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BRE Takes Centre Stage at Official Launch of Scotland Hong Kong Centre for Carbon Innovation

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On Thursday 30 July at the Hong Kong Science Park, Rufus Logan, Scottish Director of BRE, a world-leading building science centre, joined Sir Timothy O’Shea, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh and Nicola Sturgeon, as the First Minister for Scotland announced the official opening of the Scotland Hong Kong Centre for Carbon Innovation (SHKCCI).

The centre will share and develop best practice with the Hong Kong government, academic and business partners for the future of carbon technologies in Hong Kong. Low carbon experts will focus on projects related to sustainable construction, air quality, water, waste, resource usage, transport, energy efficiency and smarter cities.  The centre builds upon the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding between the Hong Kong and Scottish Government to develop closer partnerships to address the key challenges presented through climate change and a lower carbon economy. The centre in Hong Kong will be managed by experts from Edinburgh’s Centre for Carbon Innovation and will host and employ five staff recruited from Scotland and Hong Kong.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said ‘I’m confident that this relationship will help provide Scottish companies with a route into Hong Kong and, through its strong links with China, act as a gateway into China.’

Rufus Logan, Director of BRE Scotland noted; ‘All at BRE are delighted to be part of the innovative partnership. This is undoubtedly a major project for everyone concerned, particularly as it addresses head on a number of key factors which are high on the agenda of governments across the globe’

The ‘Team Scotland’ centre will be led by the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI) and is funded by the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier University, BRE Scotland and Scottish Development International. The group has growing global networks and future low-carbon bases in Asia, South America & Central America are potential next steps for Scotland’s hub for low carbon innovation.

Three Memorandums of Understanding were also announced at the opening ceremony. The three core partners announcing their intention to work together in the Centre- University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier University and BRE Scotland with a specific focus on the built environment; the University of Edinburgh will work with Hong Kong Polytechnic University on urban planning for intelligent cities, and built environment specialists BRE Scotland will work with Construction Industry Council Hong Kong.

For further information please email Linda McKeown, BRE, [email protected]

NOTES TO EDITOR

BRE Group

BRE is a world leading building science centre that generates new knowledge through research. This is used to create products, tools and standards that drive positive change across the built environment.  BRE helps its government and private sector clients meet the significant environmental, social and economic challenges they faces in delivering homes, buildings and communities. BRE is owned by the BRE Trust, a registered charity. The Trust uses the profits made by the BRE companies to fund research and education that advances knowledge of the built environment. www.bre.co.uk