Eco-InnovationEco-Innovation Workshops
The Eco-Innovation Conference
21st May 2008
University for the Creative Arts
Farnham
Surrey
UK
Organised by: eco-i net (www.cfsd.org.uk/eco-i-net)
Background
Governments can play a key role in accelerating the take-up of eco-innovations by deploying a coordinated set of policy instruments: legislation, public procurement, standardisation, labelling, certification and complementary instruments. A smarter policy approach will give industry and entrepreneurs the opportunity to commercialise leading-edge products, services and technologies aimed at satisfying new high-growth greener markets. In an attempt to enable this the EC have established a Lead Market Initiative (see http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/leadmarket/leadmarket.htm) which will focus on four eco-innovative markets: sustainable construction; recycling; bio-based products; and renewable energies. These sectors have been chosen because they are: highly innovative; supported by well characterised customer needs; founded on a strong technological and industrial base in Europe; and depend on the creation of favourable framework conditions resulting from public intervention.
In addition, to increasing public sector interest in the eco-innovation space, the Third Green Consumer Wave is presenting a range of new opportunities. Many businesses and consumers have a growing interest in eco-innovative solutions that, for example, help reduce carbon footprints, increase recycling and save money. Companies are responding, Philips have recently announced that they will spend €1 billion on green innovation to 2012 and Google are now moving into solar technologies. However, getting good eco-innovative ideas from that eureka moment in the shower to the drawing board and then through research and development to the market requires many elements to come together - customers, luck, judgement, drive, skill, finance, creativity and more. The Eco-Innovation Networking Conference will showcase the inspiring stories of a series of eco-innovative entrepreneurs who will present their journeys through the commercialisation of sustainable construction, recycling, bio-based and renewable energy technologies and products. The conference will be an essential resource for entrepreneurs, funders, policy-makers, researchers and others that are interested in understanding the coal-face realities and practicalities of eco-innovation, clean-tech, and sustainable product and technology development.
Events organised by eco-i net bring together a unique mix of of a usually un-connected stakeholders in eco-innovation in a practical yet challenging format that provides an unrivalled forum for the exchange of ideas, experiences and business cards!
Programme
Chairman: Martin Charter, Director, The Centre for Sustainable Design, University for the Creative Arts
9.00 Registration
9.30 Introduction
Martin Charter, Director, The Centre for Sustainable Design, University for the Creative Arts
9.45 Eco-innovation: A new European Programme on Eco-Innovation.
Beatriz Yordi, Head of Unit - Eco-Innovation, EACI, European Commission
10.15 From dot.com to GreenBiz
Martin Chilcott, CEO, Meltwater Ventures
10.45 Biomimicry: Driver for Innovation
Professor George Jeronimidis, Director, Centre for Biomimetics, University of Reading
11.15 Coffee & Networking
11.40 The Lighthouse Project: Driving Innovative Sustainable Building Technologies
Martin Rose, Project Manager – The Lighthouse, SheppardRobson
12.10 The Eco-Entrepreneurship Journey
Gary Waterworth Owen, CEO, ResponseAbility Alliance
12.40 Discussion
1.00 Lunch
2.00 DIY Kyoto: A Low Carbon Innovator’s Story
Richard Woods, Director, DIY Kyoto Ltd
2.30 Recycling Innovation: A Design Entrepreneur's Perspective
Rob Brown, Director, Sprout Design Ltd
3.00 Coffee & Networking
3.30 Eco-bin: From Ideas To Commercialisation
Dr Chris Moon, Founder, Waste4Recycling
4.00 Discussion
4.35 Conference Summary
Martin Charter, Director, The Centre for Sustainable Design, University for the Creative Arts
4.45 Drinks and Networking
6.00 Close
Venue
The University for the Creative Arts at Farnham offers specialist teaching and research in a range of art, design, cinematics and communications areas.
The Farnham campus is situated 50 minutes by train from London Waterloo, with both London airports within easy reach (Heathrow via the M3, M25 and M4, and Gatwick via the M25 and M23).
Please click here for map and directions
Accommodation
Please click here for a list of accommodation in Farnham
Fees
There is a £88.13 fee for attending the conference
