Road to COP26 grant programme draws on Creative Informatics expertise
An initiative to develop Nepal-based craft projects as sustainable businesses has been launched as part of the countdown to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow in November.
Edinburgh Napier is working with British Council Nepal, Kathmandu University and Applied Arts Scotland on the Road to COP26 Innovation Grant Programme, which includes an incubator programme followed by grants and showcase opportunities.
Research Fellow Dr Inge Panneels from Creative Informatics, based at the University’s School of Computing, is involved as academic partner in evaluating the ideas and solutions put forward.
The Programme aims to support the development of new, exciting and innovative ideas for sustainability in Nepal that harness nature-based and craft-related solutions to promote positive environmental impacts.
It seeks interest from individuals or teams with new, existing or adaptive ideas that will deliver social, environmental and economic outcomes.
The Road to COP26 Innovation Grant Programme has three elements:
Incubator event for 50 selected participants to further develop their ideas, co-delivered by Edinburgh Napier, Applied Arts Scotland, and staff from Kathmandu University’s Schools of Arts and Engineering (March 2021)
Grants and tailored mentoring for five incubator event participants to take their ideas from concept to reality (April-September 2021)
Showcase of grantees’ projects to industry and climate change stakeholders in Nepal (October 2021) and Scotland (November 2021), in the lead up to and during the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow on 1-12 November 2021.
