Welcome to the new generation: how the earthshot prize is powering a cleaner, greener future

When it comes achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, we don’t have all the answers. To get there, we’re going to need new and innovative technologies, some of which don’t even exist today. This is why we signed up to be a Global Alliance Member of The Earthshot Prize, the international challenge designed to find and grow the solutions that will repair our planet this decade.

Our company mission set in 1910 was to “contribute to society through the development of superior, original technology and products”. In simple terms, we want to power good in the world. Over a century later, that mission remains right at the heart of everything we do, but what does good look like in 2023?

For us, good is the innovation and growth that can power a cleaner, greener future as Hans Daems, Group Public Affairs Officer, Hitachi Europe, explains: “The climate challenge is so huge that no one should be under any illusion that they can find solutions on their own. So, the opportunity to partner with The Earthshot Prize and tap into this wider ecosystem of climate innovation is the perfect platform for us. It’s so encouraging to witness the dynamism, energy and hope that the entrepreneurial innovators generating these great ideas are bringing to the table.

“Innovation really flourishes when you share and exchange with others and The Earthshot Prize creates the ideal environment for the fifteen finalists to collaborate with Global Alliance Members like Hitachi to give these new emerging solutions the best opportunity to really make an impact on society. Our investments in R&D drive our technology differentiation, and we see the ability to work with some of these smaller innovators adding a new dimension to what we can achieve. Not least in terms of diversity as one of the true drivers of innovation – as the only Japanese company involved, we can provide a different perspective on the challenge in front of us. The Earthshot Prize brings finalists and member organisations together in the true sense and really captures the spirit of urgent optimism we all need to embrace in order to achieve our climate change ambitions.”

Hitachi leaders are keen to draw the parallel between their own work and the major strides being made by The Earthshot Prize finalists and want to offer the next wave of innovators the opportunity to cross the intersection of energy, mobility and digital. As a social innovation business with global reach, Hitachi can act as the catalyst for pioneering projects developed through The Earthshot Prize ecosystem.

Hitachi Europe Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer Chris Saul explains more: “Working alongside the finalists, we can leverage our relationships, expertise and scale across all of Hitachi’s sectors (Life, Energy, Mobility & Transportation, Industry, Automotive, Digital), but most specifically projects where we help governments, cities and companies to cut carbon. Other Global Alliance Members are providing the same knowledge and experience so collectively we’re helping to accelerating a whole range of these fledgling projects.

“Ultimately, we want to see innovation that we might not have found already. Yes, Hitachi is already strong in particular sectors but we’re always looking for new areas to explore and The Earthshot Prize finalists are helping us to unlock these new doors. Addressing the climate crisis and delivering the world’s carbon reduction targets requires not only collaboration between public and private enterprise, but also empowering innovators who can leverage The Earthshot Prize to increase their reach and impact.”

As part of the Global Alliance Members programme, Saul has been mentoring finalists as an “Earthshot Prize Finalist Advisor”, who help them define a “leap” forward to move their ideas to the next stage – everything from strategy, through marketing and promotional support to legal advice and fundraising ideas.

A good example of this in action is the Roam project which aims to bring affordable, electric transport to East Africa, one of the world’s fastest growing regions. In Kenya, motorcycle taxis are the easiest and cheapest way to get around, but they are also major polluters – Roam spotted the opportunity to create electric vehicles specifically designed for the African market and Saul is working closely with them to bring the idea to life by sharing knowledge around battery life, managing risk and business modelling.

Up to now, Roam has tested 160 prototypes, raised more than US$7.5 million and run a successful pilot programme with M-Kopa, one of the largest asset financiers on the continent. And this is just the start of the journey.

But if we are to succeed with our climate change ambitions, we need many more projects like this and the other fourteen finalist entries. For our part at Hitachi, we will continue to support The Earthshot Prize every step of the way, whether that’s identifying, selecting, upscaling or implementing these important projects. As a business which has powered social good for more than a century, we believe long-term collaboration is the key to a cleaner, greener planet for future generations – let’s accelerate our innovation journey together.