Climactio - Final Event

Closing event of the educational project „Climactio – Sustainability in the Chemical Industry” took place at Provadis School in Frankfurt am Main on 11-12 November 2015. Climactio is a Climate-KIC project that has been run by Provadis in cooperation with the German Association for the Chemical Industry (Verband der Chemischen Industrie, VCI) since 18 months. During this period participants from 11 companies could acquire knowledge and experience about CO₂ footprint and work on development and implementation of climate strategy for their companies. Understanding of chances and risk of a climate strategy is of particular importance for small and medium-sized companies.

Please find a press release here.

Industry 2030 - Dialogue for the future

The sustainability concept has wide-reaching consequences for both economy and society. Especially the Frankfurt Rhine-Main area is a place where sustainability has a potential to become a driver of further changes for start-ups, existing companies, universities and other structures.

How can you integrate sustainability into the company strategy and make it lucrative? What is the state of the art from a technical, economical, ecological and societal point of view? And more important: how can various networks in the Frankfurt Rhine-Main area collaborate in a more efficient way?

These questions will be discussed with decision makers from the industry and the science during the "Zukunftsdialog" (dialogue for the future) in the framework of “Industry 2030” organised by Provadis School.

Date: Wednesday, 11 November 2015, 17:30h
Location: Peter-Behrens-Bau (Building C770), Industriepark Höchst in Frankfurt/Main
Programme

Please find more information about other events of “Industry 2013” and registration form here.

Climate-KIC PhD Summer School elaborates concepts of sustainable economy for Frankfurt am Main

The annual Climate-KIC PhD School took place in Frankfurt am Main from 24 August to 4 September 2015. 16 PhD students from 14 international universities elaborated during two weeks their innovative concepts for Wirtschaftsförderung Frankfurt (Frankfurt Economic Development Company). The Summer School participants attended lectures and master classes, participated in study trips and discussions with high-level experts to learn about climate change challenges faced by Frankfurt and to draft their proposals for the sustainable future of the city.

As an organiser of the summer school, Provadis School of International Management and Technology is supported by TU Darmstadt and Goethe University in Frankfurt. The description of the tasks and topics came this year from Wirtschaftsförderung whose objectives in the framework of Industry Masterplan are to find solutions for both ambitious climate relevant objectives and the future competitive advantage of the city.

Please find complete information about Climate-KIC PhD Summer School here and the press release (in German) here.

Europe’s largest climate innovation summer school The Journey visits Hesse

40 international participants from 20 nations and two coaches from Denmark and Italy visited the German region of Hesse from 26 July to 8 August 2015 as a part of a five-week Climate-KIC Summer School The Journey. Starting in Darmstadt and then moving to the North of Hesse, students had the opportunity to attend lectures by leading environmental experts in the area of climate change from Technische Universität Darmstadt and University of Kassel, to meet city representatives, to apply their new knowledge in parallel sessions and to discover various methods of fostering creativity.

Moreover, the students visited the European Space Operations Centre, which showed its incubation support for start-ups and presented an overview of EUMETSAT’s (European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites) climate monitoring services.

"The talents of tomorrow need to be challenged and supported today. The Journey is a good place to test new ideas, to deepen your knowledge and to extend your network in the field of climate innovations", says Julia Milbredt, Climate-KIC Hessen Regional Education Manager, located at University of Kassel. Participants are excited about the possibilities offered by The Journey. One of the participants, Babajide Owoyele who comes from Nigeria and now studies at TU Berlin, plans to work on establishing renewables in the developing countries.

Please find out more about The Journey here.

Climate-KIC Accelerator Hessen Call

Climate-KIC Accelerator supports start-ups from the cleantech community europe-wide. Our teams profit from the professional support at development of their innovative business ideas about climate change mitigation. Climate-KIC Accelerator includes boot camps, individual coaching, access to the regional, national and international cleantech network with its master classes and events; teams receive also generous in-kind services.

Please find more information on our flyer and on the page of our partner Hochschule Provadis where you can ask for your application form.

Call open until 25 July 2015

Climate-KIC Accelerator deadline extended

Climate-KIC Accelerator is the only EU acceleration programme focused on climate impact by cleantech commercialisation. The cleantech start-up competition offers bootcamps / master classes, coaching, pitch and evaluation sessions and much more. You have a chance to participate in other local and international Climate-KIC events and get public attention.

Call has been extended to May 4th 2015.

Please fill in the application and send it to Irina Shults.

ClimateLaunchpad deadline extended

The Climate-KIC programme ClimateLaunchpad (former CleanLaunchpad) goes in the 2nd edition and is open for applications from over 20 European countries.

The programme addresses those who are eager to become entrepreneurs and have already an idea about sustainability, climate change mitigation or adaptation. From April to June 2015 you participate in the national part of the programme that includes a 2-days boot camp, coaching/workshops and national finals, it takes place in Darmstadt and Frankfurt am Main. Three best ideas will be invited to the EU finals in September 2015 to the Netherlands. The programme is run in English.

Boot camp: evening of 28 April + whole days of 29-30 April 2015

National finals: 23 June 2015

Submission deadline for Germany was extended until 12 April 2015

Details and application: www.climatelaunchpad.org |  flyer

Contact: Irina Shults.

Climate-KIC Accelerator is open for applications

Climate-KIC RIC Accelerator Programme 2015 (successor of Incubation Programme carried out by Climate-KIC Hessen in 2012-2014) is open for applications. This cleantech start-up competition offers bootcamps / master classes, coaching, pitch and evaluation sessions and much more. You have a chance to participate in other local and international Climate-KIC events and get public attention.

