North Sweden Cleantech regional collaboration platform for Green Transition
About this good practice
North Sweden Cleantech is a collaboration platform aiming to strengthen SMEs in green technology, clean energy and sustainable solutions in northern Sweden, by providing innovation and business support to start-ups and SMEs creating products and services that promote a sustainable transition.
The platform results from a public regional development long term initiative gathering a critical mass of companies that develop climate- and environmentally friendly solutions in collaboration between regions in northern Sweden. The platform was developed on the initiative of Region Västerbotten, which decided in the Regional Plan that cleantech would constitute a new priority area and then provided support for a feasibility study for the development of the platform.
The platform consists of a broad partnership that includes incubators, science parks, energy companies, cities and regions in 3 counties and has developed during more than 10 years a business network of 110 companies. The network is currently growing. The initiative is implemented by publicly owned incubators, science parks and other organizations in 5 cities providing a joint offer to companies.
North Sweden Cleantech has successfully adapted to new policy, technology and market trends. The platform supports development of digital solutions boosting circular economy. It provides support for test beds, industrial symbiosis, use of residual currents, innovation management, matchmakings, and international collaboration.
Expert opinion
Resources needed
The platform's work is carried out by approximately 15 people in 7 organizations in 5 different cities, which together comprise 3 regions with 26 municipalities in northern Sweden. The resources required to operate the platform are estimated annually at around EUR 1 million.
Evidence of success
The platform has adapted to new challenges and priorities, instead of having to start new organizations for new issues. It has implemented 3 ERDF projects in Upper Norrland and 3 Interreg projects in the Kvarken region. It has had a budget of 10 MEUR, 16 employees in 7 organizations in 5 cities in 3 regions. It has previously won the Region Stars Västerbotten award for the project Framtidens Klimatsmarta innovationplats and Interreg's Arctic awards for the project Future Cleantech Solutions.
Potential for learning or transfer
The platform is a regional development initiative by public actors with the aim of long-term support for start-ups and SMEs with environmentally friendly solutions in a sparsely populated region and develop a critical mass of companies, products and services that can be collectively communicated. The platform shows how regions, municipalities, energy companies and other parties can work together to enhance the participation of the private sector for regional development, focusing on emerging technologies and circular economy. Flexibility is guaranteed by the fact that the platform is run as a regional partner organization. Other regions can import this good practice by collaborating with Region Västerbotten and Skellefteå Science City which coordinates the platform. Success factors:
- strong partnership with stakeholders from multiple sectors and levels
- cross-border teams to support a critical mass of companies
- large and growing business network and well-developed communication