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INFORM Finance
CONSERVATION INNOVATION
The world’s largest hotel firm,
InterContinental Hotels Group
(IHG) has joined forces with the CBI demands IP protection
University of Oxford to fund
research into conservation. The The CBI is calling on government
company has pledged $1M to ensure UK firms that develop
over a five-year period to help innovative low-carbon products
Oxford increase its research will continue to have their intel-
capability. lectual property (IP) protected
And IHG will use this research under international law.
to inform its future hotel design The business group said the
and operations. current IP system is working, and
Working with communities urged the Government not to
and scientists, Oxford’s research throw away the UK’s competitive
will help to pinpoint and publi- advantage at the global climate
cise areas of the planet that change talks in Copenhagen
have the greatest concentration in December.
of rare and threatened plants, Speaking at the CBI’s Climate Will developers of low-carbon technology remain protected?
any of which could be useful to Change Forum in London, John
all of us one day. Cridland, CBI deputy director- Organisation in facilitating low- use the UK’s existing strengths.
general, said that protection for IP carbon IP, encouraging companies We cannot hope to compete in all
CONSULTANTS
is a key incentive for business to and countries to work together to the low-carbon technologies, but
One in four companies in the develop and deploy new low-car- support developing countries.” where we do compete, we must
UK environmental consultancy bon technology. Cridland was launching a CBI look to lead,” he said.
sector is making a loss as the Looking ahead to the talks in report on how best to maximise “We need to develop the right
downturn continues to make Copenhagen, he said: “There are opportunities for UK businesses commercial environment. Many
life difficult. worrying signs that the in a global low-carbon market things will have to come together
But how many of these 189 Government is preparing to blink worth £3T. Pulling Ahead: for investment to be successful,
loss-making companies have on this issue to help the rapid dif- Innovating for Low-Carbon including the right research and
simply had a bad year and how fusion of low-carbon technologies Leadership sets out recommenda- development environment, the
many are burying their head in in developing countries. tions for government and busi- right protection for intellectual
the sand is the subject of a new “Any compulsory licensing of nesses to ensure the UK can lead property, improved access to
study. David Pattison, author of these technologies would be dam- the way in low-carbon innovation. finance and a better skills base.
a market report into company aging in the longer term by reduc- It also showcases UK firms “And we also need to embrace
performance, said: “We are see- ing the incentive for business to who are already low-carbon suc- innovation. This doesn’t just mean
ing companies making a loss for continue innovating. cess stories, spanning the automo- a race to develop and deliver new
the first time and they can claim “The growing number of tive, electronics, information tech- technologies. It also means indi-
they are victims of difficult trad- patents from emerging countries nology and off-shore and sub-sea vidual companies looking for
ing conditions. A refocus on shows that the current regime of engineering sectors. ways to reduce their own emis-
profitability would ensure this protection is working. Building on these sorts of suc- sions and to inspire their employ-
an isolated occurrence.” “There could be a role for the cess stories will require three ees to achieve this, and it means
World Intellectual Property things, said Cridland. “We need to improving our carbon literacy.”
RISK
One third of companies plan to
INDUSTRY
decrease their risk manage-
ment budget over the next
Ignorance undermines engineering
year, according to research by
the Institute of Risk Engineering has become “an the role of engineering, with the National Grid’s chief execu-
Management (IRM). Only a invisible industry” that is under- majority of young people and tive, Steve Holliday said: “This
quarter said it would increase. valued and undermined by out- parents regarding it as dirty and report makes worrying reading.
When asked how secure they dated stereotypes, according to menial work. National Grid sits at the heart of
felt in their jobs, 44% of IRM research from National Grid. The findings show that there is the challenges of climate change,
members said they felt less Engineering Our Future was confusion about the role of engi- security of supply and affordabil-
secure than a year ago, but commissioned to look at the atti- neers, with six out of ten young ity of energy in the UK.
35% felt the same. Less than tudes towards engineering among people not able to name a recent “We need lots of very clever
one in five felt more secure. young people, parents and teach- engineering achievement. The people who can make things hap-
IRM’s Steve Fowler said: “If ers. More than 1,300 interviews report also suggests that teachers pen and think outside the box to
organisations want to take were conducted with young peo- and parents think engineering is a create a different world in the
advantage of opportunities in ple aged 14 to 19. career for the “less academic”. future. We need to inspire
the upturn they are going to It revealed disturbingly low Girls are also ten times less today’s youth and help them to
have to put appropriate levels of awareness and interest, likely to say they would pursue a see how exciting and interesting a
resources into managing their and a picture of confusion about career in engineering. career in engineering can be.”
risks effectively.”
COUNTRY FACTS HONG KONG HAS 153 VEHICLES FOR EVERY MILE OF ROAD
10 October 2009 ❘ Sustainable Business
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