GREENHOUSE CLUB – where we grow green innovation
About this good practice
The Bulgarian innovation ecosystem is steadily growing but Bulgarian green start-ups and entrepreneurs still show relatively low participation in EU funded programmes and initiatives. This is partially related to the lack of consolidated info point for available opportunities. CTBG and Sofia Tech Park (the biggest technology park in Bulgaria), stepping on their long-term collaboration for supporting the start-up ecosystem development in the country, bridged this information gap by establishing a Club of interests, dedicated to support to green innovation. The Greenhouse Club, part of Sofia Tech Park’s Clubhouse - was launched officially on May 10th together with the GRESS partners during the study visit in Sofia.
In this first edition of the Greenhouse Club, the partners were invited in a live-streamed virtual studio to share successful initiatives from the regions for supporting green start-ups – the main objective of the GRESS project. The partners shared initiatives around public procurement targeted at start-ups, green business certification, start-up competitions and more out to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Bulgaria – the main target group of the Greenhouse Club. Until the end of 2022 three more editions are planned and will be devoted to different green innovation domains such as climate, manufacturing, agri-food, policy making thus building a community of stakeholders around green innovation start-ups.
Resources needed
The management of the Clubhouse requires the human resources from Cleantech Bulgaria’s communication and project teams for developing the content, appointment of speakers, dissemination and promotion.
Evidence of success
By setting up the first edition, Cleantech Bulgaria succeeded to bring new opportunities from the GRESS regions to the Bulgarian start-up ecosystems. Specific interest was raised on public procurement targeted at start-ups which is a novel topic for Bulgaria. On the other hand, the Greenhouse Club represents one additional channel for sharing existing opportunities and bringing more connections between the EU regions.
Potential for learning or transfer
The general Clubhouse concept, which is a good practice listed on the IE PLP, was presented to the GRESS partners from Sofia Tech Park back in September 2021 during an online study visit. A specific interest was expressed from the Municipality of Kristiansand on replicating the practice as they sought ideas on how to establish public private meeting place and build a community around circular construction where new projects, green or circular practices or innovations, new regulations or criteria could be discussed on a regular basis. The Clubhouse concept was fitting very well to the needs and during the study visit in Sofia the partners could get personal impression of how such a place is set up and run. A possibility for replicating the model will be further discussed with Sofia Tech Park who are open to exporting the know-how internationally.
