National award for low carbon innovators

The Carbon Trust, in association with the Sunday Telegraph, last month announced the launch of a major national award scheme for companies that are taking "imaginative steps or developing new technologies which help reduce the UK's carbon dioxide emissions." The Carbon Trust Innovation Awards will recognise achievement amongst individuals and organisations in both the public and private sectors. At a ceremony attended by government and industry in November this year, the three category winners (individuals and small businesses; larger companies and public sector; and academic and R&D facilities) will each feature in the Sunday Telegraph and receive a share of a total of £30k in advertising, with the overall winner also receiving a specially-commissioned trophy and practical advice to help take the innovation forward to commercialisation. Entries will be judged on evidence of innovation and the potential they have for commercial application. Judges will be looking for evidence of: the potential for material and cost effective CO2 emissions savings while safeguarding the environment; an idea or technology that works (or has the potential to work) in a commercial application; and genuine innovation in terms of technology design, application or process. Carbon Trust's CEO Tom Delay commented: " We know that there are individuals and organisations out there who are already taking practical measures to tackle climate change. The Innovation Award scheme seeks to recognise this work – it is their chance to get their ideas and actions into the headlines. "Carbon Trust has a clear remit to help reduce CO2 emission levels in the UK. The awards represent an important step in ensuring that, where this is being done innovatively, it is fully recognised. In addition, our involvement demonstrates the vital role the business community plays in moving towards a low carbon economy and helping to achieve the Government's CO2 emissions reduction targets." For more information and an application form,go to www.telegraph.co.uk/carbontrust