GreenQ programme

The GreenQ Programme focuses on facilitating lasting partnerships between European high growth start-ups seeking scaling opportunities in China and Chinese organisations seeking to learn and partner with high growth and scalable technologies from Europe.

The programme is run by ‘EIT Hub China’, as part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Global Outreach programme, in partnership with the Low Carbon College in Lingang, Shanghai – a joint initiative between Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the University of Edinburgh. This organisational partnership enables European high growth start-ups to access facilities, knowledge and networks to support their scaling in Asia.

Green Q was developed for University of Edinburgh by ECCI’s Head of International and Dean of the China-UK Low Carbon College Ed Craig.

The programme is designed to

• Rigorously and effectively support a selected number of the best EIT KIC Accelerator Stage-3 or later start-ups to become familiar, informed and actively engaged and impactful with Chinese partners in the Chinese, Asian and Global market.
• Identify, enable and accelerate the formation of partnerships, opportunities and business engagement between Europe and Chinese organisations and their innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems.

2020 programme

There will be 2 cohorts of EIT Hub China supported start-ups participating in the GreenQ programme in 2020.

The first cohort focused on start-ups with business models, products and services that focused on the circular economy, water and waste solutions that could be scalable within the Chinese and Asian markets. The 6 start-ups selected for cohort 1 are KITRO, Weco-Toilet, Invertapro, ECCI- alumni Carbogenics, Whole Surplus and Circularise.

After an introductory session in week one with Mary Ritter (International Ambassador and Former CEO of EIT Climate-KIC), the cohort of 13 took part in a CEO session, hearing from Gordon Mcgregor – (CEO of Ashburn Energy) and David Westwood (Chief Operating Officer of Nomad Energy Solutions).

Future sessions will focus on specialist themes relevant to doing businesses in China, including understanding legal, strategic and finance frameworks and focusing on markets and advances in areas such as smart cities, water, waste and circular economy.

The programme culminates in an opportunity to meet directly with potential partners and customers in December.