Cool idea spreads wider

Hong Kong startup i2cool has expanded into international markets with its "electricity-free cooling" building materials.

These materials can reduce temperatures by up to 30C - a feature that has attracted the attention of major construction projects in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, the Philippines, Malaysia and other countries and regions.

i2cool has also recently expanded the application of its heat dissipation technology to sectors such as vehicles and fabrics, so it plans to increase its workforce to 100 employees from 55 this year. The firm is currently in the process of securing Series A funding and it also plans to establish a ceramic tile production facility in the mainland to facilitate mass production, says cofounder Martin Zhu Yihao.

Earlier, i2cool won the gold prize and US$1 million (HK$7.8 million) at the second TERA-Award Smart Energy Innovation Competition, organized by Hong Kong and China Gas, or Towngas, and the State Power Investment Corp.