Environmental analysis news: West Midlands RDA to participate in European climate change programme

Regional Development Agency (RDA) Advantage West Midlands is one of six areas that will participate in a new, Europe-wide climate change programme.

Launched by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), the consortium will bring together six regions, five universities and ten companies to combat climate change through a programme of investments in technology, innovation and people.

The EIT will provide €120 million (£104.44 million), with partners in the scheme contributing approximately five times that amount, bringing the total fund to €750 million over four years.

Key areas of the Climate Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) will be research programmes in the areas of climate science, low-carbon cities, zero-carbon production systems and integrated water management.

Mick Laverty, chief executive at Advantage West Midlands, commented: "The programme will reinforce our own strategies that invest in innovation, high-value, high-tech and low-carbon sectors."

Other participants in Climate KIC include Imperial College, Shell and CISCO.

Advantage West Midlands is one of nine RDAs in England, which encourage sustainable economic development across the nation.

Posted by Joseph Hutton