BIS launches £3m search for next "Green Genius"

The competition has invited entrepreneurs and businesses to submit solutions to green issues such as clean reliable energy and food and water security.

25/06/2012

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has launched a new competition to find the UK’s next ‘Green Genius’.

The £3million competition, launched by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, invites entrepreneurs and businesses to submit solutions to green issues such as clean reliable energy and food and water security.

Launching the competition, the Deputy Prime Minister said:

“When it comes to green innovation, Britain is a world leader. The ‘green’ sector is worth 8 per cent of UK GDP – the largest proportion of any of the leading industrial G20 nations – and employs almost 940,000 people - up 2.8 per cent from last year. Sales in the green economy are also growing at a rate of 4.7 per cent.

“Now we want the very best of Britain’s green talent to set their minds to some of the toughest challenges facing the country today – how to keep bills down for households and businesses and ensure we manage our food, water and energy supplies more sustainably,” he added.

According to BIS, successful projects will aim to develop technologies that secure long-term resource security, are economically and environmentally affordable and which support improvements in the natural environment and wellbeing.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said:

“Low carbon industries have a key role to play in building strong, sustainable and balanced growth. There is great potential for our world leading companies and engineers to be at the forefront of developing new technologies which can help combat some of the most pressing issues facing all of us. By helping to bring those ideas to market we can not only benefit our economy, but also the environment.”

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said:

“UK businesses, engineers and scientists are known all over the world for coming up with solutions to the most difficult problems. Through this new competition we are asking them to come forward with their ideas on how to tackle three of the most urgent issues we face - the problems of food, energy and water sustainability. The solutions are out there and I look forward to seeing what the best of British innovators can come up with.”

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Edward Davey said:

“To tackle climate change and move to a clean energy system, we need to change the way people use and think about energy. UK business is ideally placed to come up with some of the creative solutions that could help. That is why DECC are putting £1m into this scheme, which will encourage innovation and give UK entrepreneurs a step up”.

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