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DAERA has announced a new innovation programme to allow local business to access the UK's world class technology community to tackle challenges on the path to Net Zero.
The Department will collaborate with Digital Catapult Northern Ireland, to support the launch of their Tenfold NetZero Accelerator Programme. This programme will help to deliver Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reductions locally as required under the Climate Change (Northern Ireland) 2022 Act (the Act) and so contribute to the UK Government's target of zero carbon emissions by 2050.
As a one-year pilot, the programme will be open to business in all sectors for which DAERA has policy responsibilities.
Digital Catapult is looking to team up with up to six industry partners. Together, they will tackle specific challenges related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Each partner will be connected with tech solution providers to create a proof of concept using advanced technologies like 5G, IoT, AI, ML, and virtual/augmented reality.
The Programme will also enable access to research facilities and expert technologists, both in NI and GB. Industry partners must each be able to contribute £20,000 of funding towards the development of the solution to their challenge.
DAERA is supporting this initiative as part of the implementation of its Innovation Strategy. Pauline Rooney, Director of Innovation and Science Transformation and DAERA’s Innovation Champion said: "I welcome the opportunity to partner with Digital Catapult on their Tenfold Net Zero Accelerator programme, which will enable local businesses to access Digital Catapult’s expertise in innovation. I hope that through the programme we can encourage the development of new innovative proposals which will contribute to delivering sustainable climate action solutions and which will benefit local business in their drive to achieve Net Zero."
William Revels, Managing Director at Digital Catapult NI, said: "We are delighted to be working with DAERA on this pioneering innovation programme for Northern Ireland. The outputs of the challenge-led accelerator programme will help create sustainable business models in the agricultural, marine and environmental sectors across Northern Ireland and create a model for future innovation programmes across the UK."
