First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to speak at world's biggest cleantech competition
First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon will address the ClimateLaunchpad Global Grand Final - the culminating event of the world’s biggest cleantech ideas competition - tomorrow (Friday 2 November 2018).
Ms Sturgeon will give the keynote address on Day 2 of the event, hosted in Scotland for the first time by ECCI, which kicks off today .
Taking place in Edinburgh’s iconic McEwan Hall, the final's packed programme includes 135 cleantech start-ups from 45 countries around the globe. They will be competing for the chance to win up to €10,000 and a place on the prestigious Climate-KIC Accelerator programme.
ECCI is rolling out the red carpet for the event, where the three winners of the Scottish ClimateLaunchpad competition will go head-to-head with entrepreneurs from around the globe.
Talented Scottish trio
Russell Gibb, Planet Heat – ex-military engineer based in Renfrewshire working on a way to source heat from rivers.
Jacqueline Bruce, Undisturbed – Dumbarton-based creator of a luxury hemp shower curtain to reduce plastic waste.
Lorenzo Conti, Crover – a University of Edinburgh PhD student who has created a robotic device to measure conditions in bulk grain storage and reduce waste.
The three start-ups are all supported by the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), host of the 2018 ClimateLaunchpad Global Grand Final and the leading low carbon hub for Scotland and beyond. Based in the capital city of one of the world’s most climate-ambitious countries, ECCI supports innovative cleantech start-ups and delivers game-changing projects for a thriving zero carbon future.
World-leading targets
Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, said: “With world-leading emissions targets and a long and proud history of innovation, Scotland punches above its weight when it comes to climate action.
“Scotland’s academic expertise and strong data and energy sectors mean we are ideally placed to take our place in the new low carbon economy.
“It’s a pleasure to welcome the world’s most ambitious green entrepreneurs to our capital to network and compete - I wish our three Scottish competitors all the very best.”
Russell Gibb, founder of Planet Heat, said: “Scotland leads the way when it comes to supporting entrepreneurs so it makes a lot of sense that the final is here in Edinburgh for the first time this year.
“I’m really looking forward to soaking up the atmosphere, experiencing the buzz and learning from all the other fantastic finalists from around the world.”
Jacqueline Bruce, founder of Undisturbed, said: “Scotland has a fantastic contribution to make to sustainability and the circular economy and a world-class entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“Being part of ClimateLaunchpad gives us the opportunity to be a part of something that’s much bigger than us.”
Lorenzo Conti, founder and CEO of Crover, said: “The amount of expertise and training available in Scotland is incredible and having the belief of others in what I’m doing is massively motivational.
“I want to do Scotland proud and win!”
ECCI Deputy Director and national EIT Climate-KIC lead for Scotland, Ed Craig, said: "From start-ups to investors and cleantech experts, ClimateLaunchpad brings the global crème de la crème together to unlock great ideas and make a positive climate impact.
“It’s a huge privilege for ECCI to be hosting the world’s biggest green ideas competition here in Edinburgh. "We can’t wait to roll out the red carpet for the world’s best cleantech start-ups and see Scotland’s top ClimateLaunchpad recruits battle it out for the ultimate prize.”
Missed out on tickets?
This year’s ClimateLaunchpad competition is part of the VentureFest Scotland innovation festival.