FUTURE PROOFING BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
Tina Perfrement
Faced with challenges like climate change and shifting economic conditions in our community , the City of Greater Geelong created a business support program to help develop markets in the emerging clean technology sector .
Operating since 2014 , Cleantech Innovations Geelong is a business and industry support program to help local businesses transition to their next generation of innovation , develop markets for clean technologies , and deliver positive economic growth and sustainability outcomes for Greater Geelong .
The program is a partnership between the City , the Victorian Government and the Geelong Manufacturing Council . Cleantech Innovations Geelong ’ s vision is to establish Geelong as a Centre of
Excellence for cleantech in Australia by attracting investment , creating jobs and building skills .
Clean technology is a growing market with broad opportunities across renewables , energy efficiency , clean cities , waste management and recycling , water , green buildings , biomaterials , biofuels , stimulating demand for clean technology goods and services , and ultimately , circular economy solutions .
Clean technologies are defined as economically viable products , services and processes that harness renewable materials and energy sources , dramatically reduce the use of natural resources , and cut or eliminate emissions and wastes . 1
Recycling Victoria describes a circular economy as one which continually seeks to reduce the environmental impacts of production and consumption , while enabling economic growth through more productive use of natural resources .
Market analysis conducted in 2013 indicates that every job created in the cleantech sector generates two to six further indirect jobs in the sector . 2
WHY DEVELOP MARKETS FOR CLEANTECH AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY SOLUTIONS ? Like all cities , Greater Geelong has been impacted by COVID-19 . Even before the pandemic , the City was hit by the automotive manufacturing industry ’ s decline , which saw the closure of Geelong ’ s Ford manufacturing plant . The local Alcoa plant closed at the same time .
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