Eco-Innovation is a new, multi-faceted industry that is driven by policy decisions to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions, to optimise the use of natural resources, to remediate pollution and increase energy efficiency. New industries and businesses with high growth potential are quickly emerging in the footsteps of these policy decisions. The ‘Eco-Innovation Cluster Partnership for Internationalisation and Growth (EcoCluP)’ is the first pan-European cluster partnership focussing on eco-innovative industries encompassing waste, water, remediation, pollution control, environmental services, energy and sustainable construction. Through Europe’s key clusters, organisations with a strong environmental portfolio from Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK, the partnership represents over 3500 cluster companies (mostly SMEs) and 430 research institutions. EcoCluP is aiming to adapt, test and implement sector-specific cluster support tools and services for fast-growing businesses thus creating better opportunities for the cluster companies to grow and internationalise. Cluster Managers get trained and can share experiences through Cluster Manager Days and staff exchanges. In terms of long-term impact, the project contributes to creating stronger cluster teams using professional innovation tools and services and supporting a large number of companies in their pursuit of growth and internationalisation.
Specific objectives:
- Strengthening of the partnership between eco innovation clusters across Europe
- Fostering the internationalisation of innovative SMEs
- Formation of pan-European R&D partnerships between SMEs
- Promotion of Europe’s eco innovative businesses in emerging global markets
- Training of cluster managers to create more effective cluster coordinators
