100% Conference reveals need to study successful green-tech start-ups
Scientists and practitioners joined in discussion of future renewable energies at the binational series of annual conference on renewable energy and climate neutrality
As a part of a binational series of annual conferences on renewable energy (even years, Flensburg) and climate neutrality (uneven years, Sønderborg) in the German-Danish border region this year’s conference was hosted on October 4 and 5, 2016 by Flensburg University of Applied Sciences and organized in collaboration with Europa-Universität Flensburg and the University of Southern Denmark (SDU).
During two days about 300 participants discussed the future of renewable energy at the campus in Flensburg. Special tracks on green entrepreneurship and photovoltaics were organized by the Mads Clausen Institute. Embedding the International Green Entrepreneurship Forum (IGEF), in-depth insights were given into the green economy in Northern Europe, on green-tech business models as well as on aspects of entrepreneurial finance, local networking in the green energy market and green innovation in small and medium sized companies.
-Insights from Technology Entrepreneurship research reveal that there is still a huge gap in research to unveil the impact factors on successful green-tech start-ups – a challenge which future research will intensively address, outlines Prof. Silke Tegtmeier from MCIs innovation section.
-However, promising innovations and upcoming green-tech business models, such as organic solar cells and the efficient reuse of waste heat, show a great potential and will substantially change our markets and therefore contribute to making our planet worthwhile living not only for us but also for the future generations, says Silke Tegtmeier.
The PhotoVoltaics (PV) track focused on upcoming and new technologies within different areas of photovoltaics including both Silicon, organic and hybrid PV. The talks given by experts from Denmark, France and Belgium included details on state-of-the art methods for improving device performance and stability as well as production and up-scaling methods for new technologies.”It is doubtless important to keep a focus on different technologies within the PV landscape, as those will be complementary technologies on the future energy market”, stated Dr. Roger Hiorns from CNRS and U Pau.
Among the highlights of the conference were keynotes speeches by Prof. Henrik Lund, Ålborg University, as well as by Prof. Klaus Fichter, Ossietzky University of Oldenburg and Borderstep Institute for Innovation and Sustainability.
The next partner conference on 100% Climate Neutrality will take place on October 4 and 5, 2017 at the SDU campus in Sønderborg (www.climateneutral.eu).