Accelerator includes three stages: Fundamentals and business model definition, Business model validation and market analysis, Delivery and investment readiness. Each of them lasts 2-3 months and is concluded by a jury session. The most successful start-ups receive financial support in the value of up to 20,000€ (total costs per start-up, project-related).

Call is open till 10 April 2015.

Please fill in the application and send it to Irina Shults.

Pioneers into Practice Programme 2015

The Pioneers into Practice programme (PiP) will start its 2015 edition with the Introductory workshop very soon. The PiP management team of Climate-KIC Centre Hessen is already looking forward to welcoming all in all 40 Pioneers in Frankfurt am Main to carry out the first workshop.

For the successful development of the programme, we are looking for coaches in the region of Hessen and Helsinki-Uusimaa who are willing to actively support the PiP management team as well as the Pioneers during the whole programme from April to November 2015.

Please find the official job description including key roles, responsibilities, knowledge requirements, skills and experience we expect from our coaches.

In case you are interested and would like to apply, please send your complete application documents (cover letter, europass CV and references) to us.

We are looking forward to integrating you in our team!

Contact: Kirsten Löw-Knower (kirsten.loew-knower@climate-kic.org), +49 (0)69 305 7349

Registration for Journey 2015 begins

Short Course: The Value of Adaptation to Climate Change

For professionals who work in the field of climate change adaptation or want to become experts, Climate-KIC Hessen and CliMA offered the program " Short Course : The Value of Adaptation to Climate Change" from 1 to 2 December 2014 in Frankfurt am Main.

A total of 16 participants from Germany, Slovenia, Finland, Spain, Poland, Great Britain and the Netherlands participated in the course. The program was aimed at professionals who wish to acquire skills to assess the importance and prioritization of adaptation measures to climate change. The necessary skills for those tasks were conveyed in theoretical and practical training sessions. In addition, guest speakers from different European countries provided an international overview of successful adaptation practices which are already being used successfully in different areas affected by climate change. The "short courses" also offered an ideal opportunity for regional, national and international experts in these areas to establish networks and business contacts.

Photos of the event there here.

Hessian visit into Finlands innovative heart

This year, the European Innovation Network Climate-KIC started collaborations with the so-called Outreach regions to involve them more directly in the promotion of climate action. For Climate-KIC Centre Hessen, collaboration partner is the region Helsinki-Uusimaa. Focus of the program is a closer relationship between regions in the areas of "Cleantech Startups", "Low Carbon Housing" and "urban infrastructure". 25 Hessian guests attended the second part of the Outreach Program in 2014 and visited Helsinki from 11 - 13 of November.

"Both regions perfectly complement each other, especially in the areas of innovation and scientific progress, thus there are numerous opportunities for cooperation," said the coordinator of the program Ayeshe Hercules, Outreach Manager of the Climate-KIC Hessen during the visit in Helsinki. This also became clear in the scheduled workshops. After lectures about the area of Helsinki-Uusimaa, their progress in sustainability and their exemplary accomplishments, participants brain stormed about possible projects and cooperation of the regions.

"I am very pleased that the participants show high motviation to take on responsibilities in an early stage," says Christian Henschke, Innovation Manager of Climate-KIC Centre Hessen, who coordinated the workshop: "This certainly reflects the diverse professional background of the visitors". Very different participants applied for these years "Study Visits": city officials, architects, product designers and young cleantech-entrepreneurs from all over Hessen brought their expertise and experience to Helsinki to discuss with their Finnish partners about future collaborations.

More informationen is available here.

Pictures are available here.

Out of the comfort zone - Into climate protection

As Birgit Lenzner-Muhl got on her plane to Italy in the spring of this year, she had no idea what to expect in the region Emilia-Romagna. "Of course, I had never worked in a tomato-processing factory before, but I was really looking forward to my new host and the unknown environment," said Birgit Lenzner-Muhl, participant of this year's "Pioneers into Practice" program. In her host company Lenzner-Muhl was entrusted with the task of developing new workflows to save energy. "As an engineer in the environmental management field, I could of course contribute a lot in that area. Despite the language barrier, many processes could be optimised to provide an optimum power output in the factory".

In total, more than 240 Pioneers participated in the European wide project. "Pioneers into Practice" is an interdisciplinary education program of the Climate-KIC. It provides individuals, businesses and institutions with the opportunity to develop joint projects and to be part of a unique European network. The participants go through two four-week internships in partner institutions (companies, NGOs, government) and engage their hosts in accordance with their existing expertise. Between projects the program offers several workshops and meetings with all participants and hosts, providing the opportunity to interact internationally and to make new contacts. 

Our photo gallery is available here.

Industrie 2030: Prospects for a sustainable economy in Hessen

The switch to renewable resources and the establishment of a comprehensive recycling economy are important elements of a sustainable economy. The event "Industrie 2030" provides the opportunity to engage CEOs of leading companies and scientists to build a valuable network for the future of the industry. On November 20, 2014 at 17:00 o´clock, the Provadis School of International Management invites interested participants to attend "Industrie 2030". The event takes place in the Peter Behrens Building, Building C770, Hoechst Industrial Park. Experts like Dr. Achim Marx (Evonik Industries) , Prof. Dr. Thomas Bayer ( Provadis University ), Dr. Christian Henschke (Climate -KIC Innovation Lead Hesse), Dr. Manfred Kircher ( KADIB - Kircher Advice in Bioeconomy ) and Dr. Thomas Beck ( Infraserv Höchst) will share their expertise on various topics and issues:

• The bioeconomy requires unusual value chains. How can these be successfully controlled?
• What are the current trends in research and development?
• What are the new alliances between science, business and management as drivers of innovation ?
• Is the Hessian view enough? What can we achieve together with other regions?
• What contribution can the existing infrastructure make on a functioning circular economy?

