close share links A startup looking to cut industrial energy waste took home the grand prize at the 2021 MIT $100K. Osmoses, which is developing a new membrane separation technology, will use its winnings to buy equipment to build an industrial prototype, co-founder Francesco Benedetti, PhD ’19, said during the virtual event. Work smart with our Thinking Forward newsletter Insights from MIT experts, delivered every Tuesday morning. Email Address Traditional separation methods at industrial gas and vapor plants are effective but inefficient, because they require heat, Benedetti said. While membrane separation technology does exist and doesn’t require heat, the separation quality isn’t always good. Osmoses’ compact membrane module is designed to be both efficient and effective, and will help customers cut production costs as well as carbon dioxide emissions, Benedetti said. The module will be built to fit into existing membrane separation systems.