CHENNAI- Habitat for Humanity’s
Terwilliger Center for Innovation joined hands with Startup TN and Kerala
Startup Mission for the launch of the M-Sand Innovation Challenge 2024.
Officially announced at a sector event, the initiative aims to transform the
landscape of affordable housing in India through the support and scaling of
solutions that can increase supply and improve distribution channels of
manufactured sand, or M-sand, as a sustainable and accessible alternative to
river sand.
The initiative seeks to address
challenges stemming from India’s construction boom, which in turn generated
a skyrocketing demand for sand, one of the sector’s cornerstones. For instance,
India is the world's second-largest producer of cement, requiring huge amounts
of sand. This has fueled an illegal industry of river sand mining which, for
years, have caused major environmental damage to the county’s rivers.
M-Sand is an eco-friendly alternative to conventional sand that is made from crushed granite.
It has emerged as an alternative a construction material,
with hopes to address the challenges of river sand mining, but also to help
bridge the housing gap of almost 19 million units in urban areas. “Our goal is
to collaborate with private sector actors to mainstream sustainable
construction practices, with sights on bringing these practices to low-income
markets, so that families can build homes that are more sustainable and
resilient,” said Anoop Nambiar, India Country Director from Habitat’s
Terwilliger Center.
Through its Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter, Habitat for Humanity
has partnered with industries and ecosystem stakeholders
to reduce housing costs and improve access to essential building materials. The
M-Sand Innovation Challenge 2024 will explore and test cutting-edge
technologies across the entire M-Sand value chain—from mining and manufacturing to distribution and application. By integrating innovative
practices, it will enhance
the availability and affordability of this vital construction resource.
At
the event, three businesses were awarded for their potential
to enhance affordable housing solutions in India, following a selection process by a
jury of construction, sustainability, and innovation experts:
- M/s.Satiq Concrete Manufacturer Pvt Ltd.
for ‘WINNER’ – INR 4 Lakhs (Four Lakhs)
- M/s. Vision – (Application - VAnalytics) for
‘1st Runner Up’
– INR 2 Lakhs (Two Lakhs)
- M/s. Go Green Elements for ‘2nd Runner Up’ – INR
– 1 Lakh
(One Lakh)
Each winning team will have the
opportunity to present their solutions and discuss their next steps in a brief
pitch session. “We are certain that these partnerships play an important role
in expanding access of emerging innovations across all income groups. Moreso,
the M-Sand Innovation Challenge bring attention to an important
area where significant advancements have
already been made, but there are still opportunities to be tapped,” added Sivarajah
Ramanathan, Mission Director & CEO of Startup TN.
About Habitat’s
Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter
The
Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter, a unit of Habitat for Humanity International, works with housing market systems by supporting local firms and
expanding innovative and client- responsive services, products and financing so
that households can improve their shelter more effectively and efficiently. The
ultimate goal of the Terwilliger Center is to make housing markets work more
effectively for people in need of decent, affordable shelter, thereby improving
the quality of life for low-income households. To learn more, visit habitat.org/tcis.
About Habitat
for Humanity
Driven by the vision that everyone
needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity found its earliest inspirations as a grassroots
movement on an interracial community
farm in U.S.A. Since its
founding in 1976, the housing organization has grown to become a leading global
nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. In the Asia-Pacific region since
1983, Habitat for Humanity has supported millions of people to build or improve
a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a
voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the
strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for
themselves. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org/asiapacific.
About Startup TN
Startup TN is an initiative by the government
of Tamil Nadu to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, creating a
supportive ecosystem for startups.
About Kerala Startup Mission
Kerala Startup Mission promotes entrepreneurship and supports startups,
driving innovation and creating a vibrant startup environment
in Kerala.