The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) has launched three initiatives to develop solutions for a sustainable future by means of research, innovation and education activities. One of these initiatives – Climate Knowledge and Innovation Community (Climate KIC) – is a pan-European consortium in which Dutch universities, knowledge institutes, companies and government agencies will play a leading role. In the next four years, Climate KIC will have approximately €750 million at its disposal to support innovation and education programmes designed to mitigate the impact of climate change.
Climate KIC was one of three initiatives announced today by EIT. The other two focus on sustainable energy and the information and communication society.
Four themes of Climate KIC
Bringing together the expertise of several internationally significant partners, Climate KIC aims to bring about a fundamental shift in Europe’s innovative capacity as regards climate change. This will impact how we produce, distribute and consume goods and services, where and how we prefer to live and travel, as well as how we can satisfy our energy, food and water needs while taking the environment into account. In addition to facilitating interaction between European research, education, government agencies and business innovation with respect to climate change, Climate KIC targets four specific themes in particular: climate change monitoring, transition to cities with low CO2 emissions, water management and CO2-free production regimes. The aim is to develop a generation of commercial specialists who are aware of climate change issues and who have the necessary expertise to develop economically, environmentally and socially sustainable products and services to facilitate adaption to the impact of climate change. In addition, roadmaps will be developed to develop strategies for long-term investments in and promoting innovation among SMEs.
Substantial investments
EIT has been asked to contribute €120 million. The partners’ combined investment, however, is about five times that amount, meaning a total of approximately €750 million will be available in the next four years to fund a range of innovation and education programmes. The exact amount of EIT’s contribution, however, is still being negotiated. This is the first time that companies and government agencies active in a range of sectors and scientific experts are collaborating in a large-scale initiative to promote innovation as a means of addressing climate change. “We are delighted to have been selected for this high profile initiative, which will equip the next generation of entrepreneurs and technical experts with innovative tools and which will serve as a catalyst for a new way of thinking and doing,” says Professor Bert van der Zwaan, Climate KIC interim CEO and – in his day-to-day life – member of the Utrecht University academic staff.
Dutch and foreign cooperation
The Netherlands is represented in Climate KIC by Utrecht University, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and Wageningen University and Research Centre (Wageningen UR), as well as Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) and Deltares. In addition, the Stadshavens Rotterdam port facilities and the Province of Utrecht are taking part. Shell, DSM and Schiphol will represent the Dutch business community. In the international consortium, the Netherlands will play a leading role as regards water management, sustainable production regimes and climate-neutral cities. The foreign co-locations will also be headed by leading universities, including ETH (Zurich), ParisTech (Paris), Imperial College (London) and Potsdam Institute for Climate Research (Berlin). The private sector partners are Bayer, Beluga Shipping GmbH, Cisco, DSM, EDF, SAP, Schiphol, Shell, Solar Valley and Thales. Climate KIC will also involve six major regions in Europe, where eco-innovations can be tested.
Pioneering research projects
Developing a method to calculate CO2 emissions at local level is an example of one of the many climate challenges confronting Europe. The CarboCount project, for example, aims to develop instruments and devices to measure and verify CO2 emissions at as low as the individual business level, the municipal level and ultimately the global level. The goal is to develop a standard. This demands a new form of partnership involving companies focused on developing sensor and observation technologies and those focusing on modelling and accounting. “A key strength of Climate KIC is that we, together with all our European partners, are capable of developing solutions which can be integrated along the entire innovation chain,” says Professor Van der Zwaan.
Knowledge and innovation communities
An initiative of EIT, the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) strive to conceive solutions, which will have a major impact on European society, for a sustainable future. This will be achieved by applying education, research and innovation activities to a commercial context. Financial support for the KICs is provided by the EU, which has allocated a budget in excess of €300 million through to 2013, and by KIC private partners. The KICs will operate for no more than 15 years in order to ensure the partnership’s middle- and long-term continuity and prospects. The first three KICs designated by EIT focus on climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable energy and the future information and communication society.
Further information
Peter van der Wilt, Utrecht University press officer, +31 30 2533705, P.M.vanderWilt@uu.nl
About the KICs:
www.eit.europa.eu
www.Climate-KIC-proposal.org