Concordia has established a new strategic partnership with the Transition Accelerator, a Canadian organization known for driving systems-level change to accelerate climate action. The university is the first in Canada to sign such an agreement.
The collaboration will combine Concordia's research expertise and the Transition Accelerator's policy and industry networks to address systemic barriers to Canada's transition towards a low-carbon economy. It will also create competitive advantages for Canadian industry in the global carbon-neutral marketplace.
"This partnership will combine our complementary strengths to drive real-world impact that neither of us could achieve alone," says Tim Evans, vice-president of research, innovation and impact at Concordia.
"Together, we will launch joint research initiatives, bring together stakeholders to shape climate policy and engage communities and industry to create sustainable solutions backed by science."
For its part, the Transition Accelerator will leverage the partnership to meet demand to integrate decarbonization research into projects industry-wide.
"Concordia's proactive approach to sustainability makes it stand out among Canadian universities," says Moe Kabbara, Transition Accelerator president.
"The university's commitment to applied research and openness to working beyond academia make it an ideal partner. Working with the university will help us connect industry players with the research capacity they need to scale up Concordia's clean technology innovation."
Fueling ongoing sustainability projects
Existing Concordia sustainability initiatives such as Volt-Age, PLAN/NET ZERØ and the Next-Generation Cities Institute offer a foundation of expertise to be strengthened by the collaboration.
Ursula Eicker, professor of building, civil and environmental engineering, found immediate interest in her research project, Tools4Cities. The project creates digital tools for sustainable urban planning, such as simulations for city-wide energy planning and retrofitting strategies for buildings.
"Tools4Cities aligned closely with projects already being carried out by the Transition Accelerator," says Eicker. "We want to advance that work considerably by providing access to our cutting-edge suite of tools."
With over 300 partners across Canada, the Transition Accelerator has a proven track record of connecting key stakeholders and shaping pathways to net-zero. This agreement signals a new chapter in Concordia's mission to be a leader in climate innovation and societal transformation.
Learn more about sustainability initiatives at Concordia.
