Como-based company 3Bee has been awarded the Horizon 2020 SME Phase 2 grant for its Hive-tech project, the most prestigious and sought-after European recognition, awarded to less than 1% of SMEs.
The exclusive Hive-tech system allows beekeepers to monitor their hives comprehensively, 24 hours a day. Beyond the project's innovation and its young, motivated team, 3Bee was selected as a beneficiary of the SME Instrument grant thanks to the support of Confindustria Lombardia, as part of the activities of the Enterprise Europe Network - SIMPLER Consortium, and the Confindustria Delegation in Brussels. These activities were carried out in close synergy with ComoNext, the innovation hub where 3Bee developed its incubation phase before establishing itself as an innovative startup.
Bees are among the most important animals for the life of the planet and for human beings themselves.
Their daily pollination activity ensures the conservation of ecosystems and the production of fruit and vegetables. It is worth noting that 80% of the food we eat every day comes from the invaluable work of these small insects.
Due to climate change, pollution, disease, and the reckless use of pesticides and chemicals, bee mortality has become a serious problem that must be resolved as quickly as possible.
These are the reasons why 3Bee was founded: a green agri-tech startup that develops intelligent monitoring and diagnostic systems for the health of livestock.
3Bee was born at home, from the combination of Niccolò Calandri’s engineering expertise and Riccardo Balzaretti’s background in biology, who returned to Italy to found the startup, turning down significant job offers. Over two years, the team has grown and currently consists of eight people under 30, based in two offices in Como and Naples, and is constantly expanding. The initial focus was on bees precisely because of their vital importance to the planet!
“In just two years, we have grown from two to eight people entirely through our own efforts. Now, this momentum will lead us to hire four more people, open a research and development office in Milan, and expand our market across Europe with the motto #pollinatetheplanet,” says CEO Niccolò Calandri.
THE HIVE-TECH PROJECT
Through Hive-tech, beekeepers can monitor their hives comprehensively, 24 hours a day.
The device is bio-mimetic and detects various vital parameters of the bees without any harmful emissions.
Data is transmitted to the cloud, where it is processed by our artificial intelligence algorithms to diagnose and predict potential problems and diseases. Thanks to our data scientists, we have developed a proprietary neural network capable of predicting productivity and analysing satellite imagery for flowering. Furthermore, the machine-learning algorithms developed will have the capacity to predict the presence of pesticides in real time.
Using the device and its internal sensors, beekeepers can monitor weight, temperature, sound, and humidity within the hive. Additionally, via the remote app, they can analyse weather conditions, productivity, stock levels, and surrounding flowering, creating their own personalised work calendar.
In two years, 3Bee has sold 1,000 devices, developing a network of 10,000 beekeepers across Italy who help, follow, and use Hive-tech technology.
Thanks to this network, a research, development, and circular economy programme called "Adopt a Hive" has been launched, which allows anyone to remotely adopt and monitor a beehive and receive the honey at home.
Driven by growing demand in the B2B sector, 3Bee has adapted this programme for companies committed to sustainability and environmental impact. This has led to the creation of the "impolliniamo il mondo" (Let's Pollinate the World) Corporate Social Responsibility project, which offers a range of bespoke solutions focused on corporate social responsibility.
In recent months, thanks to a significant partnership with TIM WCap, testing of the devices has commenced on new intensive farming sites, such as pig farms.
3Bee has received numerous national awards in just two years:
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