By: Valuetech
In an era where technological innovation is critical for addressing global challenges, Sharon Malk stands out as a leader with a vision for a sustainable future. With over two decades of experience in the tech industry, Sharon’s journey is marked by transformative roles, including his tenure as CEO of MediWound Ltd., and as a partner at Variance Economic Consulting Ltd.
Today, Sharon leads Dotz, a leading nanotechnology company traded on the ASX. In this interview, Sharon discusses the inception of Dotz, its mission to tackle climate change through innovative carbon capture technologies, and his vision for the company’s future.
Join us as we delve into the insights and experiences that shape his leadership and drive Dotz toward making a significant impact on a global scale.
Thank you for joining us, Sharon! To kick things off, can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself and your background?
Sharon: Of course. I have over 20 years of experience leading innovative technology companies.
Prior to joining Dotz, I served as Chief Executive Officer of MediWound Ltd, a Nasdaq-listed biopharmaceutical company. Prior to that, I was a partner at Variance Economic Consulting Ltd., a multi-disciplinary consulting boutique, specializing in financial services for international and local Hi-Tech clients. I am a certified CPA and hold an MBA from Bar-Ilan University in Israel.
Walk me through the inception behind Dotz. What are some of the industry gaps that you noticed and how does your company fill that void?
Sharon: Our core expertise is in nanotechnology & advanced materials. More specifically we are experts in carbon-based materials. Our R&D team has vast experience in synthesis and surface chemistry. We utilize our unique expertise to solve very significant challenges, both industrial & environmental, and strive to develop technologies that have significantly superior performance compared to existing technologies.
Can you elaborate on Dotz’s mission and how it aligns with addressing the urgent need for carbon capture technologies in combating climate change?
Sharon: We are on a mission to play a main role in the decarbonization of heavy industries around the world, to limit as much as possible the effect of climate change, driven by the growing concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. Our DotzEarth nanoporous carbon capture sorbent is the only solid sorbent in the world that is made from plastic waste, providing two benefits: decarbonization and upcycling of plastic waste.
What experiences or lessons from your career have shaped your approach to leadership, and how do you apply these insights in guiding Dotz toward its goals?
Sharon: Several key experiences have significantly shaped my approach to leadership. One critical lesson is the power of collaboration and empowering team members. While managing a cross-functional project, I saw firsthand how leveraging the diverse skills and perspectives of my team led to innovative solutions to rising challenges and improved outcomes. I learned to delegate effectively and create an environment where everyone felt valued and motivated to contribute their best.
At Dotz, I apply this insight by promoting a culture of collaboration, resilience, and continuous learning. I encourage open communication and actively seek input from team members, ensuring that we leverage our collective strengths to drive toward our goals.
Additionally, I emphasize the importance of setting clear objectives and aligning our efforts with the company’s vision. By keeping our goals in focus and regularly tracking our progress, I ensure that we stay on course and can quickly adapt to any changes or challenges that arise. This strategic approach helps us remain agile and proactive in pursuing Dotz’s objectives.
What inspired the development of DotzEarth, and how does it differ from traditional carbon capture methods?
Sharon: Leveraging industrial waste to produce an affordable carbon capture solution to support energy transition. Our main target is to enable wide-scale cost-effective CO2 capture, by developing an inexpensive sorbent produced from waste feedstock which has enhanced performance leading to significant cost reduction.
Unlike existing carbon capture technologies that are mostly based on liquid amines that chemically absorb CO2, DotzEarth is a solid sorbent based on the physical adsorption of CO2. With physical adsorption, less energy is required to release the CO2 molecules from the sorbent. Solid sorbents are also extremely robust and exhibit reduced degradation relative to alternatives. Moreover, solid sorbents are generally not corrosive and do not require specialty stainless steel process equipment, enabling a reduction in CAPEX. Most solid sorbents are resistant to SOx and Nox, so they don’t require upfront purification of flue gas
How does DotzEarth’s technology work?
Sharon: DotzEarth is based on a simple and straightforward proprietary synthesis process that converts plastic waste to a nano-porous carbon sorbent specifically tailored for the effective capture of CO2.
What advantages does DotzEarth offer over existing carbon capture technologies in terms of effectiveness and scalability?
Sharon: DotzEarth represents a new generation of sorbent technology. Our unique approach is focused on creating solid and porous carbon sorbents with ideal porous distribution specifically designed to effectively capture CO2. The sorbent was developed in the labs of Dr. James Tour, at Rice University, and fully characterized and validated by SINTEF – Norway’s largest energy and climate technology research institute. DotzEarth addresses some of the most significant challenges in current carbon capture technologies, it is cost-effective and promotes energy efficiency. In recent validation tests, the sorbent was proven to be scalable and adaptable across multiple industries.
What are Dotz’s plans for future research and development in the field of nanotechnology and sustainability beyond DotzEarth?
Sharon: Our first priority goal is to expedite technology demonstration at scale; we commenced the design of a small-scale pilot to further advance the technology readiness on its path to market viability.
We plan to continue to optimize our sorbent technology to offer even better performance. We will leverage our surface chemistry capabilities to offer various industries sorbents that are uniquely developed to address their specific flue gas conditions to allow a significant reduction in the cost of carbon capture, which is currently the biggest hurdle hindering the adoption of carbon capture technologies.
Looking ahead, what is your vision for Dotz’s trajectory over the next five years?
Sharon: My vision for Dotz’s trajectory over the next five years is to establish the company as a leading innovator and market leader in carbon management technologies. We will continuously push the boundaries of innovation, and invest in research and development to offer superior technology solutions for industries and companies around the world. Dotz has the potential to make a significant impact on a global scale. This will involve adapting our offerings to suit diverse industries and establishing partnerships that can help us achieve our milestones.
Published by: Khy Talara