US-based clean-tech start-up Solar Roadways has won the first award of $50,000 from the GE Ecomagination Challenge, a $200m corporate venturing clean-tech fund set up as a competition run by industrial conglomerate General Electric.
Out of 3,795 ideas in the Challenge, Solar won the largest number of public votes from the 74,000 who voted.
In its blog, Solar, which wants to replace traditional road surfaces with solar panels, said: "Thank you so much to our friends, fans, and supporters for all of your votes and encouragement – may God bless you all as He has blessed us!" (See video.)
GE next plans to announce Innovation Award winners from the challenge next month.