New centre for climate to open in Copenhagen

Europe’s biggest climate innovation organisation, Climate-KIC, opens a new Nordic centre this Friday at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) campus in Lyngby.

The center, with heavy University of Copenhagen participation, will get researchers, students, and companies together in finding climate change solutions. It is run by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology.

”Being a partner in the Climate-KIC exposes the University of Copenhagen to an exclusive climate network and provides unique opportunities for students with regard to education and entrepreneurship,” says Sara Mørch, Climate-KIC Coordinator at UCPH.

Industries and academics work together

Humanities, Science, and Social Science faculties at UCPH are involved in the Climate-KIC initiative, and want to tackle the projects at the centre.

”Our research and education environments have the chance to work with some of the best researchers in the world,” says Prorector Thomas Bjørnholm in the press release.

The new Nordic centre adds to the existing Climate-KIC centres in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the UK. On Friday, the launch will feature a panel discussion with EU commissioner for climate action, Connie Hedegaard, as well as other experts from abroad.

Students battle it out

A student competition will take place also Friday between UCPH, DTU, and Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, where student teams from each school will present a climate case solution to improving the mobility system in City of Copenhagen.

Contestant and anthropology student, Sara Henriksen, divulges to the University Post that the UCPH team is looking forward to the presentation, which will ”rethink cars, and public transportation”.

Sara specializes on environmentally friendly behaviour in her studies, and predicts that the centre will ”provide a platform where students with an interest and focus in environmental issues can meet and network with industries and organizations, not just during our studies, but afterwards as well”.

The winning team will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Climate-KIC’s next big event.

universitypost@adm.ku.dk

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