Participants can register free of charge up to 18/11/2014 :

Petra Ahrens
Tel.: + 49 69 305-16893
E-Mail: petra.ahrens@provadis-hochschule.de
www.provadis-hochschule.de/industrie2030

Hessian start-up wins award in CleanLaunchpad finals in Valencia

After an intensive six months tour of boot camps, coaching sessions and national finals, thirty of Europe’s best cleantech ideas from eleven European countries were taken to stage in Valencia in the morning of 29^th of October 2014. Thirty of EU’s leading investors and entrepreneurs were judging the pitches in five parallel sessions. Seven start-ups reached the Climate-KIC CleanLaunchpad Grand EU final, that very afternoon.

The winners Sara and Alexander of Wavetube (Sweden) receive EUR 10,000 for further development of their cleantech idea. Second Prize Winner Desolenator (UK) EUR 5,000 and Third Prize Winner Cambond (UK) EUR 2,500. The audience favorite was start-up OR-KESS from Hessen (Germany). However, the best prize is that they are now accepted into Climate-KIC Accelerator, the world’s first real-life business school for promising cleantech entrepreneurs.

OR-KESS takes the dynamic grid stabilization role from conventional power plants. Hence, it enables their shutdown without losing the supply security. OR-KESS aims to provide the kind of highly dynamic energy storage system that is the missing link to achieve the European climate change objectives as well as the German nuclear phase-out. Compared to competing technologies like capacitors, lithium-ion batteries and other flywheel systems this unique technology can be perfectly adapted to the field of application reducing the system costs and energy consumption.

“Six years ago I started working as a research assistant at the Institute for Mechatronic Systems in Mechanical Engineering at Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany. During this time I developed the outer-rotor-concept whose proof of function we provided in January 2014. Due to our success and the positive feedback we got our working group was able to grow from one to four employees”, says founder Hendrik Schaede in his application for the programme.

More information is available here.

Closing event "Pioneers into Practice"-Program

Climate-KIC Centre Hessen invites all interested parties, current and former participants of the "Pioneers into Practice" program to join this year's final event on November 6, 2014 from 16 o´clock in the "Provadis School of International Management and Technology AG" (Hoechst Industrial Park , Bldg B835 , R. 21/1 , 65926 Frankfurt am Main). A general introduction into the ideas behind the Pioneers into Practice Program will be presented, before the participants, host companies and institutions report from practical experience. The central idea of this EU program is the interdisciplinary exchange between experts, companies and institutions in the field of energy and climate change, mainly through two four-week internships (in Hessen and abroad).

Participants of this year's program have been in cooperation with companies and institutions throughout Hessen in the last six months. New business cases and further joint cooperation between participants and hosts could be accomplished in many cases. We would like to discuss the results of the projects and group work, reflecting this year's program as well as provide an outlook for 2015. Following the presentations, we invite you to a get-together. Please send an informal pre-registration via E-Mail to Alexander Schneider. 

Climate-KIC start-up started a crowdfunding campaign

The start-up rucksackspende is one of the winners of the start-up competition Incubation Programme 2013 of Climate-KIC Centre Hessen. Now the team is launching a crowdfunding campaign at startnext.de/rucksackspende.

The founders of rucksackspende have made it their mission to develop a solar-powered treatment device for surgical instruments. It should be used in developing regions where there is often no electricity and no clean water. Therefore, many people being operated get infected with germs.

The product, a medical backpack, is a robust medical device and can clean, disinfect and sterilize surgical instruments. The required high-purity water is processed directly inside the backpack from any water source like rivers, lakes and wells. Thus, it prevents infectious diseases leading often to death.

Everybody can support the crowdfunding campaign from the 7^th of October till the 3^rd of December 2014 and get a backpack from Deuter as a "thank you" present starting with a 50 euros share. This compaign’s aim is to finance the first prototype.

How exactly the backpack works and where it is developed you will see in the video.  

Exchange Visits Helsinki: Application deadline approaches

This programme is aimed at experienced professionals in the areas of `Low Carbon Housing',`Urban infrastructure' and `Cleantech-Startups '. It is designed to bring the two regions Hessen and Helsinki-Uusimaa closer together and enable longterm partnerships between them. 

The kick-off event in Frankfurt offered the finnish participants excursions to Hessens Low-Carbon-Hotspots and qualified lectures from experienced experts - a good foundation for future cooperations and a great networking oppurtunity. The revisit to Helsinki-Uusimaa aims to be as intersting and diverse as the first part of the programme. Participants will be able to actively cooperate with the leaders in futureshaping knowledge transfer in their respective regions. 

Professionals in the earlier mentioned areas are very welcome to participate. We want to incourage experts, entrepreneurs, municipality staff, scientists and academics from germany to actively shape this promising cooperation. Travel expenses can be reimbursed by the Climate-KIC Centre Hessen.

The deadline for applications is 1st November 2014. Please send your applications to: hercules@energycenter.tu-darmstadt.de

Application for Short Courses to start soon

The programme is for professionals at EU regional and local scale who recently started or plan to become active in the field of adaptation to climate change in the near future. Climate-KIC Hessen will organise the programm „Short Course: The Value of Adaptation to Climate Change“ from 01. to 02. of December in Frankfurt am Main. Participants will develop an in-depth understanding of the subject of climate change adaptation and its relevance, and will develop understanding and skills to tackle the challenge. The programme will provide both theoretical and practical knowledge through input by experts from various fields combined with interactive activities focusing on individual challenges, completed with communication skills training. This intensive 2 day workshop will take an approach to take an international view of adaptation measures with participants and speakers from across Europe and from sectors threatened by flooding or heat. The "Short Courses" also provide the opportunity to build a network of practitioners with the capabilities to become a frontrunner in adaptation issues and network on an international level. 

