Cleantech Camp has the support of different partners, who make the program’s development possible. The partner organizations and companies perform different functions like the role of industrial partners, who actively participate in launching different challenges to entrepreneurs to develop pilot tests to be developed during the program; knowledge partners, companies whose professionals contribute with their knowledge to support entrepreneurs through training sessions; or local partners, local entities linked to the program, providing their facilities to perform there the training weeks.
In the different editions of Cleantech Camp, we have had different local partners, who have helped to disseminate and expand the program in different cities and have welcomed entrepreneurs in their headquarters. In this year’s edition, once again, Barcelona Activa becomes a local partner that has been present at Cleantech Camp since its first edition.
Iván Rodríguez, an Entrepreneurship Technician / Business Advisor at Barcelona Activa SAU, tells us about the objectives pursued by his organization and the expectations they have in this year’s edition.
Why does Barcelona Activa support the program?
Barcelona Activa is the economic development agency of Barcelona City Council and we are linked to the strategic lines of the city. Among them, there is the promotion of the green economy and sustainability, for which we have been working for years and promoting programs to be able to develop them at the local level. Our city wants to contribute to the fight against climate change by improving energy efficiency and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. That is why we have been promoting renewable energies for years, and we promote the improvement of environmental quality in the urban environment.
Which initiatives does the Barcelona City Council promote?
We have approved an Energy plan, Climate Change, and Barcelona Air Change. Mobility is one of the aspects in which we have applied the most changes, making Barcelona a city with a zero-emissions zone, promoting clean mobility. At Barcelona Activa, we are also firmly committed to clean energies, we have them present in support programs for startups, and in our incubation services, where we carry out intensive support to facilitate this type of company to become consolidated.
Which expectations do you have for the program?
Our goal is to help entrepreneurs and startups that are aligned with the objectives we have in the city. For this, Cleantech Camp offers us the possibility of finding startups that develop technologies to improve the lives of our citizens. The fact of having so many industrial partners allows us to be optimistic that, in the medium and long term, this technology has a positive impact on citizens and companies in our city. We are making efforts to improve the green economy and the program offers us the opportunity to go one step further, accelerating the development of these technologies so that they reach the market sooner and citizens can benefit from them.
How do you connect startups with the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem?
Emerging companies need to know the ecosystem and support that they can obtain from public or private entities and other startups. The ecosystem is a focal point for attracting new companies to Barcelona and Barcelona Activa, which wants to help keep it that way. Barcelona’s ecosystem has grown a lot in the past 15 years and is one of the most attractive cities in Europe. With new technologies and the speed with which new business models are generated, the connection between startups and a functioning ecosystem is vital to consolidate.