The Australian Climate Knowledge and Innovation Community (Climate-KIC Australia) was officially launched today, with Curtin University signing on as one of the founding partners.
The Climate-KIC Australia links businesses, entrepreneurs, researchers, investors and government to address the challenges and identify opportunities relating to climate change.
Professor Deborah Terry, Curtin Vice-Chancellor, said Curtin was proud to be the only West Australian university involved in the project.
“Curtin understands the need to collaborate to build networks, link ideas, commercial know-how and investment capital, to form innovative solutions and transform the way Australia responds to climate change,” Professor Terry said.
“Partnering with other public and private organisations will facilitate discussions and ultimately drive solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation, to bring about systematic change.”
Climate-KIC Australia is based on the successful European EIT Climate-KIC model, which was established six years ago by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
Professor Greg Morrison, Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute (CUSP), said Australia was already experiencing climate changes but the problem was broader and longer than government or business was used to addressing.
“Australian businesses that learn how to win and thrive in the innovative, new low-carbon economy will be positioned to succeed in a world in transition,” Professor Morrison said.
“Curtin recognises the need to connect people and knowledge to create innovation and as such, we will be working with companies and businesses, governments and other universities to create new business and start-up opportunities for WA.
“I am excited to lead this initiative from Curtin and optimistic about what we can achieve together.”
Other Climate-KIC Australia partners include Suncorp, South Pole Group, University of Melbourne (Victoria), the Governments of South Australia, Australia Capital Territory, New South Wales and Victoria, and Griffith University (Queensland).
The launch of Climate-KIC Australia coincides with this year’s global ‘Climathon’ which will see EIT Climate-KIC and Climate-KIC Australia collaborate in the delivery of the Australian edition of the annual global 24-hour hackathon for early ideation of climate solutions at the city level.
More than 200 participants will take part across six Australian cities – Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Perth (Fremantle) and Adelaide.
For more information about the Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute, visit http://www.curtin.edu.au/research/cusp/.
For more information about Climate-KIC Australia, visit www.climate-kic-australia.org.
