Mayor’s Innovation Challenge: How can we spur energy innovation and transformative economic development in Calgary?
The Mayor’s Innovation Challenge is encouraging creative thinkers around the world to submit ideas on how The City of Calgary can advance policies, new processes and technologies to help us get to net-zero emissions generating economic opportunity.
“Calgary has and always will be a place for entrepreneurs and risk-takers,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “This competition is designed to tap into our entrepreneurial spirit, attract new talent and leverage local expertise to spur energy innovation and economic development."
The Mayor’s Innovation Challenge is encouraging creative thinkers around the world to submit ideas on how The City of Calgary can advance policies, new processes and technologies to help us get to net-zero emissions generating economic opportunity.
The Mayor’s Innovation Challenge is open to individuals, teams and businesses from any country and seeks ideas that incorporate data and emerging technology to address the following question:
How might we advance innovative energy solutions on the path to net-zero emissions in order to achieve economic, social and environmental resilience?
The transition to a cleaner, prosperous economy needs to be both an immediate priority and a sustained effort over the years and decades ahead. This important transition is why Canada has set a net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions target by 2050.
“One way to meet Canada's net-zero greenhouse target is for municipalities to keep innovating, strengthening, and building on existing measures,” said Erin Chrusch, Senior Strategist with the Mayor’s Office. “Calgary has an opportunity to become a world leader in advancing innovative energy solutions –this competition is an example of how The City is establishing itself as a collaborative partner to achieve that goal.”
Applicants can submit their ideas until June 11 through an online tool called IdeaScale, hosted on The City’s Innovation Lab. Finalists will be short-listed in early September and will have the opportunity to pitch their idea to a panel of community and business leaders. Three winners will be chosen. These winners will work with an Innovation Champion from The City to further refine their idea. They will also have an opportunity to meet with senior officials from Western Economic Diversification to discuss their innovation or idea and potential for federal government support
The challenge seeks proactive solutions that:
- Have a measurable impact on moving The City towards net-zero emissions;
- Will solve a municipal problem;
- Demonstrate a connection between their solution and achieving economic, social or environmental resilience; and/or
- Help to grow Calgary’s economy in a sustainable and equitable way.
Find out more, including how to submit your idea, at Calgary.ca/MayorsChallenge.