The world will see major changes resulting from the greening of economic stimulus packages that will create new investments, businesses, products, technologies and jobs. Korea and China are leading the way and have already been spending money. However, the majority of money is predicted to start being distributed in 2010. In parallel, both Korea and Japan have announced their aim to each create one million green jobs resulting from their investments. Behind the scenes, the United Nations and the World Economic Forum are contributing to the development of thinking and learning through their Green Economy projects. This coupled with growing media interest associated with the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) in Copenhagen in December 2009 will ensure that awareness of both threats and opportunities of climate change will be high profile. A key underlying theme being how global society moves towards a model of low carbon prosperity.

Major investors are now starting to move money, experience and expertise back into the space with a clear focus on energy and resource efficient solutions and technologies. George Soros has recently announced an investment of $1 billion over ten years in The Climate Policy Initiative and Warren Buffet's 'Build Your Dream' (BYD) electric vehicle car company has completed major deals with thirteen provincial Chinese governments. In addition, there are likely to be more disruptive innovators entering the 'green' market aiming for mass market change and business opportunity e.g. the recent launch of the Google car by Google.

In addition, there is growing worldwide discussion over 'green' and sustainable product’s? This is going to be accelerated by, for example, the launch of Walmart's Sustainable Product Index which will have a major impact on global supply chains. This will be a challenge for the unprepared but an opportunity for those that are proactive. There is no easy answer. Global companies, innovators and entrepreneurs alike are grappling with the need to develop and implement strategies to create, produce and commercialise products, services, technologies and new business models that have lower environmental impact that generate social and financial benefits. Leadership and creativity will be needed, if the opportunities are to be recognised and accepted.

Concept

Sustainable Innovation 2010 will provide a platform to discuss the future opportunities and challenges related to the design, development and commercialisation of sustainable products, services, technologies and new business models. Sustainable Innovation 2010 will include invited and refereed papers from academics, consultants, entrepreneurs, investors, technology providers, designers, sustainability, environment and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) managers as well as other business functions. The event will be a unique learning experience, networking space and an opportunity to think! Delegates will come globally from large companies, entrepreneurs, as well as academia, government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The conference is supported by an international Advisory Board.

Conference topics

Sustainable Innovation 2010 welcomes conceptual and research-based papers covering sustainable innovation, technology, product and service design and development. Papers particularly focused on the relationship between sustainable innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation related to the following topics are particularly welcomed:

• Radical change
  
• Sustainable technologies
• Innovation processes
• Organisational dimensions
• Green public procurement
• Supply chain management 
• Management systems
• Sustainable product design and development 
• Education, training and skills
• Collaborations and partnerships
• Methodologies
• Case studies
• Disruptive innovation
• Market transformation
• Sustainable Consumption & Production
• Regional approaches
• Product policy
• Eco-innovation
• New business models
• Product-service-systems (PSS)
• Green venturing
• Sustainable entrepreneurship

Benefits

Sustainable Innovation 2010 will provide a range of benefits to speakers and delegates:

Established: 15th international conference

Unique: Forum for new ideas and concepts

Leading-edge: Presentations from leading researchers, practitioners and policy-makers 

Content: New research, results and thinking

Networking: Opportunities to meet business, government and academia

Track-record: Over 1600 delegates from over 40 countries have attended previous confeences 

Submission Details

Conference papers: please email fax or post up to 500 words describing your proposed paper by 26th April 2010. The paper will then be sent to the Advisory Board for evaluation and authors will be given feedback by June 2010. The highest rated papers will be invited to present at the conference. Please only submit abstracts if you have a budget to attend the conference which includes travel, accomodation and registration fees.

For more information on Sustainable Innovation 2010 please contact Martin Charter