Within the framework of EIC Greenathon, the European Innovation Council launches a new series of roundtables named ‘Green Talks’: these short virtual sessions will bring together EIC-funded startups, corporates and experts on pressing environmental issues. For around 30 minutes, the speakers will discuss and analyse different aspects of the European Green Transition and open the floor for contributions to a larger audience. Read about the upcoming panels below and sign-up here to get the streaming link!
Green Talk: Solar Energy to Power Green
Wednesday, 28 October, from 12h30 to 13h00
Despite all the changes in the world caused by climate change, the sun is expected to continue shining for several billion years. And calling solar energy a sustainable power supply is a pretty safe bet. Society is gradually moving away from fossil fuels and both wind and solar energy are increasingly becoming the preferred choices due to their limited impact on the environment.
The challenge now is to ensure that solar energy becomes even cleaner over time, with advances in technology for solar or wind energy industries to develop. This transition is driven by different actors: governments are imposing new targets; European corporates are investing on green solutions and many startups are developing innovations to improve renewable energy and make it even more sustainable.
But which innovations are making a difference on this transition? In this Green Talk, we will explore this topic together with our speakers.
Speakers of the Green Talk:
- Juan Romero González, CTO at RatedPower
- Jaideep Sandhu, Director in charge of Solar, Storage and Transmission & Distribution at Engie
- Olli-Pekka Aalto, Head of Global Energy & Power Vertical Development at Danfoss Drives
- Pietro Menna, Policy Officer at the European Commission, Directorate General for Energy, Innovation, Clean Technology and Competitiveness
Moderators: Liesa Siedentopp and Oana Popescu, Business Acceleration Services at European Innovation Council
Green Talk: Shifting products from disposable to durable
Friday, 30 October, from 12h00 to 12h30
Every year, millions of tons of plastic waste end up on our streets, in our rivers and covering our forests. A large part of this waste comes from packaging. The plastic bags we use, for only a few minutes, can last as long as 15 to 1,000 years in the environment and, according to a recent study, people could be ingesting or inhaling approximately 5 grams of plastic every week. Putting an end to waste while recycling simple things such as bags or bottles plays a crucial role in the transition to a circular economy. This shift is an important piece of the green transition puzzle.
In this Green Talk, we will get a closer look to the innovations and initiatives that lead us to say goodbye to plastic, while shifting products from disposable to durable.
Speakers of the Green talk:
- Tuomas Mustonen, CEO at Paptic
- Pascal Eveillard, Sustainable Construction Director at Saint-Gobain
- Søren Bøwadt, Deputy Head of Unit - “Materials for Tomorrow” at the European Commission's Research and Innovation Directorate
- Saskia Schmaus, Corporate Director International at Henkel
Moderators: Liesa Siedentopp and Oana Popescu, Business Acceleration Services at European Innovation Council
Got your attention? Register here to join our Talks!
DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission, or any other organisation.