Climate-KIC promotes cross debate on climate change in the Day of the Entrepreneur in Valencia

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][Pictures Gallery]

Climate-KIC, the main initiative of the European Union on climate change innovation, has organized a transversal debate on the challenges posed by climate change and business opportunities that arise in the field of green economy. The conference, held under the SME-Europe Innova Focus Opportunities, organized by the Generalitat Valenciana, have been held under a suggestive title: “The challenge of climate change and opportunity in sustainable enterprise.”

Under this thread they have held four round tables or panels that have addressed climate change from different perspectives: The entrepreneur as an engine of change in the model; the city as an environment in which our activity is developed; the citizen and raised awareness consumers; the city as an environment in which our activity is developed; and how to manage the natural resources in territory.

The first of the debates, “THE ECO-ENTREPRENEUR: Creating green companies and launching them successfully to market”, brought together Angel Buigues (Director of Entrepreneurship of Banco Sabadell); Javier Megías, CEO of Start up Xplore Raul Cortes of Aerox and Israel Griol, of globalization and Microeconomics Foundation. Cortés has stressed the need to go to market quickly with the minimum viable product (MVP), Buigues discussed the importance of validating the assumptions of the business plan with the market and customers and Megías explained some of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, a road crowded with uncertainties.

Then the debate turned to the cities. “SUSTAINABLE cities: green smart cities, mobility and buildings”. Among others, Mobility Councillor of the City of Valencia, Giuseppe Grezzi and Mauro Fiore, President of MOVUS, have discussed about building livable cities with green economy adapted to the environment, mobility and respectful constructions.

Council member Grezzi explained how the municipal government of Valencia bet, regulating and not banning, in cooperation with citizens and not imposing, by a mobility where private vehicle to lose importance in favor of public transport, pedestrians and bikes. This would lower CO2 emissions significantly. In this line works Movus, Mauro Fiore´s company, who explained the system by which the company bicycles connect various points not only of Valencia, but of the entire metropolitan area.

Fiore has warned that the government must take the lead and rule change, or citizens or companies will. “This happened with bicycles, which were imposed by the spontaneous use of residents. Now governments are trying to control the phenomenon behind”. “If there is no faster and cheaper public transport, an offer more competitive from the administration, citizens will continue to use private cars”, Fiore added.

The third panel discussion has been about “THE MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES: An opportunity for sustainable enterprise to adapt to climate change”. José Vicente Oliver (President of the Valencian Forest Platform) coordinated the panel, and Francisco J. Vea (BECSA R+D Director) or Marisa Hernández (INGELIA CEO) were some of the most active speakers. At the panel was stressed how much potential has the union among technology, entrepreneurship and climate change has to take, and  get profit, of bold initiatives.

And the fourth one, on “The consumer: The real driving force behind the new low carbon economy”. Andrés Montesinos, from Som Energia, a cooperative from Valencia focused on energy, has reflected “on the empowerment of citizens,” both when making consumption decisions as, “to produce”. “If we, as consumers demand a sustainable economy, as producers must apply the same principles. Therefore, we produce and market 100% green energy. ”

On the table he has been accompanied with many experts on the field. They closed a successful attendance day with a varied and very interesting public debates. Besides, some projects involved with Climate-KIC received awards: Aerox, which has developed a polymer that optimizes the efficiency of the manufacture of wind turbine blades, Navlandis, a Valencian company that has designed a collapsible container for sea freight, or ApaWater Technologies, a startup that has developed an advanced water disinfection system based on two technologies combining oxygen saturation and ultraviolet light, which does not use chlorine or the usual chemicals.

The event, held within the Day of the Entrepreneur of Valencia, has been organized by Climate-KIC, with the participation of Avaesen, which coordinates the business accelerator Climate-KIC, FCVRE, who leads the mobility programme professional experts on climate change, Pioneers into Practice, and IVACE, as a major partner in the Valencia Climate-KIC.

[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]