Climate-KIC Open Innovation Day - Gothenburg

Can your innovation contribute to sustainable consumption?

The City of Gothenburg faces a number of climate-related challenges and is seeking innovative green-tech solutions that contribute to sustainable consumption. These must have a positive climate impact and be able to reach a wide market faster and more efficiently than has previously been possible. Their aim is to offer the inhabitants of Gothenburg tools which can help them make better and more informed climate friendly choices in their everyday life. 

One of the core messages which emerged from COP21 in Paris, December 2015 was that citizens in cities around the world play a vital role in taking action on climate change, and it therefore makes sense to achieve dialogue and cooperation between citizens, cities and private companies, that brings about concrete solutions to support sustainability in individual households. 

The market itself demonstrates the rising demand for sustainable goods and services for citizens. Socially responsible investing, where sustainable consumption and production is a strong element, has grown 500% over the last decade in the EU, with € 7 billion invested in such products in 2014. Likewise, retail consumers’ demand for sustainable products continues to rise and was worth €34 billion in 2014. The global market for environmental goods and services is €462 billion pa and is estimated to rise to €600 billion in the next three to four years. Nordic business is responsible for €33 billion of this market.

Climate-KIC is helping the City with its unique Open Innovation concept where entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates, researchers and community groups are encouraged to propose products and services which can be tested and implemented to address the City’s specific climate challenges.

We are looking for innovations that can solve any of these four challenges:

• Easy and attractive ways to make low-carbon choices:

How do we make it easy and obvious to make climate smart decisions when choosing goods and services both online and in stores? In order to reduce carbon footprint we need products with low climate impact from a life cycle perspective.

• Circular and sharing economy -Reuse/Share/Repair/Redesign/Recycle: 

What additional services are available which can create a circular and sharing economy? Can we make it more attractive to choose or co-own long term sustainable products and thereby get better quality and better economy? The challenge could for example be solved by services that incorporate lending, sharing, reuse, repairing, remaking and recycling.

• Efficient and sustainable use of transport and materials:

How can transport needs and resource consumption be reduced without limiting the citizens’ choice? Climate impact from transport or use of materials can be replaced by digital solutions to avoid physical meetings and gadgets. Flexible travelling gives more options and can stimulate sustainable transport solutions. The journey has just begun for streaming services, showrooms, digital communication, 3D printers and social media, to name a few.

• Sustainable and active leisure hours:

How can we make it easier for more people to have an adventurous and attractive leisure time with a low carbon footprint? Local offers and public involvement can replace and reduce the impact from weekend and holiday travel. The challenge can for example be solved by sustainable events, social innovation, increased codetermination and co-creation, urban farming, shared services for tourists, improved public transport outside of commuting times, cycle tourism, electric vehicles and intermodal travelling.

Please submit your solution to any of these challenges by completing the Application form – Open Innovation Gothenburg 

NB/ You are very welcome to send your idea to Peter Vangsbo at peter@climate-kic-nordic.org before you submit. He will be happy to discuss it and give you feedback on suitability etc.  

Solutions proposed should have documented measurable impact and showcase green initiatives as well as including a plan for how the product or system can promote a sustainable lifestyle and create new consumption patterns in the Gothenburg region.

Solutions received will be assessed on climate impact, commercial viability and user potential and finalists selected to present on 6 October at our Open Innovation Day.

Important dates for the Open Innovation process:

1 July deadline for submitting your proposal/idea on the application form
August – Business Region Gothenburg announces the finalists who will present on 6 October
30 August – 30 September Climate-KIC Nordic arranges virtual bootcamps to coach the finalists
6 October Open Innovation Day i Gothenburg when finalists present their solutions

Business Region Gothenburg will ensure that those behaind the most powerful innovative products and services presented at the Open Innovation Day will have the opportunity to meet decision makers and potential customers in the City of Gothenburg.

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