Greater Geelong has survived plant closures , industry downturns , recessions , world wars and natural disasters . We are recognised among the most resilient regions in Australia – on par with Greater Sydney , Melbourne and Perth – because of our capacity to transition after economic disruption . 3 From a traditional manufacturing base , our economy has flourished .
There is a strong evidence base to back the cleantech sector as another strategic option for our region ’ s diversified economy . The 2013 report , Cleantech Innovations Geelong : Market Analysis 4 , and sector growth since this report was released , show investment and demand in clean technologies and the circular economy are growing consistently . This growth is pulled by a globally significant , changing market , and driven by many interrelated factors that compound and reinforce each other . 5
Continued growth in the cleantech sector is expected to cascade and multiply as technology evolves , adoption is proven viable , and information on cleantech and circular economy solutions and applications is disseminated .
Since Cleantech Innovations Geelong ’ s inception , more and more cleantech businesses are operating in the Greater Geelong region .
Cleantech ’ s growth pathway resembles computing technology ’ s expansion through industry and society over the past 40 years . After 10 to 20 years of steady development and deployment , clean technologies appear poised for accelerated growth over the next 20 to 30 years .
The significant and enduring cleantech market growth opportunity outlined in Cleantech Innovations Geelong : Market Analysis 6 shows a large portion of global cleantech market demand is moving closer to Australia , with rapid growth and associated challenges faced across Asia .
These circumstances are expected to further boost the importance of this economic development opportunity for Greater Geelong and Victoria .
HOW DO WE DELIVER OUTCOMES ? Cleantech Innovations Geelong is managed through the City of Greater Geelong ’ s Economic Development Unit .
The program supports Greater Geelong ’ s community-led 30-year vision for a clever and creative future and Geelong ’ s designation as a UNESCO City of Design .
Cleantech Innovations Geelong provides hands-on support to help businesses :
• Access grants for new projects that stimulate the market for clean technologies ;
• Deliver activities to develop skills and capabilities around clean technologies ;
• Create innovative cleantech products through procurement for innovation ;
• Explore opportunities to expand markets for cleantech products and services ; and
• Share success stories and learn from others through industry briefings .
This business support has created and maintained jobs , developed skills , expanded businesses and increased turnover .
Continued growth in the cleantech sector is expected to cascade and multiply as technology evolves , adoption is proven viable , and information on cleantech and circular economy solutions and applications is disseminated .
THE PROGRAM OFFERS :
One-to-one support This is key to bringing the supply and demand sides of the market together . Historically in market development programs , there is a recognised lack of trust between buyers and sellers . Because of this , buyers and sellers rarely look to collaborate .
Our experience shows that , when an impartial , trusted third party is introduced to bring buyers and sellers together to identify market needs and how they can be met , collaboration can be achieved .
Procurement for innovation Also known as forward commitment procurement , this method uses the substantial buying power of public sector procurement to move markets toward clean technology solutions .
Essentially , a public sector procurer establishes a forward commitment to procure a product that is not yet available on the market , to respond to an identified unmet need .
By making this forward commitment , which can be up to three years in the future , suppliers are assured that they can invest in research and development of a response to this need , backed by a genuine commitment to procure when the public sector buyer goes out to tender .
Cleantech Innovations Geelong provides grants , one-to-one procurement and supplier engagement mentoring and support , and now training , to help suppliers create innovative responses to procurement for innovation tenders .
Assistance with funding Grant assistance and support to attract funding are important Cleantech Innovations Geelong services . The program ’ s funding assistance also responds to direct approaches from businesses with innovations that need investment .
The Cleantech Innovations Geelong Advisory Board provides a strategic decision-making function to ensure investments will deliver outcomes .
Building capability For Cleantech Innovations Geelong to deliver collaborative market development projects , skills and capabilities often need to be developed . In addition to providing procurement for innovation training , the Cleantech Innovations Geelong team actively participates in conferences , forums , consultations and academic projects to build clean technology market development expertise and capability .
WHAT OUTCOMES HAVE WE ACHIEVED ? Cleantech Innovations Geelong has delivered 25 projects to date , including product development activities , procurement for innovation , cleantech demonstrations , a cleantech centre of excellence investigation , skills development , and a self-funding model investigation .
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