Clean technologies competition

Launching the Australian Clean Technologies Ideas Competition, Innovation Minister Kim Carr said climate change was the greatest challenge facing Australia and the world today and it was vital countries around the world worked together to address it.

The Australian competition, linked to the international Cleantech Open Global Ideas Competition, will showcase clean technologies with economic and environmental benefits. They will help reduce our reliance on carbon and aid energy efficiency by opening up new ways of doing business.

“Australian clean technologies businesses were worth $22 billion in 2010 and the sector employs over 25,000 people nationally. The government’s goal is to develop a sector that helps Australia meet the growing needs of a low carbon economy,” Senator Carr said.

“The Australian competition will promote a uniquely Australian take on developing this high-tech, high-skill sector and, I hope, result in some ‘Eureka’ moments.”

Business ideas can be for technologies and services that address pollution, waste treatment and energy storage, new ways of looking at energy efficiency, building materials, transportations systems, public utilities and much more.

Competition entrants will compete for business services tailored to suit the diversity of needs highlighted by the new ideas - be it access to venture capitalists, patent support, legal advice, research support or corporate assurance.

The winner of the Australian competition will represent Australia at the international Cleantech Open Global Ideas Competition in the United States. The Australian winner will share ideas with entrants from 90 countries and compete for over $100,000 in services to launch their idea. They will also have a week of mentoring, meetings with investors, business services and other entrepreneurs at the International Awards Gala in November 2011.

The Australian competition is an initiative of the Gillard Labor Government’s $8.2 million Supplier Advocate Program and is supported by Enterprise Connect, Commercialisation Australia, the CSIRO and Austrade.

For more information, visit: www.cleantechopen.com.au.