Coventry attracts big name to low carbon event at MIPIM
THE chairman of a European organisation dedicated to promoting international innovation will be the guest speaker at a Coventry event at MIPIM today.
Coventry University and Coventry City Council are hosting ‘Coventry driving the economy: working towards a low carbon city’ at the major property and inward investment show in Cannes.
Jarmo Eskelinen, chairman of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), will discuss the benefits of the organisation which Coventry has joined in its bid to drive forward innovation and growth in the city.
He is also an executive director of Forum Virium Helsinki, a development cluster of digital services formed by major corporations and the city of Helsinki.
John Latham, deputy vice-chancellor for business development at Coventry University who is also speaking at the event, said Eskelinen would provide an insight into the global challenges which society would face in the future.
“Cities need to improve economic activity, quality of life and their green agenda and we aim to achieve that by working with the international community via ENoLL,” he said.
“The event at MIPIM is designed to provide an insight into the global challenges we all need to address in future decades as well as provide a springboard to encourage more partnership working.
“The ENoLL membership will help Coventry in its bid to be a low carbon city by 2020 and to make the most of the subsequent commercial opportunities which will follow.
“Jarmo’s background means he is superbly placed to provide information and links to other Living Labs cities so that we can learn from each other and overcome the climate and carbon challenges ahead.
“The focus of the 2020 strategy for City Lab Coventry is digital media, low carbon vehicles, low impact buildings, an ageing society, sustainable agriculture and integrated transport and logistics.
“We will be looking at a number of initiatives including providing low carbon vehicles on a large scale, creating a serious games studio/application lab for 30 developers to provide specialist support in creating 3D games and working with SMEs and start-up businesses.”