The course fee is €400. The fee covers accommodation, course material and 2 daily meals. Bursaries covering the full amount are available on a first come first served basis. 

The deadline for applications is 31^st October 2014. Applications will be made through the Climate KIC website. 

Finnish Visitors come to see Climate-KIC Hessen

The European Innovation Network Climate-KIC will start its cooperation with its so-called outreach-regions this year, to broaden its impact on climate-innovation funding. Climate-KIC Centre Hessens partner is the region Helsinki-Uusimaa. 24 guests from the finnish region of Helsinki-Uusimaa with business backgrounds in the area of city planning  participated in this years Exchange Visits and came to see the hessian Climate-KIC Centre from 15. – 17. September. Focus of the exchange was to intensify cooperation possibilities between the regions Hesse and Helsinki-Uusimaa. „Both regions have a lot to offer in terms of innovation and scientific progress and therefor provide numerous cooperation possibilties“, says project lead Ayeshe Hercules, Outreach-Manager of Climate-KIC Hessen.  

More information is available here.

Find impressions of the Exchange Visits in Hesse  here.

Innovator Catalyst 2014: Application deadline approaches

This particular programme forms part of the Innovator Catalyst series and is aimed at experienced professionals with the enthusiasm and potential for influencing organisational change and system innovation. It offers the key competencies and capabilities to be an innovator in the broad sense of this term. It is designed to be international, time effective and stimulating. The programme is focussed around building the participants’ knowledge of transformational innovation using their own experience and case studies. Participants will be expected to bring a relevant case study of an issue or problem that relates to their area of work, where they feel change is needed in order to reduce carbon emissions from buildings.

The programme costs € 2,000 which includes the costs of all presentations, site visits, accommodation in central Birmingham, refreshments and lunch during the days and two group evening dinners.
Bursaries (funding) covering the full programme costs and accommodation will be available for any applicant able to attend for the entire programme and able to show how they will put the programme outcomes into practice by preparing a suitable case study. Request for bursaries is part of the application process.

The Application is available online. Closing date is the 22 September 2014. 

Climate-KIC appoints new Chief Executive Officer

Climate-KIC, the EU’s main climate innovation initiative, has appointed Bertrand van Ee as its new CEO from 1 Oct 2014. He succeeds Mary Ritter OBE, who has been in the role since 2010. Van Ee will be responsible for continuing to expand Climate-KIC’s work supporting climate innovators in Europe – growing Climate-KIC’s world-class network of partners, strengthening ties with academics, innovators, entrepreneurs and the public sector, across Europe.

Van Ee brings a wealth of commercial and technical expertise to Climate-KIC. Most recently he was chairman and CEO of Royal HaskoningDHV (DHV), an independent, international engineering consultancy in The Netherlands with 7,000 professionals active in 35 countries, having been CEO of DHV since 2007. He is also President of the Academy of Technology and Innovation (AcTI) and a member of Engineering Academies in Europe (Euro-Case) and globally (CAETS). Prior to his role at DHV, Van Ee had worked up through the ranks to be VP over a 21-year career at Fluor, a multinational engineering and construction firm headquartered in the US.

New Outreach-Activities with Finnland

The European Innovation Network Climate-KIC will start its cooperation with its so-called outreach-regions this year, to broaden its impact on climate-innovation funding. Climate-KIC Centre Hessens partner is the region Helsinki-Uusimaa. One part of these outreach-activisties is entrepreneurship, which´s activities aim to support finnish start-ups and facilitate cooperations with hessian companies. From 13 August to 15 August 2014 the TUD Energy Center and consultancy service HIGHEST organised a bootcamp for seven finnish start-ups at the TU Darmstadt. 

Dr. Thomas Funke from RKW Kompetenzzentrum outlined the topics entrepreneurial reality, customer development and business modelling for the participants. Although on different levels in the development of their businesses all start-ups could gain useful information during the lectures and took sound advice home. 

The next step will be to support contacts to local service companies, so that cooperation to hessian companies can grow and both regions can profit from their joint collaboration. 

Going green, while staying in the black

Following Germany’s ambitious renewable energy strategy, Frankfurt am Main aims to fully transform its energy supply by the year 2050. This vision and objective is used as a guiding theme for this year’s thematic Climate KIC PhD Summer School. The complete transition to renewable energy seems to be a highly ambitious goal. How could it possibly be reached for an area as large and industrious as Frankfurt? 33 PhD students from 23 international universities are tackling this question since 01. September. They are being supported by experts on the subjects of environmental technology, city planning and sustainability management, who will give the students a deeper understanding of the major problems and backgrounds of the project. 

The second Climate-KIC PhD Summer School is being held at the Industrial Parc Frankfurt in Höchst and is hosted by the Provadis School in cooperation with the TU Darmstadt, the Goethe-University and the city of Frankfurt. “This Summer School is all about applied sciences and aims to transform basic research into practical transformation processes for energy transition”, says Prof. Dr. Hannes Utikal of  Provadis School.

