Apr
08
2010
Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster (CCC) Presented
Late last month, the organizers (clusterpreneurs) behind Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster (CCC) held a an event where
they provided a presentation of the CCC concept.
The presentation, according to press statements, was attended by 110 representatives from the business community, researchers and promoters of trade and industry from Denmark and abroad. The one common denominator was that participants shared an interest in Cleantech as a development area and were interested in the role that Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster could play in future developments.
The official Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster kick-off will be help April 14th. It will involve all current participants – more than 500 businesses, organizations and knowledge institutions operating in the cleantech sector in Copenhagen and across Denmark.
The CCC is in part funded by EU Structural Fund Project, and has a budget of DKR 143 million (Half of the money comes from structural funds and the other half is sponsored by the partners themselves).
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Apr
06
2010
South Carolina Looking to Develop Cleantech Cluster
There seem to be no shortage of US regions looking to jump on the cleantech based economic development opportunity. Earlier this month, he Department of Energy chose Clemson University’s Restoration Institute to build and operate the world’s largest test facility for wind turbine drive trains. This is expected to kick-start a development of a wind-energy cluster in the region.
The Department of Energy estimates that South Carolina could gain 10,000 to 20,000 new jobs related to the wind energy industry in the next 20 years.
No Comments • Categories: Uncategorized
Jan
06
2010
US Federal Government will invest $366M in Energy Innovation Hubs / Clusters
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu has presented a plan outlining how the DoE will invest up to US $122 over five years in each three hubs.
DoE will review proposal in the coming months from prospective clusters/hubs.
The overall objective is bring together a multidisciplinary team of researchers to accelerate R&D and to shorten the time from discovery to technological development and commercialization promising energy-related technologies.
The three hubs/clusters will focus on:
- production of fuels directly from sunlight
- improving energy-efficient building systems design
- computer modeling and simulation for the development of advanced nuclear reactors
No Comments • Categories: Uncategorized
Nov
16
2009
Cluster strategy central to future economic development in Portland, Oregon (U.S.)
Last month, the City of Portland presented its five year economic development strategy with the ambitious goal of creating 10,000 new jobs in the city in the next five years. This aggressive objective has been gaining some questions in the local media, but is probably a welcomed addition to an economy that has been hit hard, losing more than 44,000 jobs over the past 12 months according to the strategy document.
The cluster strategy will be implemented by The Portland Development Commission (PDC), and the plan outlines four industries that will serve as the city’s target clusters:
Although some of he local media has questioned the absence of life science as the fifth cluster, the PDC has in our opinion a very sound reasoning, basing the selection of the four cluster focus industries based on what industries are already thriving and have a critical mass in the region. Granted the analysis behind this is correct, the PDC is probably facing a favorable situation as they are building their clusters upon the existing strengths and momentum of the local industry. Although life science is attractive and trendy, we are glad to see that the PDC is taking a activation rather creation approach to its cluster development strategy.
A quick read through the development strategy document shows that PDC may still have some work to do with regards to funding of the effort. Also, although the document briefly touches upon a strategy for how these cluster will be developed, there is a far step from an economic development plan based on labour and financial data to a successful and realistic cluster development plan. We will stay tuned.
No Comments • Categories: Uncategorized
Nov
11
2009
North Bay, Ontario (Canada) charting out a Biomass Cluster
Last month renewable industry stakeholders from all over the descended upon the city of North Bay, Ontario to take part in the two day conference: Harness Biomass – from the forest to the market place. The event that hosted over 400 delegates was yet another milestone achieved by the The Biomass Innovation Centre ( created by the Nipissing University in partnership with the local industry ) in the pursuit of establish a leading Biomass cluster in the North Bay region.
Building on the rich forest industry in the Northern part of Ontario (referred to as the Biomass Belt by the cluster’s stakeholders), the objective is to create a world-leading centre of R&D, commercialization and entrepreneurship in the are of production of biomass fuel.
Cluster stake holders have previously visited and hosted other Biomass centers around the world, including Austria, Finland and Sweden.
Biomass as a fuel alternative is certainly nothing new, and several jurisdictions has announced and launched Biomass cluster initiatives, but the North Bay emerging cluster may be enjoying some tailwind ahead thanks to the Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) Biomass Energy Program in particular.
