July 15 (SeeNews) - Croatian startup company Include has signed a 40 million kuna ($5.9 million/5.3 million euro) deal with Australian-based Mtk Renewable Energy Investment for the delivery of 2,700 smart benches over the next five years, the startup's founder said.
Include is also due to send out test benches to Qatar, the US and Switzerland next week, having installed its first benches in Croatia's capital Zagreb in June, Ivan Mrvos announced on his Facebook wall on Thursday.
The smart benches, named Steora, use solar energy to charge smartphones, have wireless internet and also serve as street lights.
Mrvos founded the startup in 2014 and currently employs 19 people. According to Croatia's chamber of economy, Include plans to build a 800 sq m factory in Solin where it will produce 300 to 400 smart benches per month.
Steora is powered by integrated solar panels. Among its features the bench contains an in-built cooling system which ensures that the seat temperature remains pleasant, an installed ambient light that adapts to all conditions, smartphone charges and a 4G internet connection.
(1 euro=7.49317 Croatian kuna)