Dr. Michael Kassner, General Manager of Siemens Germany Middle Region reminded the students to also keep financial boundaries in mind. “The energy alternatives of the future have to be clean, safe and affordable. If you want to go green, you have to stay in the black”, says Kassner. For the students all of these requirements will pose exciting fields of activity over the course of the next two weeks. They will work out tangible projects to realise the masterplan of a 100 percent renewable energy city. 

More information is available here.

Climate innovators visit Hessen

Europe's largest summer school for climate innovations in Hessen "The Journey" visited Hessen. 42 students from 23 nations visited the Rhine-Main region. During their stay in Hessen, program participants attended interactive lectures with experts from TU Darmstadt, Kassel University and well-known companies, such as ABGnova and HSE. 

“Whether scientists, future entrepreneurs, or employees in the Energy industry—the talents needed tomorrow must be encouraged today. ‘The Journey’ participants learn to jump-start new ideas and to deepen knowledge with other experts from the many fields of climate innovation” explains Julia Milbredt, Regional Education Manager at the University of Kassel. And these participants are enthusiastic about the opportunities that The Journey offers them. “I think it's wonderful that there are so many scientists and experts from whom we can get to know other countries. The Journey provides an environment in which we can think through and plan new, fresh ideas together. I have much Inspiration to take home,” says Viswanathan Vijayaragavan, participant from Journey 3. 

Get more information here.

Clean Launchpad Bootcamp of Climate-KIC Centre Hessen

Clean Launchpad reached also Darmstadt in Hessen (Germany) on the 29-30 July 2014. This year, the pilot programme of Climate-KIC takes place in ten European cities with the purpose to bring together climate innovators who think of founding their own business. The so-called bootcamps give the opportunity to learn the business fundamentals and to develop business ideas together with experienced coaches and in exchange with each other. TU (Technische Universität) Darmstadt hosted eight teams in the Graduate School where they had the possibility to present and to improve their ideas in the “free risk environment”, to receive feedback from the coaches and participants and to give it to the others.

Please read more here.

Controlling energy consumption

To work effeciciently in office buildings, appropriate working conditions are an important requirement. Suitable room temperature and lighting are vital components for a healthy work environment. Although there are international norms (ISO 500001) for energy management, those norms are difficult to implement in office buildings, in terms of time and costs and therefore not suitable for small and medium sized enterprises.

The idea to develop an easily understandable manual was brought up in cooperation between the Energy Agency (Energiereferat) Frankfurt and the Pioneers into Practice Programme (short: PiP). Especially small and medium sized enterprises have high energy saving potential in this area. The manual is an easy step-by-step guide that includes important reference values. It also contains checklists, forms, EXCEL charts with deposited formulae for deeper analysis of the energy data, as well as further information material. The guide is also available in english. 

Clean Launchpad Bootcamp started!

On 29 July 2014 at 10 h, the first Clean Launchpad Camp of Climate-KIC Centre Hessen started successfully. Eight teams arrived to the Darmstadt Graduate School of TU Darmstadt to learn in two days the basics of starting business from the Clean Launchpad Coach Ron Bloemers who is being supported by the project manager Sara Schützer and coaches of Gründungsberatung HIGHEST.

We wish to the participants a very intensive time with good ideas and much fun!

To see the first impressions please click here.

Application deadline for the Clean Launchpad Programme prolonged

To enable more candidates to apply to the Clean Launchpad Programme the application deadlines have been postponed. Candidates can now apply until 15 July 2014.

Get more information and the application  here.

"The Journey": Europe’s biggest climate change summer school started

Nearly 300 students from 40 countries, representing 71 disciplines, will today embark on Europe’s largest climate change education programme – the Climate-KIC summer school. The five week-long course will offer a unique combination of academic study and real-world business experience with the aim of creating the climate change leaders of tomorrow.

Encompassing 18 locations across Europe, among them Berlin, Munich and the Rhein-Main-Metropolregion, this year’s programme is Climate-KIC’s largest summer school to date and is divided into six separate groups. Students from each group will journey across three countries, gaining insight and experience from a selection of Europe’s best universities and most innovative businesses.

The programme culminates in a challenge where students pitch their ideas for solutions to real-world climate related issues. Based on their own creativity and climate change knowledge, students must present a detailed business plan to a judging panel consisting of venture capitalists, start-up entrepreneurs and scientists. Throughout the summer school students will be given a thorough analysis of the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change through academic lessons and practical business and entrepreneurship tasks.

Energy efficiency and sustainable energies will be the main focus of the stay in the Climate-KIC region Hessen. Here, among others, communal energy suppliers HSE (Darmstadt), heating system manufacturers Viessmann (Allendorf) and solar specialist SMA (Niestetal/Kassel) will present their business models and products.

More infomation is available here.

Application deadline for the Clean Launchpad Programme approaches

Start-Ups that adress climate change and want to give wings to their cleantech business ideas can submit their applications to the Clean Launchpad Programme 2014, until 8th July 2014.

The free programme includes a workshop for two days with experienced coaches, a subsequent coaching phase and the opportunity to join an additional EU funding programme. The three winners of the national programme can participate in the european finals in Valencia and can win up to 10.000 €. 

Get more information and the application  here.

Opening Event of Climactio Project

On the 15^th of May 2014, Climactio's opening event took place in Frankfurt am Main. Around 150 participants from the chemical industry, academia, politics and industry associations attended lectures, exchanged experiences and discussed with scientists and practitioners the issues of sustainability in the chemical industry. This event is the beginning of the first phase of an 18-months Climate-KIC professional education project Climacio.

See this event on the Climate-KIC page.

