ecoConnect is a community interest group based in the United Kingdom that acts as a hub for collaboration, innovation, investment, and achievement in the green industry and cleantech sector.
In 2010, ecoConnect joined the GCCA, becoming one of the now 25 member organizations throughout the world.
According to Robert Hokin, Chief Executive of ecoConnect, the global connection ecoConnect receives through this partnership is essential in creating numerous business offerings and new employment opportunities for the cluster — evidenced by ecoConnect's more than 15,000 business and individual members.
ecoConnect provides a number of services aimed to benefit the public, the UK/European low carbon industries, and the cleantech community. These include networking forums, workshops and training, introductions to capital, grant funding support, collaboration platforms, news of low carbon industries and cleantech innovation and investment from around the world, business events calendar, educational resources, and jobs and training links.
In addition to these services, ecoConnect also sponsors a number of initiatives and activities, including:
- Green In The City
- Leaders In Cleantech
- Cleantech Bootcamp
- Greenbackers
- Women In Cleantech
Green In the City is a monthly forum where attendees can listen to expert panels as they debate about various subjects relating to the cleantech industry, including the future of solar and wind energy in the UK, biotechnology, transportation, carbon capture and storage, waste to energy, and clean energy integration.
Since its launch in 2009, over 3,500 delegates have attended, and it is currently viewed as one of the premier green industry events in London.
A core part of the ecoConnect Group, Leaders in Cleantech is a CEO forum for bringing together low carbon industry leaders who are shaping the future of the industry through the adoption of cleantech products, technologies, and brands in the UK.
ecoConnect created this forum because it is the belief that it is vital now more than ever that “Cleantech CEOs and business leaders navigate effectively though increased business complexity: in government regulation, stricter bank lending, staff learning and development, fluctuating supply chain costs, and global competition.”
Acknowledging that investment companies receive hundreds of pitches for business opportunities, ecoConnect created the Cleantech Bootcamp program so cleantech companies have the tools necessary to stand out in the pile.
In Cleantech Bootcamp, companies learn techniques necessary to become a successful business ready for investment opportunities through a series of workshops, including Pitching for Green Investment, Reaching the Marketplace for Green Industry, Advanced Business Planning, Cleantech and Intellectual Property, and Enterprise Investment Schemes.
The
Greenbackers Program, one of ecoConnect's main programs, introduces high quality, early-stage investment propositions with a cleantech edge to active investment companies.
Entrepreneurs are able to present their propositions to a personally invited group of investors in hopes of connecting with other sources of capital. This program also serves investors, allowing them access to entrepreneurs already screened as beneficial to the growing UK cleantech sector.
Women in Cleantech brings together female executives who work within the green and cleantech industry in order to promote innovation and growth.
Women connect with other members through an online community and quarterly networking forums.
ecoConnect believes women are under-represented; having an initiative such as this one could play an important role in the future of women interested in this sector.
According to ecoConnect, it is a critical time in the cleantech industry's evolution. The cleantech sector is growing exponentially and the opportunity for green technologies is huge...
While there is no single 'magic solution,' strong collaboration among government, businesses, investors, and community leaders is critical to optimizing quicker adoption of cleantech solutions.
ecoConnect is yet another cluster with a few of its member companies nominated for the GCCA Later Stage Award in the advanced materials, solar and wind categories. These include:
To stay updated on what ecoConnect is up to, you can follow them on Twitter. ecoConnect also has a blog that discusses topics related to ecoConnect as well as cleantech in general — in the UK and around the world.
Until Next Time,
Angela Guss
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