Applications open for annual QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge

The global Challenge, now in its fifth year, is run by the QBE Foundation in partnership with non-profit organisation Leading Cities to find and support start-ups with innovative technological solutions that address the complex environmental, social and economic challenges faced by cities.

Grant Clemence, Chair of QBE Foundation, European Operations, said that as risks to cities evolve and grow increasingly severe, there is a pressing need to build more urban resilience.

“As a global insurance leader, QBE’s purpose to enable a more resilient future highlights how sustainability is integral to us. We strive to help communities and businesses understand and protect themselves from risk, in whichever form it takes.

“The Challenge is just one way the QBE Foundation is supporting and encouraging impactful initiatives in our communities, and we look forward to seeing the innovative solutions that come from this year’s entrants.”

Primary Challenge competitors have the chance to win up to USD$150,000 in funding for a city pilot project, as well as expert mentoring and collaboration opportunities to help scale their initiatives, and support from QBE, including engagement with its venture investment and development arm, QBE Ventures.

Two new breakout tracks are also being launched with prizes of USD$25,000 each, complementing QBE’s focus on commercial property protection and agriculture. The Insurance (Commercial Property) track seeks loss-mitigation innovations which will allow us to identify or minimise potential hazards more quickly, lessen the effects of property damage and decrease business disruption or home evacuation, while the Agriculture track seeks solutions for farmers, such as Agtech, distribution channel solutions, risk management, data tracking and more.

Michael Lake, President and CEO of Leading Cities, said the Challenge enables entrepreneurs to connect with city leaders to build sustainable, resilient communities ready to face impending environmental challenges.

“Cities are on the front lines of combatting the impacts of climate change, a real threat to humanity. The tools communities have to reduce risks, increase sustainability and ensure resiliency are being developed by talented entrepreneurs globally. The QBE AcceliCITY Challenge connects those solutions with city leaders and prepares them for faster deployment in communities everywhere.”

2022’s Challenge winners include Automedi, the world’s first decentralised circular microeconomy converting plastic waste into community products at the actual point of use, which won the City Solution of the Year Award and its accompanying USD$150,000 prize. Australian company Stormseal received one of two People’s Choice Awards and USD$25,000 in funding for its polyethylene film that heat-shrinks to securely wrap and protect a damaged roof or structure.

Applications close 30 April 2023. To apply or find out more about the Challenge, please visit www.accelicity.com

ENDS

For more information:

Alexis Burris, Corporate Communications, QBE, 020 3465 3921, alexis.burris@uk.qbe.com

About QBE

QBE helps businesses build resilience through risk management and insurance.

QBE European Operations is part of QBE Insurance Group, one of the world’s leading international insurers and reinsurers and Standard & Poor’s A+ rated. Listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, QBE’s gross written premium for the year ended 31 December 2022 was US$20 billion.

As a business insurance specialist, QBE European Operations offers a range of insurance products from the standard suite of property, casualty and motor to the specialist financial lines, marine and energy. All are tailored to the individual needs of our small, medium and large customer base.

We understand the crucial role that effective risk management plays in all organisations and work hard to understand our customers’ businesses so that we offer insurance solutions that meet their needs – from complex programmes to simpler e-trading solutions – and support them in minimising their risk exposures. Our expert risk management and rehabilitation practitioners focus on helping customers improve their risk management so that they may benefit from a reduction in claims frequency and costs.