PurCity is a Denmark-based startup that provides the world’s first AI-Driven building ECO-ENABLER. Their GapS panels act as substitutes for traditional exteriors, drawing in polluted air via natural ventilation, and purifying it through harmless chemical processes. The panels can trap PM2.5 (+50%), PM10 (+90%) & VOCs, and when integrated with HVACs, GapS panels can provide a colder and cleaner air while cutting HVAC energy use by up to 60%. The AI/ML integration also helps ensure peak performance. With their GapS panel technology, PurCity won the Sustainability category in the IC Taiwan Grand Challenge (ICTGC) Batch 3.

Improving Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency Together

As urbanization grows, cities and their energy consumption continue to increase, with a significant amount of power dedicated to Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC). In addition, cities contribute to over 70% of global CO2 emissions, while the reduced available space also means building facilities for carbon capture will be more difficult. With an expected 3.5 billion people living in cities by 2050, there will be a surge in CO2 emissions and air pollution. The GapS panel offers the capability to be seamlessly implemented on both new and old buildings to address the concentrated CO2 emissions in urban environments.

Introducing IC Taiwan Grand Challenge

To strengthen Taiwan's position as a global semiconductor powerhouse, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) organizes the IC Taiwan Grand Challenge. Started in 2024, the competition originally focused purely on innovative IC designs and advanced application solutions. Today, ICTGC also honors technologies that can support and contribute to the semiconductor industry and Taiwan’s industry in general. ICTGC Batch 3 emphasizes key fields such as AI Core Technologies & Chips, Smart Mobility, Smart Manufacturing, Smart Medtech, and Sustainability.

Revolutionizing Buildings with Better Exteriors

Founded in December 2017, PurCity is dedicated to improving urban life by helping buildings save energy and enhance air quality. With a team that combines expertise in engineering with construction, sustainability, environmental biotechnology, and other disciplines, PurCity has won a number of prestigious awards from around the world, including the InnoVEX 2019 Startup Terrace Award.

PurCity is actively collaborating with both their domestic and international customers. They are a part of a major European consortium focused on building sustainability and are now seeking new collaborations globally. PurCity’s GapS is already installed in Europe, with a pilot project in Germany and a third-generation system implemented at the Toyota Motors Europe R&D building in Brussels.

PurCity's GapS is a patented, multi-functional facade panel that offers superior energy efficiency, enhanced insulation, and advanced air purification. It actively draws in polluted ambient air using natural ventilation and passes the air through a proprietary, harmless chemical process within the panels that traps particulate matter (PM2.5: +50% reduction, PM10: +90% reduction) and inorganic gases. This process also effectively cools the air by 5 to 10°C before it enters the building's HVAC system. By supplying pre-cleaned and pre-cooled air, using GapS can reduce HVAC energy consumption by 60% which dramatically lowers operational costs and creates a healthier indoor environment.

For optimal performance, GapS integrates AI and machine learning (ML) to continuously monitor and adapt the system for peak efficiency in both air purification and energy savings. It also offers optional integration of Direct Carbon Capture and hydrogen production for users who want to transform their facade panels into active carbon capture units.

As one of the winners of the Sustainability category in the IC Taiwan Grand Challenge Batch 3, PurCity will showcase their GapS technology in the Taiwan Innotech Expo (TIE) 2025, which will be held from October 16 - 18, 2025, in the Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC) Hall 1. Visitors are encouraged to join and see how it can improve indoor air quality while reducing energy requirements for cities.

Register for the IC Taiwan Grand Challenge Batch 4

With the continued success of the IC Taiwan Grand Challenge (ICTGC), the organizers will promote it as a long-term event to support semiconductor innovations from Taiwan and abroad. Registration for the next batch of ICTGC will begin in November 2025, and teams with a focus on semiconductor technologies are encouraged to join and compete.

For more details, please visit:
>>> https://ictaiwanchallenge.org/