Net Zero Grand Challenge
Net Zero Grand Challenge
THE CHALLENGE
The University of Newcastle’s Grand Challenge is an annual initiative aimed at encouraging multi-disciplinary teams to propose and develop potential solutions to complex challenges. The most compelling submissions will share in $30,000 in funds to advance their idea.
This year, the Grand Challenge will focus on a complex problem with both local and global significance – the concept of circular economy: minimizing waste and maximizing resource efficiency.
Proposals are required to provide a response to the following challenge statement:
How might we assist key stakeholders, such as suppliers, partners and consumers, transition to circular economy practices to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency and to achieve net zero goals?
Share in over $30,000 of funding to the winners!
WHY CIRCULAR ECONOMY?
A Circular Economy moves away from the traditional "take-make-dispose" model, instead emphasizing the continuous use of resources by designing products for reuse, repair, refurbishment, and recycling. It seeks to reduce waste, lower carbon emissions, and maximize resource efficiency, creating closed-loop systems that extend the life of products and materials.
The University of Newcastle has a particular interest in Circular Economy principles, to reduce it's own carbon emissions in line with the Moving Toward Net Zero, outlined in it's 2025 Strategy.
By helping stakeholders, such as suppliers, partners and consumers transition to circular economy practices, we aim to enhance transparency, accountability and ultimately drive emissions reductions across the economy.
It’s about holding companies accountable for their environmental performance.
WHAT IS A GRAND CHALLENGE?
We are bringing together multidisciplinary minds to explore accessible solutions to ultimately improve emissions reporting for our community.
The Grand Challenge is a series of events designed to build a robust solution to a specific problem. In this challenge, the University of Newcastle is seeking new and innovative solutions that empower organisations to reduce and record scope 3 emissions.
During the Grand Challenge, you have the opportunity to hear from industry experts about the problem of emissions reporting and then form interdisciplinary teams with other participants. Your team will research more into the emissions reporting and will begin to develop your idea or solution with support at our optional events. We have innovation mentors available to support your submission throughout.
Successful teams will receive up to $10,000 in funding to develop and test prototypes within a 6-month period.
The judges will outline your solutions’ merits according to the marking criteria and award the funding on the Awards Night.
READY TO SUBMIT?
Event Schedule
Event Schedule
EVENT SCHEDULE
These events are designed to support you on your innovation journey. Whilst attendance at these events are not compulsory, we encourage you to attend as many as possible to build your connections, understanding and solution.
LOOKING AHEAD: DELIVERING AUSTRALIA’S ENERGY FUTURE
Thu 19 Sep 5:45pm
Newcastle Conservatorium of Music - Auckland St, Newcastle
Closed
PITCH WORKSHOP
Thu 26 Sep 6-8pm
I2N Hub Honeysuckle
Closed
APPLICATIONS CLOSE
Wed 9 Oct 5pm
Applications closed
AWARDS NIGHT
Thu 17 Oct 5-7:30pm
Art Gallery, Callaghan Campus
Registrations closed
INFORMATION SESSION
Wed 11 Jun 10-11 AM
Online
Register Here
EXPERT PANEL - PROBLEM
Tue 29 Jul 4-6PM
Restech, Callaghan Campus
Registration coming soon
TEAM FORMATION
Tue 12 Aug 4-6PM
Restech, Callaghan Campus
Registration coming soon
FINALISTS
Wed 03 Sep 4-6pm
I2N Hub Honeysuckle
Closed
Winners
Winners
2024 WINNERS
Nobel Innovations
$10,000
Noble Innovations, comprised of a team of undergraduate students, is a project that reimagines the lifecycle of HDPE plastic. This ‘waste to wonder’ project aims to transform waste from campus cafes into eco-friendly merchandise, including artistic plates that celebrate regional unity and cultural heritage. By localising production, minimising the need for virgin plastics, and reducing waste transportation, Noble Innovations is aiming to make a tangible impact on the university's carbon footprint.
CalcCollab
$10,000
CALC COLLAB aims to empower companies by providing open-source, low-code tools that simplify Scope 3 carbon accounting, enabling all organisations, regardless of size, to participate in meaningful carbon reduction efforts. The project targets the complex and resource-intensive nature of Scope 3 carbon accounting, starting with heavy industries such as the global lithium supply chain
EcoFusion
$10,000
This ambitious project stood out for it’s innovative use of genetically engineered cyanobacteria to convert CO₂ emissions into valuable biofuel and fertiliser. The team's closed-loop system demonstrates potential for reducing Scope 3 emissions by up to 70% when fully implemented, offering a scalable solution for both agricultural and industrial applications.
EcoFusion doubled their success for the evening by also claiming the People's Choice Award. They were awarded a $1000 cash prize for this category.
How the Grand Challenge works
HOW THE GRAND CHALLENGE WORKS
Wrap your head around Scope 3 Watch the videos from our prior events, utilise the resources provided to you and/or schedule a chat with on of our challenge experts to have any questions answered.
Build your team Form your team (5 members max) in advance or join a team on our team formation day (16 September). Multidisciplinary teams that have wide-ranging experience are highly regarded.
*Atleast one team member needs to be affiliated with the University of Newcastle.
Develop a solution Use your team's expertise in IT, engineering, design, technology, and/or Scope 3 carbon emissions to design an idea for a solution to the challenge statement.
Submit via Devpost Understand the submission requirements and submit application and video via devpost by October 9th!
Compete The top 3 ideas will recieve $10k each in funding to develop and deploy these ideas. This will be announced at our award night on the 17th of October at the University Gallery at Callaghan Campus.
How the Grand Challenge works
HOW THE GRAND CHALLENGE WORKS
Wrap your head around Scope 3 Watch the videos from our prior events, utilise the resources provided to you and/or schedule a chat with on of our challenge experts to have any questions answered.
Build your team Form your team (5 members max) in advance or join a team on our team formation day (16 September). Multidisciplinary teams that have wide-ranging experience are highly regarded.
*Atleast one team member needs to be affiliated with the University of Newcastle.
Develop a solution Use your team's expertise in IT, engineering, design, technology, and/or Scope 3 carbon emissions to design an idea for a solution to the challenge statement.
Submit via Devpost Understand the submission requirements and submit application and video via devpost by October 9th!
Compete The top 3 ideas will recieve $10k each in funding to develop and deploy these ideas. This will be announced at our award night on the 17th of October at the University Gallery at Callaghan Campus.
Thank You To Our Judges & Partners
Thank You To Our Judges & Partners
THANK YOU TO OUR JUDGES
Professor Alex Zelinsky AO
Vice Chancellor & President
The University of Newcastle
Siobhan Curran
Director- Entrepreneurship
The University of Newcastle
Joel Palmer
Director- Strategy, Planning & Performance
The University of Newcastle
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
The Net Zero Grand Challenge was delivered in partnership with the University of Newcastle’s Integrated Innovation Network (I2N) and the University of Newcastle’s Strategy, Planning and Performance team.
