A PARTNERSHIP COMMITTED TO COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE
The Climate Action Challenge is initiated by Amsterdam-based design platform What Design Can Do (WDCD), in partnership with IKEA Foundation and Autodesk Foundation. “The collaboration with IKEA Foundation and Autodesk Foundation is unique”, says WDCD founder Richard van der Laken. “We don’t just reach out to the global creative community to come up with solutions, together we also have real developing power.”
Per Heggenes, IKEA Foundation CEO, says: “We believe climate change represents a very significant threat to the future of children living in poor communities —and that innovative design can help their families cope and adapt… This initiative will help creatives side with the many people, and this is why we’re supporting the What Design Can Do Climate Action Challenge.”
“Climate change is one of the greatest design challenges of our time, and addressing it is essential to the long-term success of society,” said Lynelle Cameron, president & CEO, Autodesk Foundation and vice president of Sustainability, Autodesk. “At Autodesk, we support entrepreneurs, start-ups, and non-profits to create climate change solutions through funding, software, and services. We’re proud to be supporting the What Design Can Do Climate Action Challenge.”
MAIN PARTNERS
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| IKEA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of INGKA Foundation, the owner of the IKEA Group of companies. We aim to improve opportunities for children and youth in some of the world’s poorest communities by funding holistic, long-term programmes that can create substantial, lasting change. The IKEA Foundation works with strong strategic partners applying innovative approaches to achieve large-scale results in four fundamental areas of a child’s life: a place to call home; a healthy start in life; a quality education; and a sustainable family income, while helping these communities fight and cope with climate change. | The Autodesk Foundation is a private 501c3 nonprofit organization of Autodesk, Inc. that supports the design and creation of innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges. Autodesk Foundation support can include grant funding, software, technical training, and industry expertise to grantees in architecture, engineering, product design and manufacturing, visual affects, gaming, and related fields. |
RESEARCH PARTNER & ACCELERATOR PARTNER
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| STBY (‘Standby’) is a design research consultancy based in London and Amsterdam. STBY’s creative research projects connect organisations with the lives and experiences of their customers to bring real people into the heart of service innovation processes. STBY is the initiator and co-founder of the REACH network for global design research and is the design research partner of What Design Can Do since 2015. | Social Enterprise NL propels the growing movement of social entrepreneurs in the Netherlands. Enterprises looking for innovative solutions to social challenges, such as climate change. Enterprises recognizing money as a means instead of an end goal. Like Vandebron, who supplies sustainable energy straight from the energy source. Together with our 350 enterprising members, we work to better the world. To increase their impact, we offer them a stage, representation, knowledge, advice and a strong alliance. Together, we create a new economy with profit for everyone: circular, poverty-free and inclusive. |