Tag der Gründung 2014

The regional Tag der Gründung (Start-up Day) took place this year at the campus Lichtwiese of the TU Darmstadt on the 9^th of May 2014. Tag der Gründung was organised by the Kompetenznetz Gründungsberatung Darmstadt Rhein Main Necker (Expertise Network and Start-up Consulting of the region) as an event with 24 lectures on fundamentals of starting and funding a company, marketing, technology and innovation. About 50 exhibitors informed und consulted numerous visitors about start-up relevant topics.

The Kompetenznetz Gründungsberatung is a network of 27 start-up supporting institutions of the region. TU Darmstadt as one of the network's members was represented by the Gründungsberatung HIGHEST (Start-up Consulting Department of the TU) and the TU Darmstadt Energy Center, Lead Partner of Climate-KIC Centre Hessen. Both partners informed visitors at the infobooth about possible start-up support and presented themselves with a speech.

Opening Event "Sustainability in the Chemical Industry: (How) Does determining of the carbon footprint help to improve your competitive position?"

Climate-KIC Centre Hessen, Verband der Chemischen Industrie e.V. (VCI, engl: German Chemical Industry Association) and Provadis Hochschule invite all interested parties to an information and discussion one-day event about greenhouse gas and environmental balancing methods in the chemical industry. Experts from the science, rating agencies and many others will report on their expectations and experiences.  This event opens the building programme Climactio run by Climate-KIC on the Making Transitions Happen Platform.
Flyer to this event.

On the following day, the programme starts and VCI member entreprises can get support participating in this cooperation project of Provadis Hochschule, VCI and TU Dresden which helps in determining the practical application of the methods. Professional mentors will support entreprises during the 18 months long building programme.
Flyer to this building programme.

Venue: Industriepark Höchst
             Peter-Behrens-Bau, Historischer Hörsaal, Building C770, 2. OG
             65926 Frankfurt am Main

Date: 15^th of May 2014, whole day.

Presentations will be given in German. A simultaneous interpreter (English) will be available for the whole event.

No participation fee for VCI members. Otherwise 70 €.

Contacts:
Ms Dr. Tina Buchholz (buchholz@vci.de) and Mr Prof. Dr. Hannes Utikal (hannes.utikal@provadis-hochschule.de)

Registration: till 30^th of April 2014,  Ms Dr. Agnes Heinemann (agnes.heinemann@provadis-hochschule.de)

Tag der Gründung 2014

Tag der Gründung (English: Company Launch Day) 2014 is being organised by the Kompetenznetz Gründungsberatung Darmstadt Rhein Main Neckar (Expertise Network and Start-up Consulting) in cooperation with the Gründungsberatung (Start-up Consulting) HIGHEST of TU Darmstadt. Over 40 exhibitors and 24 lectures will inform you how to launch and steer your own company.

Climate-KIC Centre Hessen team will be glad to inform you about our activities. Please visit us and HIGHEST at our info booth.

Venue: TU Darmstadt, Campus Lichtwiese, Hörsaal- und Medienzentrum

Date: 9^th of Mai 2014, 9-17 h

Free entrance, more information (in German) here.

Innovation Competition "Sustainability and Economy"

Promotion programme "Sustainability and Economy" (German: "Nachhaltigkeit und Wirtschaft“) supports selected industry research and development projects in Hesse. Target group for the category Energy and Resource Efficiency are technologies and services of SME that increase resource productivity or push forward innovative recycling processes.

Lead Partner is HA Hessen Agentur GmbH, the call is open till 29^th of April 2014. Please find all relevant information and application form here (in German).

Conference “Connect Ideas2Business”

The KIC InnoEnergy Germany Conference „Connect Ideas2Business 2014“ offers technology providers and technology users the exclusive opportunity to establish joint business opportunities. At this venue, European enterprises, research institutions and start-ups will meet participants from research and industry as well as investors from Germany.

Venue: Stadthalle Karlsruhe, Festplatz 9, 76137 Karlsruhe

Date: 26^th May 2014

More information and registration here.

Introductory Workshop "Transition Thinking"

The Hessian „Pioneers into Practice“ mentor team is glad to invite Climate-KIC colleagues and all interested parties to examine and to discuss the fundamental priniciples of „transition thinking“ and „systems innovation“. Please find the programme here (in German).

Venue:
Provadis School of International Management and Technology
Industriepark Höchst / Building B835, Room 1.22
65926 Frankfurt am Main

Date: 11^th April 2014, 9-15 h

Please register per e-mail at Alexander Schneider <alexander.schneider@provadis-hochschule.de>

Climate-KIC Summer School The Journey

The Journey is a five week Climate-KIC summer school hosted at three different European locations. Participants will work in international and interdisciplinary teams supported by the European climate experts on their business ideas about climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Application deadline is 1 April 2014.

Interested? Please check here.

bettervest nominated in the categorie Communication of the GreenTec Awards 2014

bettervest, an award winner of Incubation Programme 2013 of Climate-KIC Cenre Hessen, has been nominated in the categorie Communication of GreenTec Awards 2014. Another Climate-KIC start-up Pectcof B.V. from the Netherlands recieved nominations in the categories Recycling & Resources and Start-up Special Award.

About 100,000 votes world-wide have been registered during the selection process to choose the best companies from about 200 applications. The awarding ceremony will take place on the 4^th of May 2014 in Munich, Germany.

Job Advertisement - Climate-KIC Community Hub Manager

Our Climate-KIC Community is instantly offering a vacancy of Community Hub Manager for 18 months in the first instance. Application deadline: 31^st of March 2014.

Please send your application as described in the job advertisement by the 31^st of March 2014 to the Director of TU Darmstadt Energy Center Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rolf Katzenbach (katzenbach@energycenter.tu-darmstadt.de).

