Kiruna-based innovators win prestigious award

Morgan Drysdale, SkyAlert, and Matija Milenovic, Porkchop, have been named two of “Sweden’s ten new super-entrepreneurs of 2021” by ÅForsk and Swedish Incubators & Science Parks. They receive 200,000 SEK each to continue developing their business ideas.

– I could not believe that it was true when I received the news, this is a fantastic encouragement to me and my colleagues, says Morgan Drysdale, CEO of SkyAlert.

Both SkyAlert and Porkchop are admitted to Arctic Business Incubator through funding by RIT 2021, and operate in Kiruna. Porkchop is also part of the Swedish space incubator program ESA BIC Sweden, which Arctic Business leads on behalf of the European Space Agency and the Swedish Space Agency in collaboration with Uppsala Innovation Center and Innovatum. The program is co-financed by Vinnova.

– I’m really happy to receive this award! It feels fantastic that we at porkchop get our work recognized and given the opportunity to show the whole of Sweden what we work with, says Matija Milenovic, CEO of porkchop.

Sky Alert has developed a technology that automates the detection, location and quantification of methane leakage using sensors and machine learning AI. The purpose is to reduce emissions from the production, transport and distribution of natural gas and biogas from the natural gas industry. The method can replace manual inspection techniques, which cost 300 million euros each year, at a fraction of the cost.

Porkchop has developed an electric propulsion system for the nanosatellite Pocket Qube. The solution is an invisible propulsion system that fits into the satellite’s construction and does not take up any extra volume. This leads to large cost savings, when the satellites can carry higher load capacity and for a longer period of time.

The interest in applying for the ÅForsk Entrepreneurship Scholarship has increased by 90% in the last two years and today the award is considered one of Sweden’s finest to receive.

The scholarship distribution takes place in connection with the Swedish Innovation Parliament, which is broadcasted digitally from Skellefteå on 20-21 April 2021.