Business News
Challenge launched to cut carbon emissions
Start-ups and small businesses seeking support to develop and scale green projects using 5G technology are being helped by a new West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and 5SPRING initiative. The Green Innovation Challenge was open to
any UK business looking for support to use 5G to develop green innovations. Successful applicants gained access to cutting
edge technology and a private 5G network, a tailored acceleration curriculum, coaching, mentoring and expertise provided throughout the programme from experts at Telefonica UK (O2), Deloitte, Wayra and the Digital Catapult. Successful applicants will start working with
5PRING in Birmingham from January, 2021. Andy Street, mayor of the West Midlands, said:
“Our businesses are going to play a crucial role in helping us hit our zero-carbon emissions target by 2041. “We will all need to play our part in making the
transition to zero carbon, but the drive and ingenuity of our region’s entrepreneurs is going to be absolutely essential to staying on track. That’s why we launched our Green Innovation Challenge, to incentivise businesses to develop new green innovations. Led by the 5G team at 5PRING, the scheme will offer support and resource to successful applicants in order to help us build back greener here in the West Midlands.”
5SPRING is a consortium helping businesses
harness 5G and accelerate growth and innovation. WMCA is aiming for the West Midlands to be
carbon neutral by 2041, according to the Combined Authority's 2041 programme. By 2050 the number of green jobs is forecast
to increase tenfold to over 1.2 million with an associated increase in economic value – according to the Local Government Association. Organisers also say that water management
has become an increasingly important business and environmental issue in need of development. In order to better facilitate the development of
5G solutions specifically tailored to improve water management and advance the 'circular economy', 5PRING has enlisted the support and sponsorship of Birmingham re-cycling firm SUEZ. As part of the SUEZ sponsorship, experts from SUEZ will provide mentorship to successful applicants throughout the challenge, as well as support to identify business development and investment opportunities. Ben Harding, UK and Ireland country leader for
SUEZ - Water Technologies & Solutions, added: “Water resources, even in developed nations like the United Kingdom, are becoming increasingly scarce. Access to bigger, reliable data and digital solutions can help businesses understand the amount of water being used. We’re excited to meet the applicants stepping up to take on these issues through the Green Innovation Challenge.”
Playing our part: Andy Street
36 CHAMBERLINK December 2020/January 2021
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