Start-Up Competition Incubation Programme 2014 is open for applications

Climate-KIC Centre Hessen has started Incubation Programme 2014. This competition is open for cleantech start-ups from Hesse with an innovative idea about climate change mitigation. For further information and application process please follow this link. 

Call for new KICs

On the 14^th of February 2014, the call for two new Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) of the EIT started. These KICs will address following fields:

• Innovation for healthy living and active ageing
• Raw materials: sustainable exploration, extraction, processing, recycling and substitution

Please visit the EIT page to read more.

Climate-KIC launches its sixth National Centre

On the 7^th of February 2014 Climate-KIC Nordic was launched at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). Hence, Climate-KIC consists of six regional and just as many national centres. Please read more about this event in Climate-KIC blog.

Launch of Horizon 2020 in Germany

On the 28^th of January 2014, the European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Máire Geoghegan-Quinn launched the Horizon 2020 in Germany together with the German Minister of Education and Research Johanna Wanka and the EU deputy Herbert Reul.

The opening speech (in English) is here. Agenda and other speeches can be found here.

Free Lectures about Energy, Housing and Mobility by ABGnova from February to July 2014

Our partner ABGnova presents series of lectures "SophienHofAbende. Energieeffizienz" for the first half-year of 2014. Eight Wednesday lectures are related to urban development and planning with regard to mobility, energy supply, smard grids, infrastructure, geothermie and other climate and energy relevant topics.

The lectures are addressed to property owners, politicians, administrative bodies, architects and all interested parties.

The programme starts on 19 February 2014 at 18 h. Full programme is here (pdf, in German).

Location: Passivhaus SophienHof - ABGnova GmbH
Ginnheimer Str. 48 - 60487 Frankfurt am Main

Contact: Ulrike Rabanus, e-mail: u.rabanus@abgnova.de

Incubator HIGHEST and TUD Energy Center Present Funding Programm For Climate Change Mitigation Projects

Incubator HIGHEST and TUD Energy Center are pleased to invite start-ups and those wishing to become one to the presentation of the European funding programme for innovative projects in the field of climate change mitigation and adaptation, energy efficiency and low carbon economy. This programm - Incubation Programme 2014 - will be carried out by TUD Energy Center, lead partner in Climate-KIC Centre Hessen. If you plan your start-up in Hessen or wish to be active in our region, it is your programme!

Our guests are two start-ups funded by this programme:
- Martin Zeumer, ee-concept, Darmstadt (Winner 2012)
- Patrick Mijnals, bettevest, Frankfurt (Winner 2013)

Time: 16th of January 2014, 17 h
Location: TU Darmstadt, Campus Lichtwiese
Jovanka-Bontschits-Str. 2
Geb. L1|08 (Graduate School and TUD Energy Center Building, next to the new Hörsaal- und Medienzentrum)
Room 4, Groundfloor
No participation fee, but please register at Annika Hinz: hinz.an@pvw.tu-darmstadt.de

Please find here information about Incubation Programme 2013 and its winners.

Horizon 2020 First Calls have been published

On the 11^th of December 2013 the first calls were published on the webpage of the European Commission. You can find information about them here.

What is your opinion about „starting your own business“?

Answer the questionnaire and get the chance to win an iPad.

A current survey wants to evaluate what influences the student’s interest in starting an own business. This survey addresses students of all fields of study, independent of their actual interest in starting a business on their own. In return for your participation, an Apple iPad is drawn among all participants.

You can find the online questionnaire here.

By answering the following questions, you are making an active contribution to research and you are helping to find out how to improve the support of people interested in starting their own business.

This survey is conducted in the context of the publicly funded joint research project “Software Innovations for the Digital Company” (SINNODIUM) of the Software Cluster. The Software-Cluster is Europe's most powerful network of companies and training & research institutions in the area of software development. The questionnaire was created by the Gründungsbüro TU & FH Kaiserslautern and the Kompetenzzentrum Informatik in Saarbrücken.

Thank you very much for your participation!

In Rhine-Main area start-ups are supported by HIGHEST Start-up consulting.

Internship placements for Climate-KIC Master and PhD Students

We are looking for internship placements for German and other European Climate-KIC master and PhD students for the time of 4-6 months with any start date. The students have different background: from Innovation Management and Environmental Technology to Industrial Design and Sustainable Business. The internships are funded by Climate-KIC and can be completed in technical or scientifical areas of environmentally relevant projects.

As a host you have a great opportunity to learn about Climate-KIC, to promote international cooperation and to benefit from the network potential. Are you interested? Please fill in this form and send it back to us.

Gründerwoche 2013

A whole week dedicated to start-ups and to those intending to become one takes place in many German cities from 18^th till 24^th of November 2013. Gründerwoche is a start-up week initiated by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology of Germany (BMWi).

Climate-KIC Course "The Language of Innovation"

Climate-KIC Emilia-Romagna organizes a course The Language of Innovation which will take place in Bologna (Italy) on the 12^th and 13^th of December 2013 as a part of the Outreach Professional Education Programme. This two days course focuses on the development of communication skills of researchers, public administrators and business representatives. The aim is to develop a common language and culture, to favour a better collaboration and reciprocal understanding on main sustainable low carbon issues.

The course fee is 100€. Participants will cover their travel costs. All other expenses are covered by the Climate-KIC.

Application deadline is the 24^th of November 2013. Find more information, programme and application form here.

