Spectacular race to Innovation
Time 2 Innovate: The Swedish Energy Agency arranged a 72 hour race to innovation in the Swedish Pavilion in Shanghai on June 28 to July 1 2010. A high-level seminar on sustainable city development and Swedish cleantech solutions took place the same week.
The aim of the Swedish Energy Agency’s participation in the Shanghai World Expo is to demonstrate Swedish innovations and cleantech. It will also open the way for wider and deeper partnership with China.
This is in line with the core messages of the Swedish Pavilion, i.e. "The Spirit of Innovation".
For many years, Sweden has been at the cutting edge of innovation. Sweden’s success has been due to the widespread commitment to teamwork, the ability to work methodically and to think outside the box.
The 72 hour race: Time 2 Innovate
The Swedish Energy Agency is sponsoring a spectacular competition to demonstrate that, when the right conditions are in place, innovations can be generated and brought to market with amazing speed.
In Time 2 Innovate, two teams, with both Swedish and Chinese competitors, will meet head to head. The four team members will represent different backgrounds and professions, including entrepreneurs, academic researchers and business developers.
The race will follow a highly-organised process, based on an interdisciplinary approach which has been set out by inventor and mentor, Professor Kaj Mickos. Each group will be guided by a process leader, a designer and a project leader whose task will be to assist the group throughout the innovation process.
The spectators will have a unique opportunity to experience innovation in real time. From preliminary sketch to first prototype. As the race progresses you can follow the action on screens in the pavilion or on our web site.
Seminars on sustainable cities
On July 1 and 2, two high-level seminars are arranged in the Swedish Pavilion by the Swedish Government Offices, the Swedish Energy Agency and the Swedish Trade Council, in collaboration with the Chinese Ministry for Housing Urban Rural Development. Vice minister Qiu Baoxing is a key note speaker together with Swedish State Secretaries Elisabet Falemo och Ola Alterå.
This SymbioCity Forum will also introduce the Chinese version of the SymbioCity Scenarios an interactive web game where you can take on the role as mayor and decision maker for your city's sustainable development.
The first day focus on the vision for the sustainable city and address Chinese decision makers and senior officers. The second day is more focused on the concrete solutions and success factors for a sustainable development. Swedish companies have been invited to present their business concepts.
On June 30 an international symposium on waste management will be arranged by Envac and Stena in collaboration with the Chinese Association of Urban Environmental Sanitation.
Calendar
28 June – 1 July Swedish Energy Agency’s 72h Race to Innovation
30 June International Waste Handling Seminar. Arranged by Envac and Stena
1 July SymbioCity Forum day 1: High level
2 July SymbioCity Forum day 2: Seminars and matchmaking
