INNOVATE EAST 2021 SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES
The launch of Innovate East 2021 saw over 200 delegates from around the globe tuning in to work collaboratively on the water industry’s ambition to achieve net zero carbon by 2030.
The first of three events was hosted virtually by Anglian Water, Essex and Suffolk Water and new partner Yorkshire Water, with a specific focus on driving action-based outcomes that will have a significant impact on our collective goal.
The two day event was opened by Carl Pratt, cofounder of positive change impact organisation Future Planet, followed by a rousing keynote speech from former IKEA CEO Goran Carstedt. He explored how we create meaningful change and create a learningful culture that set our delegates up for two afternoons of exploration.
They spent the event working on three main sub challenges under the broad net zero theme.
These were:
Hydrogen-based solutions
Examining how we can we develop an end to end approach for hydrogen in our net zero ambitions
Technology-based solutions
How can technology help us deliver carbon neutrality and outperform our commitments to our customers and the environment?
Nature-based solutions
How can nature-based solutions be enabled more effectively to play a greater role in achieving net zero carbon emissions?
Representatives from all three water companies worked together to run these sprints with the view of generating three or more projects as a final outcome at the end of 2021. The first event saw groups settling into the challenges and taking a deep dive in to the broad themes and issues around their problem statements. Each group took a similar approach, highlighting barriers to success while beginning to generate hundreds of ideas that could be the start of something truly breakthrough to help those in the sector beyond make a real impact on achieving net zero.
The two days culminated in a wrap up session with each facilitator and lead subject matter expert providing a window into how the two days had played out. Perhaps the most thought-provoking take away came from facilitator Chris Joynson, who said those in his technology sprint drew parallels between the net zero challenge and the 1969 moon landing. He said: “There have been parallels between the scale of this challenge that we face, and the situation in 1961 when John F Kennedy wanted to put a man on the moon. We face a similar time frame, and a similar leap into the unknown.” Certainly food for thought!
Shaunna Berendsen, Head of Innovation Engagement, said: “We’re really pleased with the outcomes of the first Innovate East event of 2021. We’re operating in hugely different circumstances to our 2019 event, but many of the principles remain the same – we are on a mission to develop action-lead outcomes and know we can only do this by looking outside our sector. We’re incredibly grateful for all the brilliant minds who joined us for the first session, as well as our fantastic teams in house who worked really hard to ensure the first virtual Innovate East went to plan.”
Angela MacOscar, Head of Innovation at Essex & Suffolk Water, added: “Although we were unable to gather together physically to collaborate due to the current circumstances, we were able to welcome attendees and delegate from all over the world, including South Africa, India, Australia and the U.S. I think this is a great testament to how successful the first event really was.
“By collaborating on a worldwide scale, we can really focus on our goals of finding solutions to accelerate our race to Net Zero.
“Running Innovate East as a trilogy over the course of the year gives our innovators the opportunity to really develop their ideas, and I can’t wait to see how each of the outputs and themes develop throughout the next two events.”
The summer leg of the 2021 series, where the next steps will be developed, will be held on Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 June. It’s open to new delegates, so make sure you sign up if you feel you could contribute to the challenges we are exploring. Registration will open in the next couple of weeks. A technical understanding of the issues is an advantage, but isn’t essential. Innovate East is based on using a diverse range of experience and perspectives, so anyone can take part.
To hear more about why the net zero goal and Innovate East is so important to the leaders of Anglian, Essex & Suffolk and Yorkshire Water, watch this short video that was played during the opening ceremony.