Climate-KIC Course "Sustainable Business through Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation"

Climate-KIC Central Hungary prepares a two days course about green growth entreprises. The course - as a part of the Outreach Professional Education Programme - will take place on the 9^th and 10^th of December 2013 in Budapest. The course „Sustainable Business through Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation“ aims to demonstrate how businesses go to the heart of innovation to benefit their own organization, customers, and even the environment.

Participation fee is 150€ (covers catering, training materials, accommodation).

Application deadline is the 25^th of November 2013. Find more information, programme and application form here.

IPCC Report 2013

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published the final draft of the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) on September, 30. The final version will be available in January 2014.

Prof. Mohan Munasinghe gives lectures at the TU Darmstadt

The former vice Chairman of the IPCC (1990-2008) Prof. Mohan Munasinghe who shared 2007 the Nobel Prize for Peace with the former US vice President Al Gore is teaching at the TU Darmstadt from the 5^th till 15^th of November as visiting professor. In his interview he spoke about his confidence in young people and expressed his mild optimism in the global environmental issues despite of not satisfying progress in the field of global sustainability. On the 7^th of November statements of Mr. Munasinghe were warmly welcomed by the audience and discussed during the panel discussion at Schader-Forum (Darmstadt).

Innovation Festival in Wrocław

October, 21^st till 23^rd 2013, the biggest event in the Climate-KIC Network Innovation Festival took place in the beautiful city of Wrocław. The Regional Centre Lower Silesia hosted over 500 guests coming from all over Europe. Our partners, pioneers, start-ups and invitees could attend and participate in various speeches, projects' presentations and discussions and info booths as well as in guided city tour, game sessions and dinner.

One of the highlights of the Festival was a Venture Competition with the 13 best Climate-KIC start-ups. A Hessian start-up The Electric Hotel which belongs to the winners of Incubation Programme 2013 in Hessen took part in this competition as well. The Jury awarded a Swiss company OsmoBlue as well as a Dutch Pectcof and a Britisch Aqdot with prizes of €40.000 resp. €20.000. Audience favourite was Akkutrack from the regional centre Emilia-Romagna in Italy. Find more information about the competition and the start-ups here.

Closing of the Climate-KIC PhD Summer School in Frankfurt am Main

On the 27^th of September, Climate-KIC PhD Summer School "Make Frankfurt am Main carbon free by 2050" closed with the participants' ideas presentations. To find out more about these two weeks of new experience please click here.

Industry Workshop at ABGnova

On the 17^th of September 2013, the Industry Workshop of Climate-KIC Centre Hessen took place at ABGnova, a new Climate-KIC partner. Invitees learnt Climate-KIC's structrures in Europe and Hessen.

The winners of "Incubation Programme 2013" of Climate-KIC Centre Hessen were honoured. Certificates were awarded by the chairmen of Steering Group of Climate-KIC Centre Hessen Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rolf Katzenbach (Director of TU Darmstadt Energy Center) and Ruediger Schweer (Hessian Ministry of Environment, Energy, Agriculture and Consumer Protection).

You can find some photos from this event here.

Technology Competition LESS COMPETITION

Climate-KIC runs a European competition LESS COMPETITION which supports innovative solutions for improving energy supply of supermarkets. Please find competition's description here or directly on this webpage. Deadline for applying is the 6^th of October 2013.

Climate-KIC Summer School 'The Journey'

This year, 187 students take part in Climate-KIC summer school 'The Journey'. Students of 44 nationalities visit Climate-KIC partners in 14 cities and 6 countries to found new businesses and prepare for a future career in climate change innovation.

To find out how to be a part of next year's summer school please clicke here.

Prize Winners of Incubation Programme 2013 in Hesse

We gladly announce the prize winners of Incubation Programme 2013 run by Climate-KIC Centre Hessen. You find the winners' names here.

Climate-KIC PhD Summer School in Frankfurt am Main

Climate-KIC PhD Summer School "Make Frankfurt am Main carbon free by 2050" accepts applications. It will take place in Frankfurt am Main from the 16^th till the 27^th of September 2013. Application deadline is July, 21^st. Applying later you will be put on the waiting list. Please find more information as pdf and online.

New webpage of Pioneers into Practice Community

The new page of Pioneers into Practice Community is on-line! For visiting click on the name.

Events for Startups and Investors

Climate-KIC offers various kinds of support for startups with innovative ideas in low-carbon market. If you are one looking for investors we have two events that might be of interest for you. Berlin and Geneva are expecting you in the coming fall. For more information please read here. If you are interested we are happy to support you, contact TU Darmstadt Energy Center.

Horizon 2020 in darmstadtium on the 6^th of June 2013

Opening Event "Horizon 2020 - The EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation" on June, 6^th 2013 in darmstadtium, Darmstadt
For flyer (in German) please see here. Climate-KIC Hessen presents itself with one info booth.

Update on Incubation Programme and Pioneers into Practice Programme 2013

Various deeply interesting applications have been submitted for our Incubation Programme 2013. At the moment our competent jury consisiting of representatives of science, economy, politics and investment sector is evaluating them. Numerous exciting master classes and events can be attended by the best applicants. 

23 Pioneers from Hessen are taking part on the Pioneers into Practice Programme 2013. They will be involved in the projects from different fields related to low-carbon market both in Germany and abroad. Furthermore, we are looking for more placements for international pioneers (summer/autumn 2013). If your organisation is interested to host a pioneer please read here.

Apply for our programmes!

At the moment you have a chance to apply for two exciting programms.

One of them is a european exchange programme Pioneers into Practice (application deadline March, 29) and the other one is RIC Incubation Programme (application deadline March, 24) which is for start-ups as well as for existing companies who have a good project to move into the low-carbon market.