Ireland has earned its place in the EU’s Climate Knowledge Innovation Community (Climate-KIC), a knowledge sharing forum which aims to mitigate climate change and associated emerging societal problems by stimulating the emergence of a vibrant, low-carbon business community across Europe. This is the first time an Irish ‘community’ has been selected to join Climate-KIC giving Ireland access to €250,000 in 2014 with potential for further funding between now and 2020.
Through an innovative collaboration of Dublin’s clean tech cluster, The Green Way, and Cork’s energy industry network, Energy Cork, €250,000 has been secured in the first year and they are now calling for Irish researchers to apply for the first live programme; Pioneers into Practice. Climate-KIC is the only pan-European network that addresses the climate change challenge and seeks to generate employment opportunities from this area. It brings together academia, industry and individuals to create a community focussed on generating solutions, jobs, products and services. It is organised by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology who mission is to create sustainable growth across Europe.
Welcoming the announcement, Enterprise Ireland CEO Julie Sinnamon said: “Ireland has a fantastic knowledge base and research community in the area of climate change and sustainability. The Green Way and Energy Cork have secured a foot in the door of the most significant climate change partnership across Europe and maximising the cross- European opportunities in this emerging area will bring real benefits for industry in Ireland and generate job opportunities.”
The programme will accept applications from researchers, entrepreneurs, established businesses and other climate change practitioners. Participants will benefit from placements and exchanges, study visits and training courses.
Commenting Aideen O’Hora, Executive Director of The Green Way said: “We are delighted to have been selected as part of this European wide research project. We have secured €250,000 and it is hoped that a successful collaboration in 2014 will lead to further opportunities in future years. The EU is leading research and innovative solutions to the challenge of climate change and Ireland is strongly placed to participate in a meaningful way and capitalise on the available opportunities.”
Kieran Lettice, Project Manager, Energy Cork added: “We have just launched the first call for participation, but seek expressions of interest from other companies and research organisations who may be interested in participating in the suite of activities we’ll be rolling out in 2014. Our objective is to identify people with knowledge and skills in the low carbon sector to share this with other organisations to drive innovation and job creation incompanies and research institutions.”
Source: Envirocentre.ie – The Green Way and Energy Cork Secure Irish Climate KIC
