SA offers $250,000 prize to fast-track Adelaide zero carbon plans

The South Australian government is hoping to attract some of the world’s best minds to the task of transforming Adelaide into the world’s first carbon neutral city, with the offer of $250,000 in seed funding for the best ideas tackling clean energy, green transport, waste and liveability.

The funding is on offer through the newly created Entrepreneurs Prize, which was launched by SA Premier Jay Weatherill on Tuesday at the Carnegie Mellon University’s Energy Week conference in Pittsburgh, US.

It is the first initiative unveiled as part of the Adelaide to Zero Carbon Challenge – a program aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions, generating new green businesses for the state making Adelaide a showcase for renewables and clean technology.

The prize is open to locally, nationally and internationally developed proposals, although any successful international proposal will have to partner with a South Australian organisation to deliver their project.

“We want bold ideas that will help establish new jobs and new industries in South Australia while helping make Adelaide the world’s first carbon neutral city,” Weatherill said.

“This funding will help entrepreneurs flesh out their ideas, create prototypes and help get their ideas to market.”

Weatherill said he had chosen to launch the Entrepreneur’s Prize at Carnegie Mellon’s Energy Week, due to its reputation for gathering together leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs in the renewable energy field.

“We want to get the message out far and wide that we’re ready to hear ideas from people the world over,” Weatherill said.

“South Australia already has a strong record in renewables and by positioning ourselves at the forefront of change we can attract the next wave of investment in the low-carbon economy.

“This is the philosophy behind the Adelaide to Zero Carbon Challenge – to seek out the ideas and develop the innovative solutions that will help the State capture that investment.”

Participants in the Entrepreneur’s Prize have until May 30 to register their ideas.