1. Cleantech Incubation Europe
Interreg program
Creating incubation and innovation
BEST PRACTICE
from East to West parts of EU to boost Europe’s cleantech
sector
Dr. Csaba Fogarassy, Szent Istvan University, Hungary
Co-authors: Norberto Patrignani, I3P Incubator, Turin, Italy
Pauline van der Vorm, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands

2. Why is CIE?
A partnership of 6 EU regions, 11 partners
Objective:
1. Provide authorities with skills & knowledge to (further) develop
their policy instruments for support of clean tech SME’s
2. Help cities/regions facilitate and support cleantech incubators

3. What is CIE?
Approach:
– Organize thematic seminars in partner cities to present
local best practices
– Inventory of 15 European best practices
– EU Innovation and incubation best practices Handbook
Outcome: New insights on cleantech incubation policies
and improved policies in member regions

4. CIE Questionnaire
What policies (strategies, structures and processes)
are most effective in enabling and supporting
cleantech incubation at regional level?
Many examples exist throughout Europe, but
which instruments are suitable, successful?

5. „Good Practice” in Helsinki
• Cleantech business is one of Finland’s economic policy priorities – aiming prompt
the creation of 40 000 jobs by 2020 and double the total revenue (20 billion €  40
billion € by 2018)
• Finland ranked 4th best country in the world in Global Cleantech Innovation
Index (no 1 in public R&D work, and 2nd in supporting innovations)
• Cleantech cluster network (in Helsinki region represented by Green Net Finland),
based on triple-helix model and supported by national Centre of Expertise
programme is supporting the creation of pilots and references
• Comprehensive cleantech nation-branding efforts that also integrate regional
cleantech clusters
• Good availability of national funding (i.e. Tekes, Sitra, Academy of Finland)

6. „Good Practice in Copenhagen”
• A strong national agenda on greening the economy since 1975 and regional
focus on 4 cleantech themes (wind, smart energy systems, bio-energy and
fuel cells).
• A dense network of long-term collaborating triple-helix partners that create a
strong innovation cluster (NGOs, regional government, incubators,
universities, science parks, banks, pensionfunds, companies, research
institutes, consultancy companies, and VCs)
• Good cluster infrastructure and test/demo facilities in the region (science
parks, business parks, research facilities)
• Dedicated cluster development organization (CCC), Dedicated
entrepreneurship education program (Nxt Gen)
• Three incubators with business, capital, knowledge and networks

7. Experiences and Conclusions of the
Questionnaires in Hungary
Respondent:
FIRST HUNGARIAN CARBONMANAGEMENT LTD.
Company profile: project management The interviewed person:
Project: The Project allows farmers independent
from Project Leader to realize income enough to
introduce climate-friendly, sustainable production
technology change.
During the course of agrotechnics shift farmers
carry out soil preparation, nutrient management
practice that reduces fossil originated artificial
fertilizer use by 50 kg/ha 'N' active agent in
average, nutrient absorbing capacity of the soil
can be significantly compared to earlier
practice, carbon loss of the soil can be reduced
about 8 tons/ha/year.

8. Outcomes
• Good ideas and new technological solutions!
• The successful ‘Business models’ are missing!
• How we can define the Clusters concept’ role in
the incubation process? - huge regulation and
cooperation risk!
• Not clear - Business relationship between Start-
ups and Incubator company!

9. Budapest „Bad Practice”?
PRESENT DAYS:
• Strong medium and long term targets in the environment and cleantech sector.
• Variety of funding opportunities for incubators, cleantech startups and SMEs
Main challenges
• Unstable policies regarding cleantech makes (some) cleantech
investment risky for private investors
• No market pressures in the current model
• Lack of a common interest among stakeholders
• Lifestyle Innovators
• Lack of a long term solution for ongoing funding

10. General challenges in Europe
in case of cleantech innovations
• Relatively small number of cleantech startups compared to startups
in general.
• Entrepreneurial attitude of employees at universities (and
government) still relatively weak. Still not so many spinoffs from
research as is aimed for.
• Funding of the activities of the EU Clusters after 2013 not yet secured.
High regulation and co operational risk!
• Still a lack of testing and demonstration facilities in the region (eg.
for testing proof-of-concepts) for cleantech companies.
• Very relevant differences between the european innovation practice
on the same market and regulation background.
• Lock of clear business oriented research and innovation programs
(Market oriented financial fund for cleantech or low-carbon
innovations).

11. New innovation ways in EU
Source: EIT director, Manuel Leceta

12. Source: EIT director, José-Manuel Leceta

13. EUROPEAN „MIT”
Source: EIT director, José-Manuel Leceta

14. Thanks for your attention!
fogarassy.csaba@gtk.szie.hu
http://cleantechincubation.eu/