Member Article

Government launch £3m “Green Genius” competition

The Government have launched the “Green Genius” competition, which offers £3m for entrepreneurs and businesses to fund the development of green technologies.

Nick Clegg unveiled the competition which aims to develop solutions to questions of food, water and energy security.

The Deputy Prime Minister said: “When it comes to green innovation, Britain is a world leader. The ‘green’ sector is worth 8 per cent of UK GDP – the largest proportion of any of the leading industrial G20 nations – and employs almost 940,000 people - up 2.8% from last year. Sales in the green economy are also growing at a rate of 4.7%.

“Now we want the very best of Britain’s green talent to set their minds to some of the toughest challenges facing the country today – how to keep bills down for households and businesses and ensure we manage our food, water and energy supplies more sustainably.”

The competition will be run by the Technology Strategy Board, and will begin later this year.

Successful projects should develop technologies that secure long-term resource security, are economically and environmentally affordable, and support improvements in the natural environment and wellbeing.

Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman said: “UK businesses, engineers and scientists are known all over the world for coming up with solutions to the most difficult problems.

“Through this new competition we are asking them to come forward with their ideas on how to tackle three of the most urgent issues we face - the problems of food, energy and water sustainability.

“The solutions are out there and I look forward to seeing what the best of British innovators can come up with.”

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Edward Davey added: “To tackle climate change and move to a clean energy system, we need to change the way people use and think about energy.

“UK business is ideally placed to come up with some of the creative solutions that could help. That is why DECC are putting £1 million into this scheme, which will encourage innovation and give UK entrepreneurs a step up.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .