£100k prize fund for green transport ideas

PIONEERS of green transport are being invited to bid for a pot of money totalling £100,000 to turn their ideas into reality.

The Green Transport Prize, supported by SEStran, is being launched as a spin-off from the electric vehicle project, with funding from the new Edinburgh College (launched on 1 October as Jewel and Esk, Stevenson and Telford colleges merge), St Andrews University and Edinburgh Napier University.

The best scheme put forward – by an individual, community group, public or private sector organisation – will be awarded £50,000 to develop the project, with the two runners-up getting £25,000 each. The best entries will be showcased at a Green Transport Prize event hosted by The Scotsman Conferences and Edinburgh College in May next year, with the winners announced on the day.

“We are looking for green transport solutions not only for Scotland, but ideas that could be used globally,” said Steve Tinsley of Jewel and Esk College.

“There is a tremendous amount of innovation and enterprise in this field in Scotland and we want to tap into it – but the prize is open to great projects from around the world. We really hope that this pilot will be a great success – and will become an annual award and focus attention on Scotland as a world leader in sustainable transport.”

Suggested themes for entries to the Green Transport Prize include: urban transport solutions; rural transport solutions; water-based transport solutions; logistics and freight; and projects showing sustainable transport options need not be an everyday reality for one country and a luxury for others.

l To find out more and to apply for the prize, go to www.jec.ac.uk/services-for-business/green-transport-prize