HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud hosted a virtual Fifth Mission Innovation Ministerial (MI-5) on Wednesday, 23 September 2020. This important meeting provided an opportunity for MI members to look back on achievements since MI’s launch in 2015 and discuss opportunities for continued collaboration, with a focus on how a second phase could further accelerate innovation over the coming decade.
Members examined progress made against goals set out in MI’s Action Plan, demonstrating that MI has successfully boosted public-sector investments and private sector engagement in clean energy research and development. It became clear that by pushing forward on its commitments over the last four years, MI has become the key global initiative working to accelerate clean energy innovation, enabling a global network of governments, business leaders and other industry experts to collaborate on shared priorities. Exceptional researchers and innovators of clean energy products and services have been introduced and celebrated as MI Champions. These 21 Champions join 19 Champions from the first cohort in working with MI to raise the profile of clean energy around the world.
While evaluating progress to date, members agreed that opportunities exist to move toward a more outcome-oriented approach with strengthened private sector engagement. Members unanimously agreed to build on impact to date by developing an ambitious second phase of MI, to be launched at the 6th MI Ministerial hosted by Chile in 2021. Via livestream, members publicly endorsed the second phase, committing to continued efforts to dramatically accelerate the pace of innovation and facilitating a global clean energy transition where all countries have access to the solutions and technologies required to support national clean energy goals.
It was agreed that MI will take a mission-oriented approach, identifying the technologies or sectors where accelerated effort is most needed, and where joint voluntary commitments from governments and the private sector can send a strong signal to the market and innovators, thereby stimulating action, faster. They also agreed to develop a strengthened Innovation Platform through which countries can enhance international collaboration and exchange knowledge.
Finally, the UK issued a call to action on the path from COP21 to COP26, inspiring members to strengthen their resolve for action in the coming years, the Global Covenant of Mayors called for strengthened partnerships, and Chile set the stage for the launch of MI’s next phase at MI-6 in 2021.
On behalf of the entire MI community, we would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting and organizing this innovative meeting.
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