The event was attended by 110 representatives from the business community, researchers and promoters of trade and industry from Denmark and abroad. The participants all shared an interest in Cleantech as a development area and in the role Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster will play in that context. They were given the opportunity to visit selected laboratories where researchers presented business-oriented projects within, e.g., wind power, polymer solar cells, bioenergy and modern materials. The participants also had the chance to see the researchers' actual test set-ups and prototypes.
"Denmark currently holds a leading position in several areas within environmental and energy technology. We have well-developed business areas, such as the wind turbine industry, and we have benefited from favourable legislation, providing an excellent point of departure for Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster. What is needed now is further development of the general business climate for cleantech in order to keep the momentum going, because the rest of the world is also beginning to invest heavily in the sector," Lars Martiny, Head of Division at Risø, said in his introductory presentation.
Consequently, investments are needed to generate commercially viable research, and because Risø DTU is the National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, it is this particular area that we intend to concentrate on.
"If our ambition is to reduce carbon emissions by 2050, we need to be able to demonstrate the technologies that will make it possible by 2020, at the latest. And we can't just come up with good ideas; we need to have holistic, sustainable and viable solutions, with technology that has business potential. In order to succeed, we need to be able to carry out a wide range of innovation projects involving researchers and businesses within the next couple of years. This is the background for Risø's efforts to match research and business, and this is also our point of departure in CCC," explains Helle Bunkenborg, Manager of Risø's Innovation Activities.
Specific contacts
Specific ideas and contacts were established across the sector during the final session of the agenda, a mini workshop in which the participants were given a chance to speak. The discussion covered the role CCC should play in the development of the future cleantech industry in Denmark and how businesses can become actively involved. Many good ideas were discussed, and they will all be considered in the ongoing development of Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster.
The official Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster Kick-off will be in April with the participation of everyone involved in the project. The Kick-off event will take place on 14 April at 12.30 pm in the University of Copenhagen's Ceremonial Hall.
CCC – Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster is a cluster organisation for the more than 500 businesses, organisations and knowledge institutions operating in the cleantech sector in Copenhagen and across Denmark. The aim of CCC is to serve as a kind of one-stop-shop for Danish cleantech.
CCC offers a wide range of services, including an overview of and access to business and investment opportunities, test and demonstration locations and projects, cleantech sector networks, seminars and events in Copenhagen and throughout Denmark.
Partners behind CCC
- Copenhagen Capacity – Danish Capital Region's official inward investment agency
- DI – The Confederation of Danish Industry is the leading lobby organisation for Danish businesses on national and international issues
- Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark
- SCION DTU Science Park – Helps businesses realise and commercialise their high-tech ideas
- University of Copenhagen – The largest research and education institution in Denmark
- Symbion – The largest science park in Denmark
- EnergyMap – Your webguide to climate solutions, containing information on the latest energy and climate-related technologies
- Business Frederikssund – Organisation representing the tourism and business community in Frederikssund
- DHI – Independent, international consulting and research organisation
- Anders Eldrup, President of DONG Energy, is Chairman of the CCC Board which was established concurrently with Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster.