Launched on World Environment Day 2009, this is the first annual Sustainable Innovation Student Competition (SISC). The competition, initiated by 51Sim, in partnership with Camco, 51Give and the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy, is designed to foster environmental entrepreneurship and encourage students to develop imaginative and viable business plans that will provide real-life solutions to tackling climate change in three categories: GITI green transport, energy efficiency and renewable energy.

It is open to all university students in Hong Kong and the mainland. Students should enter as a team of four people from the same university with a team leader. Business ideas should be submitted online by 24 July.

Prizes:

Three winning teams (one for each category) will:

• Receive HKD110,000 each to implement their business plan.
• Attend the COP-15 United Nations Climate Change Conference Copenhagen 2009 in December.
• Receive an invitation to join the Young Ambassadors programme.
• Be given an additional HKD 11,000 per team to be donated back into projects of their choice within the 51Give platform.
• Get a chance to receive the “Climate Cool Student of the Year Award.”

Bonus:

The twelve students from the three final winning teams will be given an additional HKD 2,200 per person as an award for their participation in the cause of environmental protection.

Timeline:

• Student teams agree on their business ideas and upload onto http://SISC.tom.com between 5 June and 24 July 2009
• Thirty shortlisted teams (10 x 3 categories) refine their ideas, write a business plan and upload onto the website between July and 11 September 2009
• 30 shortlisted teams members join our YA summer camp on 16 - 23 August 2009
• Nine shortlisted teams (3 x 3 categories) pitch their business plan to an expert panel on 31 October 2009
• Three teams (1 x 3 categories) to be awarded in mid November 2009

The British Council is delighted to have the support of actress Li Bing Bing as the official Ambassador to the Sustainable Innovation Student Competition.

To find out more, e-mail us at climate.cool@britishcouncil.org.hk