Expert meetings between the Barbados BLOOM Clean Tech Cluster and other cleantech clusters in Austria, Denmark and Sweden

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in close partnership with Export Barbados (BIDC) and the Ministry of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology (MIIST) is organizing expert meetings between members of the BLOOM Cleantech Cluster in Barbados and similar clean tech clusters in Austria, Denmark and Sweden from 6 to 10 September 2022.

The meetings will introduce the participants in best practice and lessons learned of clean tech cluster management, as well as in latest technology innovations with relevance for the Caribbean. Attending Barbadian start-ups will get the opportunity to present their business ideas to various partners. Moreover, the BLOOM approach will be presented during a working session of the 5th Steering Committee of the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centers (GN-SEC) program on 6th September.

Introduction:

A response to global emergencies, such as COVID, climate change and escalation of fossil fuel prices, the Government of Barbados is accelerating its efforts to diversify the economy and rebuild a more sustainable and resilient one. Apart from renewed activity in traditional sectors, the small island developing state aims to tap into the new value chains of the emerging global green and blue economy. Barbados not only has ambitious plans to become the first carbon-free small island developing state by 2030, but also intends to become an export leader of cleantech products and services to the Caribbean and beyond.

In this context, UNIDO, with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is implementing the project “Strategic platform to promote sustainable energy technology innovation, industrial development and entrepreneurship in Barbados”. The UNIDO project has supported the Government with the establishment of BLOOM, the Caribbean’s first cleantech cluster. Created as public-private partnership, the cluster provides shared resources and services, as well as a makerspace for companies and academia to work on joint projects, solutions and marketing. By strengthening local cleantech entrepreneurship and innovation, the cluster contributes to economic diversification, environmental protection and climate change mitigation/adaptation simultaneously.

The cluster is hosted by Export Barbados (BIDC) under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology (MIIST). The cluster management team is operating from BIDC facilities and is composed of eleven companies working in different fields such as solar, bioenergy, circular economy, climate resilience, among others. The BLOOM is also working with 88 stakeholders at national and international level from public and private sector, and international organizations. Further information is available at: www.bloomcluster.com.

The project in Barbados is a pilot for the Regional BLOOM Program, which is rolled out by UNIDO within the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centers (GN-SEC). Under a common umbrella, UNIDO assists regional economic communities in the establishment of regional hubs, which support developing countries in the creation of national cleantech clusters. The focus lies on countries with weakly developed cleantech eco-systems, particularly low income and lower middle income countries. In the past, cleantech clustering has been predominantly a domain of industrialized and emerging countries. However, there is a critical mass of young entrepreneurs and scientists in developing countries who are keen to work together in a collaborative platform, benefitting from joint resources, intelligence and incubation support. Further information is available at: https://www.gn-sec.net/content/bloom-regional-program.

Purpose:

• Enhanced the capacities of the local BLOOM team, government officials and start-ups on best practices and lessons learned of cleantech clustering and management in Europe.

• Provide opportunities to the BLOOM stakeholders to meet with European industry and to connect to business development and financial networks.

• Visit cleantech demonstration sites and learn from latest European cleantech innovations with relevance for the Caribbean.

• Present the BLOOM approach in Barbados to the GN-SEC centres

Results:

• Enhanced capacities of the local BLOOM team to manage the cluster beyond the GEF project closure; enhanced visibility and participation of BLOOM in European cleantech cluster networks;

• Follow-up discussions of the BLOOM start-ups with European industry, academia and financiers;

• Follow-up discussions on technology partnership between Barbados and Europe on relevant innovations for SIDS;

• Facilitated replication of the BLOOM in other regions of the GN-SEC

Organisation:

The expert meeting and training is organized by UNIDO, the Bloom Cleantech Cluster, the Ministry of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology (MIIST), Export Barbados (BIDC) and the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centers (GN-SEC) program.

Participants:

1. Bloom Incubatees;

2. Bloom Team Members