Cleantech has become a buzz word lately and just like many other new terms and phrases, the exact definition is up for grabs. Cleantech, meaning everything from producing, consulting or researching processes or products that will either reduce the use of fossil fuels, make better use of renewable energy sources, reduce pollution or even produce renewable energy, is the working definition for Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster (CCC). CCC is a Danish initiative founded by several partners including research institutions, companies, governmental institutions and NGO’s.
Like any other sector, the cleantech sector was badly affected by the financial crisis, especially due to parts of the sector still being in a very investment and research demanding phase. Nevertheless, the cleantech sector is still here and still coming up with new and better ways to improve the life of its users and the environment. The election of US President Barack Obama was an additional sign that the times were about to get better, as he promised to invest 150 billion dollars over the next 10 years in developing alternative energy.
Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster, a Green Growth Leaders partner, has the ambition to be the world’s leading and renowned cleantech cluster. This entails many specific goals and objectives which for CCC mean that they want to create 1000 new jobs within the next 5 years and attract 25 new foreign companies to the cluster. This might seem very ambitious, and one might wonder how CCC will achieve it. Nevertheless, with focus on: Facilitation, International Outreach, Matchmaking, Innovation & and Entrepreneurship and finally Test and Demonstration, CCC has found a recipe for moving forward.
Amongst CCC’s many activities is the ‘One Stop Shop’, the knowledge center for CCC where businesses can gain access to relevant information, guidance, materials and activities. Other activities, and part of the outreach focus, are the CCC events and conferences. In 2010 CCC furthermore published the first Danish benchmarking of Danish cleantech companies, in total representing 30000 employees in the eastern part of Denmark. The report was the first of what will now become an annual publication. The report takes several parameters into account including growth, research and number of patents. The report is published in Danish, but the avid reader will be pleased to find that an executive summary in English is available on their website as well.
