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Best open data climate-related ideas awarded

Belgrade, 4 June 2018 – The Ministry of Environmental Protection and UNDP organised the Awarding Ceremony as part of a joint project called Climate Smart Urban Development Challenge Project (CSUD). The awards were granted to the winners of the Open Data Challenge, addressed to municipalities and cities with the most innovative ideas in the area of opening, accessing and improving data management of importance for the fight against climate changes.

The search for innovative solutions in this area received a great response across Serbia, and independent experts chose eight best project ideas, which initially will find their use in Kragujevac, Krusevac, Belgrade municipality of Zvezdara, Sabac, Kraljevo, Sremska Mitrovica, Cuprija and Krupanj, but also throughout Serbia because of the excellent potential for furthering comprehensive application in the field of energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste management, etc.

Open data stimulate economic growth as they create an incentive environment for the development of innovations and “green” ideas and enable the attraction of “climate-friendly” investments. Availability of data is necessary for efficient planning and decision making, ensures greater transparency of work of local self-governments and stimulates public involvement in decision-making processes.

“I consider the project as an extremely important one, it promotes innovation in Serbia which strategically defined digitization and modernization as priority. Serbia has to build capacities, and this is an approach of increasing capacities. Without these data there are no project-technical documentation necessary to implement projects worth nearly 15 billion euros,” said Minister of Environmental Protection Goran Trivan.

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Serbia Steliana Nedera said that eight local governments, the winner of the Open Data Challenge, will receive, besides financial support of up to $10,000 per project, expert and advisory support within the Climate Incubator for further development of ideas into mature projects ready for implementation. In the Climate Incubator, a software solution for improving data management will be created, which will enable the data of different local communities to be networked, and also connected to the databases of state institutions.

“Climate Smart Urban Development Challenge” is a five-year project aimed at supporting, through a partnership between the public, private and civil sectors, the development of projects aimed at reducing GHG emissions and ensuring that local communities in Serbia are more resilient to climate change. The Ministry of Environmental Protection implements the project with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the financial support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project partners are the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Serbia, the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden, the Government of Switzerland, Innovation Fund and the Standing Conference of Cities and Municipalities.

The Chamber of Commerce of Serbia and Climate KIC, this year too, organize the Climate Launchpad – the global competition of green business ideas in the field of environmental protection, climate change and sustainability. The deadline for applications is June 6, 2018.

The goal of the competition is to focus on the potential of clean technologies to combat climate change. Eligible applicants are startups, researchers, students, organizations and companies. The selected candidates will receive intensive coaching in jumpstarting own business, as well as the possibility of presenting the business idea to potential investors and the international jury. The top 3 winners of each national competition will go on to compete in the Grand Final, and the top 10 competitors in the Grand Final will get direct access to the Climate-KIC Accelerator, EU programme for the start-up companies focused on green enterprises. The overall winner of the Grand Final receives € 10,000, the runner up gets € 5,000 and the idea that comes in third place wins € 2,500. More information on the competition, terms and application process you can find at: https://climatelaunchpad.org.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and UNDP organised the Fair of Climate-smart Ideas and awarded the best ideas submitted, as part of a joint project called Climate Smart Urban Development Challenge Project (CSUD).

Minister of Environmental Protection Goran Trivan and UNDP Serbian Deputy Resident Representative  Steliana Nedera awarded the most innovative project ideas for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Also present was the Deputy Head of Mission of the Kingdom of Sweden’s Embassy in Serbia Joachim Waern and Assistant Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development Saša Lazović.

The search for sustainable solutions for climate-friendly communities received a tremendous response across Serbia. 111 applications were received, with the most significant number of proposed ideas submitted by individuals (43), civil society organisations (20), local self-government units (16), scientific and research institutions (14), business associations (12) and public utility companies (6). The 25 most innovative ideas and teams have been selected to receive financial and professional support, and nine more will be able to use the support of the “Climate Incubator”. In the Climate Incubator project teams will have mentor support and assistance in finding sources of co-financing, promotion and linking with other climate innovators.

“The response received, and the quality of the ideas once again proved that Serbia is a country of smart and creative people and that it is possible, with the right incentive, to change Serbia for better in the field of environmental protection”, said Minister Goran Trivan. “Serbia is committed to achieving global goals for mitigating the consequences and adapting to climate change, reaching modern standards and strategic European goals,” he stressed.

“One of the main criteria in evaluating the ideas received was that the innovation is in line with the needs of the local community in which it is implemented. At the same time it needs to offer an opportunity to engage and involve women, youth and marginalized social groups,” said the UNDP Serbia Deputy Resident Representative Steliana Nedera adding “UNDP remains a reliable partner to the Government of the Republic of Serbia in fulfilling the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the achievement of the global goals of sustainable development, including those related to the fight against climate change”.

Innovative technical solutions and business models will find their application in 16 municipalities and cities, Belgrade, Stara Pazova, Inđija, Pećinci, Ruma, Pančevo, Kikinda, Rumenka, Smederevo, Šabac, Veternik, Kraljevo, Kruševac, Vrnjačka Banja, Niša, Čačak, but also throughout Serbia because of the excellent potential for furthering comprehensive application in the field of energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, waste management, transport improvement, agriculture, forestry.

“Climate Smart Urban Development Challenge” is a five-year project aimed at supporting, through a partnership between the public, private and civil sectors, the development of projects aimed at reducing GHG emissions and ensuring that local communities in Serbia are more resilient to climate change. The Ministry of Environmental Protection implements the project with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the financial support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project partners are the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Serbia, the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden, the Government of Switzerland, Innovation Fund and the Standing Conference of Cities and Municipalities.