Page 37 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2018 publication
P. 37
Photo: ©Boris Stroujko/Alamy Stock Photo
Photo: ©OÖ Energiesparverband, AustrianImages.com/Erwin Wodicka THE IMPORTANCE OF "EARLY ADOPTERS" more than 140 energy technology companies in the
Early adopters are typically interested and knowledgeable context of the Cleantech-Cluster Energy.
about energy technologies, keen to try new things
and willing to suffer certain "growing pains". These are The long term efforts invested in fostering the innovation
homeowners, business owners, leaders in municipalities ecosystem in the building sector have paid off. In
or installers that take a conscious decision to try addition to enabling a significant reduction in greenhouse
something new. They are valuable in an innovation gas emissions, they have ensured a strong market of
ecosystem as they help companies test their products competitive companies and the development of a range of
and services on the home market. The ESV puts a special innovative products and services.
focus on making them an integrated part of the innovation
process by keeping them updated on new technologies, THERE IS NO END TO INNOVATION
providing training courses and developing dedicated Innovation is an ongoing process. Upcoming tasks
funding programmes. Energy technology companies can include managing the opportunities and challenges of
more easily export products and services to the rest of the digitisation, continuing to look for niche markets and
world if they have a reliable home base where they can setting a strong focus on the decarbonisation of the
test innovation and that offers economic stability. manufacturing sector. However, the small Upper Austrian
innovation ecosystem is imbedded in the much larger
INNOVATION THROUGH INFORMATION AND worldwide innovation ecosystem. In order to move
NETWORKING towards an energy system that is both sustainable and
Information is a "glue" that keeps an innovation ecosystem that helps maintain European competitiveness, the ESV
together. This works best if applied as a range of day-to- invites you to join the next edition of the international
day activities that reach out to actors in different ways. conference World Sustainable Energy Days in Wels/Austria
For the ESV, this takes many forms: 10,000 face-to-face from 27 February – 1 March 2019. l
energy advice sessions to homeowners, businesses
and municipalities every year supporting them in their For further information contact:
investment decision making process; the participation
in tradeshows (such as the Energiesparmesse that Christiane Egger, OÖ Energiesparverband
takes place every year in Wels in parallel with the World Landstrasse 45, A-4020 Linz
Sustainable Energy Days); newsletters, events and the Tel: +43 732 7720 14380
provision of trainings that are usually focused on new Email: christiane.egger@esv.or.at
technologies and funding programmes. The ESV supports
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
