London cleantech centre and global cluster partnership announced

Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011

Plans were unveiled yesterday to create a business centre for cleantech companies in London and to help bring their products to market through a global partnership.

ecoConnect CIC, a UK non-profit association that supports the cleantech sector, is behind 'Project Green Zone', a co-location for cleantech companies where they can hold meetings, network and have business to business interactions with other cleantech companies. ecoConnect CIC also announced yesterday that it had formed a partnership with Global Cleantech Cluster Association and was launching a competition to find companies with the best in class technology. 

"One thing that struck us was the lack of a definable cleantech presence in London, so we set out to create one," said Robert Hokin, ecoConnect CIC Chief Executive today at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

ecoConnect is looking at different properties in London for a space for the centre, which it is hoping to open later this year. As well as networking, Project Green Zone will also provide business acceleration and funding assistance, as well as offer training and workshops.

"Our mission is to bring together the leadership from cleantech [...] to collaborate the fast track this critical sector," Hokin said.

Cleantech support

Over 15,000 businesses are registered with ecoConnect, comprising cleantech businesses, small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), investors and advisors.

"The products can quite literally save the world by helping us reduce our carbon emissions," said former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone at the launch. "I think we’ve been far too slow in this country in supporting the engineers and entrepreneurs that are trying to develop low carbon solutions."

ecoConnect is hoping to do just that with its new business centre. By doing so, it believes the sector can flourish with resource and development, business strategy development and IP assistance.

"I am pleased to lend my support to ecoConnect," said Boris Johnson, Mayor of London. "It is vital that we accelerate the uptake of cleantech solutions to help us better manage energy demand and cut carbon emissions. This will help us deliver my vision of a thriving low carbon economy which is stimulating green collar jobs and lessening our reliance on fossil fuels. I welcome the impetus ecoConnect is providing."

Partnership

ecoConnect also launched a partnership with Global Cleantech Cluster Association (GCCA).

GCCA describes a cleantech cluster as an economic development office focused on growing greentech in a certain region. There are about 20 of these clusters with 3,5000 companies involved worldwide, according to Shawn Lesser, the co-founder of GCCA.

"One of our main goals is to help bring the best of class company wherever it is in the world to the forefront, finding the best technologies, wherever they are, and bringing them to the market," Lesser said.

"I think this is the starting point of ensuring UK cleantech is more involved on an international level. The UK can be a world leader in this sector, and we believe ecoConnect is very well positioned to be our UK conduit for opportunities all over the world."

Competition

Under their new partnership, GCCA and ecoConnect are holding a 'Later Stage Competition' to find the companies with the best in class technology.  

The competition is for companies that generate revenue within their home market and are either looking to expand the company internationally or have technologies or services that have international growth potential but have not generated revenue yet.

There will be awards given out in 10 different categories: wind, solar, renewable energy (others), transportation, green buildings, water, waste, energy efficiency and agriculture.

"The competition is a great opportunity for 10 UK cleantech companies to be part of an impressive international community," said Ben Taube, GCCA chairman.

Those looking to enter must do so by May 12, and the winners will be announced in Montreal on August 22.

Source: ecoConnect