We look forward to see how the cluster stakeholder will further stake out their cluster development strategy moving forward.
No Comments • Categories: Uncategorized
08 2010
Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster (CCC) Presented
Late last month, the organizers (clusterpreneurs) behind Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster (CCC) held a an event where they provided a presentation of the CCC concept.
The presentation, according to press statements, was attended by 110 representatives from the business community, researchers and promoters of trade and industry from Denmark and abroad. The one common denominator was that participants shared an interest in Cleantech as a development area and were interested in the role that Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster could play in future developments.
The official Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster kick-off will be help April 14th. It will involve all current participants – more than 500 businesses, organizations and knowledge institutions operating in the cleantech sector in Copenhagen and across Denmark.
The CCC is in part funded by EU Structural Fund Project, and has a budget of DKR 143 million (Half of the money comes from structural funds and the other half is sponsored by the partners themselves).
06 2010
South Carolina Looking to Develop Cleantech Cluster
There seem to be no shortage of US regions looking to jump on the cleantech based economic development opportunity. Earlier this month, he Department of Energy chose Clemson University’s Restoration Institute to build and operate the world’s largest test facility for wind turbine drive trains. This is expected to kick-start a development of a wind-energy cluster in the region.
The Department of Energy estimates that South Carolina could gain 10,000 to 20,000 new jobs related to the wind energy industry in the next 20 years.
06 2010
US Federal Government will invest $366M in Energy Innovation Hubs / Clusters
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu has presented a plan outlining how the DoE will invest up to US $122 over five years in each three hubs.
DoE will review proposal in the coming months from prospective clusters/hubs.
The overall objective is bring together a multidisciplinary team of researchers to accelerate R&D and to shorten the time from discovery to technological development and commercialization promising energy-related technologies.
The three hubs/clusters will focus on:
- production of fuels directly from sunlight
- improving energy-efficient building systems design
- computer modeling and simulation for the development of advanced nuclear reactors
16 2009
Cluster strategy central to future economic development in Portland, Oregon (U.S.)
Last month, the City of Portland presented its five year economic development strategy with the ambitious goal of creating 10,000 new jobs in the city in the next five years. This aggressive objective has been gaining some questions in the local media, but is probably a welcomed addition to an economy that has been hit hard, losing more than 44,000 jobs over the past 12 months according to the strategy document.
The cluster strategy will be implemented by The Portland Development Commission (PDC), and the plan outlines four industries that will serve as the city’s target clusters:
Although some of he local media has questioned the absence of life science as the fifth cluster, the PDC has in our opinion a very sound reasoning, basing the selection of the four cluster focus industries based on what industries are already thriving and have a critical mass in the region. Granted the analysis behind this is correct, the PDC is probably facing a favorable situation as they are building their clusters upon the existing strengths and momentum of the local industry. Although life science is attractive and trendy, we are glad to see that the PDC is taking a activation rather creation approach to its cluster development strategy.
A quick read through the development strategy document shows that PDC may still have some work to do with regards to funding of the effort. Also, although the document briefly touches upon a strategy for how these cluster will be developed, there is a far step from an economic development plan based on labour and financial data to a successful and realistic cluster development plan. We will stay tuned.
11 2009
North Bay, Ontario (Canada) charting out a Biomass Cluster
Last month renewable industry stakeholders from all over the descended upon the city of North Bay, Ontario to take part in the two day conference: Harness Biomass – from the forest to the market place. The event that hosted over 400 delegates was yet another milestone achieved by the The Biomass Innovation Centre ( created by the Nipissing University in partnership with the local industry ) in the pursuit of establish a leading Biomass cluster in the North Bay region.
Building on the rich forest industry in the Northern part of Ontario (referred to as the Biomass Belt by the cluster’s stakeholders), the objective is to create a world-leading centre of R&D, commercialization and entrepreneurship in the are of production of biomass fuel.
Cluster stake holders have previously visited and hosted other Biomass centers around the world, including Austria, Finland and Sweden.
Biomass as a fuel alternative is certainly nothing new, and several jurisdictions has announced and launched Biomass cluster initiatives, but the North Bay emerging cluster may be enjoying some tailwind ahead thanks to the Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) Biomass Energy Program in particular.
We look forward to see how the cluster stakeholder will further stake out their cluster development strategy moving forward.
