Towards a zero-carbon growth economy: global expertise and decision-makers team up in Malmö

-When: May 23, 1pm-5pm (followed by match-making mingle)

-Where: High Court, Malmö, Sweden

During “Speeding up for Change”, investors, cities and regions meet up to use design-thinking to find clean energy and transport innovations. As part of the event’s programme, two international competitions as an incentive for sustainable innovation will be announced.

The event is organised by the Swedish Energy Agency and their partners: Swedish Incubators and Science Parks (SISP), UN Habitat, ERA-Net SES, WWF, IDEO and Common Pool. “Speeding up for Change” happens in conjunction with Mission Innovation Ministerial 3 and is part of the Nordic Clean Energy Week.

“It will be an intense afternoon with large ambitions”, says Charlotte Lejon, head of commercialisation and enterpreneurship at the Swedish Energy Agency. “That’s exactly what we need if we are to meet our climate goals and speed up the transition towards a zero-carbon economy. Our goal is to kick-off important partnerships with an impact far beyond May 23rd”.

“Speeding up for Change” is one of the milestones of “A Challenge from Sweden”, an initiative that, among other methods, uses competitions and innovation procurement to help partners become more knowledgeable buyers and sharper service-providers through co-operation.

“Something exciting happens when these partners meet. Cities get to define the ‘must haves’ of the solutions they buy, while innovators get access to more demanding clients - but also a potentially larger business volume”, says Olle Dierks, director for global challenges at SISP. “These business opportunities are key to effect change”.

Cash prizes and funding foster sustainable innovations

Representatives of Belo Horizonte (Brazil), the Government of India, Silicon Valley Forum, UN Habitat, WWF, IDEO, Common Pool and General Electrics are some of the event’s speakers, moderators and workshop facilitators. During “Speeding up for Change”, two international competitions will be pre-launched.

In addition, a network of cities and regions will present the opportunities of accessing the 100 USD million investment fund to finance energy and transport initiatives. Another network will launch a 40 USD million research call for local and regional energy systems.

For the full programme, please visit:

https://speedingupforchange.confetti.events

For media queries (and to confirm media attendance):

Sergio Guimaraes, sergio@speakingofpr.se, +46 (0)76 1 789 444

About Mission Innovation

A group of 22 countries and the European Commission are co-operating to find clean energy solutions that are commercially viable and widely available. Member countries, representing 58 percent of the world population and over 80 percent of global clean energy research budgets, have the ambition of doubling up their governments’ investment in clean energy research and innovation over a period of five years up to 2021.

About Mission Innovation 3 and Nordic Clean Energy Week

Two high-profile international Mission Innovation events have taken place. The next one - Third Mission Innovation Ministerial - will take place in May 2018 and is hosted by Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden as well as the European Commission and the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Just as the Ninth Clean Energy Ministerial in Copenhagen, this is part of Nordic Clean Energy week on 21 – 25 May, 2018.

About “A Challenge from Sweden”

A Challenge from Sweden promotes challenge-driven innovation to support

public and private organisations. The goal is to accelerate the shift towards a zero carbon, growth economy. Through a series of competitions, events and other initiatives, A Challenge from Sweden encourages co-operation in innovation procurement, testing and implementation. It also provides innovators and entrepreneurs with access to investors and opportunities to commercialise sustainable solutions.

A Challenge from Sweden is an initiative by the Swedish Energy Agency in co-operation with Swedish Incubators & Science Parks and other organisations.