Driving Impact Through Innovation: How Students Propel the MoD's Net Zero Ambitions
At the crossroads of innovation and sustainability, the 'Hacking 4 Sustainability' course at Bournemouth University stands as a beacon of hands-on learning. It's here that Mick Brown, a dedicated Problem Sponsor, sought the expertise of the next generation to further the MoD's ambitious Net Zero goals.
Tapping into Fresh Perspectives: The Power of Young Minds
The MoD's 2050 net zero target looms large. Recognising the urgency, Mick presented a challenge: How can the MoD decarbonise their supply chains and truly grasp Defence suppliers' net zero ambitions? Mick's engagement with the course wasn't just about finding solutions. It was about fostering collaboration and innovation, tapping into students who could approach the problem unconstrained by traditional bureaucratic mindsets.
Turning Ideas into Action: Real-world Impact
The student teams, through their interviews and research, pinpointed a gap: MoD suppliers were hesitant to offer sustainable alternatives due to a lack of demand. Their strategic response? A comprehensive training programme for all Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) staff. This initiative, starting with senior staff and cascading to all levels, aimed to enlighten and amplify awareness about sustainability, thereby catalysing the demand for sustainable products.
This recommendation not only validated Mick’s ongoing strategies but also resonated with the Net Zero Acquisition team's vision. While some initiatives were already in motion, the students' insights underscored the importance of their efforts and illuminated new avenues for exploration. This approach, rooted in CMP's ethos of focusing on the problem, ensures that solutions are not just innovative but also impactful.
Collaboration, Innovation, and the Road Ahead
Mick's experience with the course was transformative. It wasn't just about accessing fresh thinking; it was about driving positive impact across the sector. Inspired by the outcomes and the potential for further collaboration, Mick has already taken the initiative to sponsor another problem and submitted one for the H4MoD course at Sandhurst back in July. Here, he collaborated with University Officer Training Cadets (UOTCs) from across the UK, further bridging the gap between academia, industry and defence to solve real-world challenges.
At CMP, we believe in the power of entrepreneurial skills to drive change, especially in Defence and PubliC Sector where the scale of impact is monumental, and felt by many. By equipping students with innovative skills, we're not just preparing them for the job market; we're enabling them to approach problems in innovative ways, fostering collaboration, and ultimately, improving society and the economy. As we continue to inspire and equip the next generation, we remain committed to our mission: galvanising around common problems to create tangible, real-world impact.
If you’re interested in submitting a problem to be worked on, then join our next seminar (hosted every Thursday during September and October) to learn more about what's involved in the problem curation process. We’d love to see you there.