Top 10 Cleantech Cluster Organizations for 2010

There is no doubt that cleantech and renewable energy related sectors will continue to accelerate into 2010 and beyond. Driven by significant public policy, economic stimuli and incentive initiatives, several regions are developing fast growing cleantech clusters. Although using a fairly loose definition of clusters, Sustainable World Capital (SWC) a cleantech advisory firm recently developed a top-ten list of global cleantech clusters to watch. The top 5 clusters are according to SWC:

1. Austria Eco World Styria (Austria)
2. The New England Clean Energy Council (USA)
3. Finnish Cleantech Cluster (Finland)
4. MaRS Cleantech (Canada)
5. Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster (Denmark)

The entire list, and more details published at Cleantech Grop LLC’s Web site

International GIS Cluster Conference

The Enterprise for Innovative Geospatial Solutions (EIGS) housed at The University of Mississippi in the US is hosting an international conference to discuss emerging efforts to foster geospatial research and industry clusters. The event is a follow-on from the 1st International GIS Cluster Conference that was held in Sweden in 2008.

One of the motivations for brining the event to Ole Miss was according to Dr. Greg Easson, EIGS Executive Director the opportunity to further learn more about cluster development and programs from developed clusters clusters around the globe.

Among the clusters at the event will be:

• GIS-Cluster Salzburg (Austria)
• Future Position X (Sweden’s national GIS Cluster)
• Wuhan Geospatial Information Industry Base (China)
• Geospatial Quebec (Canada)

We are excited to see that the idea of international collaboration and best practice sharing is on the agenda – and also to such a specific industry niche as GIS.

On a side note, GIS is also a valuable tool for cluster mapping and development – something we previously have successfully utilized.