Energy Powered Innovation Challenge announced - EPIC!

UNE SMART Region Incubator has announced details for EPIC 2023, the inaugural Energy Powered Innovation Challenge.

EPIC invites people from varied backgrounds to come together with industry, technologists, students, community, researchers and investors to help solve key energy challenges, including:

• Building benefits for the community

• Managing waste and growing a circular economy

• Preparing for emergencies

• Creating sustainable employment.

Efforts to reduce carbon emissions and achieve a net-zero world by 2050 are speeding up a new energy future around the world. For the New England region, which has been proposed as the largest renewable energy zone in NSW, this will create opportunities in new markets and sectors as we grow and secure NSW’s energy supply.

“These are big opportunities, and it is important to grow ideas that ensure there will be a shared prosperity locally in the region,” said Sewa Emojong, UNE SRI Startup Activator.

“Our future will require new ideas that come from the varied perspectives of people from across the community. This innovation challenge is a building block for leveraging ideas and collective capacity to seek new opportunities.”

EPIC will be held in Armidale on 27 and 28 April, 2023.

By focusing on the best possible experience for participants, UNE SRI delivers hackathon style events that enable organisations to partner with the broader community to showcase and celebrate participatory innovation and co-creation.

EPIC is supported by regional collaborators including Armidale Regional Council, NSW Government, University of New England, their mentors and amazing networks of community supporters.