations. At least that’s what I thought until I came across this.

The Clean Tech Idea eligibility criteria clearly state that the participating teams must have less than $0.5M USD of funding to date. http://www.cleantechopen.com/app.cgi/content/competition/ideas/eligibility

However, one of the participating team from Denmark, Danfoss IXA, has more than $1.5M euros of funding so far.

According to Danfoss’ own website, http://www.danfoss.com/NewsAndEvents/News/?ArticleId=1F9AFF1C-E5B9-461D-AB06-31C3BAF234F6 “Following the development of new patented technology for the measurement of gases which have an impact on the environment and the climate, such as CO2, ammonia and NO2, Danfoss Ventures and the Bitten and Mads Clausen Foundation have set up a new company, Danfoss IXA A/S. The company will develop and market the technology globally. Six employees at Danfoss IXA A/S will work to develop the sensors for climate control in stables. The Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation has funded the work with almost 1.5 million euros and it takes place in cooperation with the ventilation company SKOV A/S from Roslev, Denmark, and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU).”

More evidence of the fundings they have received:

http://www.nanotech.dtu.dk/English/News/Arkiv.aspx?guid={9686299E-DCD7-4082-8957-57E1EDA8AABD http://www.dtu.dk/English/About_DTU/News/Arkiv.aspx?guid={9686299E-DCD7-4082-8957-57E1EDA8AABD}
http://www.danfoss.com/NewsAndEvents/News/?ArticleId=1F9AFF1C-E5B9-461D-AB06-31C3BAF234F6

Ummm, doesn’t that mean Danfoss IXA is too rich for this competition? I thought this was to be a fair competition for all.

Please judge the evidence for yourself and see if the spirit of fair competition is truly untarnished.