ecoplus clusters innovation through co-operation TCI Conference Delhi Speaker: Simone Hagenauer | Date:

Lower Austria  Largest state of Austria ( km²)  Surrounding the federal capital Vienna  Capital and seat of government: St. Pölten  1.6 mill. Inhabitants  16 mill. inhabitants within range of 300 km  Neighbors: Czech Republic and Slovakia, proximity to Hungary and Slovenia

ecoplus. The Business Agency of Lower Austria 100% owned by the province of Lower Austria 77 employees

Companies Research Institutes Universities Cluster management: Bridge between policy makers, companies and R&D - Regional technological specializations (collaboration with technopols) - Involvement of SMEs in R&D projects - Education programmes - Favourable framework conditions - Design of financial incentives -“Translation” policy - business - Sustainable economic policy - Fields of strength Policy makers regional, national, EU Cluster management - “Translation” SMEs - R&D - Initiating R&D projects - PM in complex collective research projects - Dissemination of R&D results

Cluster initiatives in Lower Austria Green Building Cluster (2003) Focus: energy efficient construction and refurbishment, healthy interior environments Plastics Cluster (2005) Focus: bio-plastics Mechatronics Cluster (2010) Focus: energy efficiency in production processes Logistics Cluster (2008) Focus: modal split, bundling (reduce empty runs) Food Cluster (2009) Focus: food safety, regional und bio- products E-mobility initiative (2010) Platform for e-mobility activities and projects of communities and companies

Facts & figures  583 members (incl. 442 SMEs)  employees  22,5 bn. cumulated annual turnover  259 regional collaborative company projects initiated involving companies (double counting if company participated in more than one project)  273 national/European projects initiated/managed Status:

EC Communication “Energy 2020” (Nov. 2010): EU target20% improvement in energy efficiency until 2020 EU Directive Energy Performance of Buildings: „nearly zero emission “ as standard of all new buildings until 2020 Lower Austrian targets Increasing annual refurbishment rate from 1.5% (2008) to 3% (2012) – at the moment ~ 2% < 50 kWh/m².y by  Setting high ecological standards in building legislation  Connecting subsidies for residential building to high ecological standards,  Regional public buildings as energy efficient demonstration projects,  Fostering R&D, Fostering qualification for companies, etc. “Efficiency in buildings is the largest and net-cheapest abatement option” (WBCSD Energy Efficiency in Buildings “Transforming the Market”, 2009):

Green Building Cluster of Lower Austria  Aim: -Transformation of traditionally strong construction sector towards energy efficiency -Link and strengthen existing Lower Austrian competencies  Core competencies: -Energy efficient construction & refurbishment -Healthy interior environments  ~ 200 partners: companies, R&D and qualification facilities  ~ 250 projects since 2001 with some 460 involved companies, project turnover of 12,8 mio. €, public support of 5,1 mio. €.  Cluster-Team: 5 persons, architects, energy experts, professionals from construction and interior design

link stakeholders business & science & policy makers Influence framework conditions: (building legislation, subsidies) Enhancement of professional skills (e.g. > 250 certified „klima:aktiv“ refurbishment experts) Collaboration: joint product development / establish consortia Research: Competence Center “Future Building” Initiation of sector-wide solutions, e.g. „Zero Energy Supermarkets” Refurbishment initiative: cluster activities

Bauatelier Schmelz & Partner 3 partner companies Sustainability released in a modular system prefab building system, in a straw and timber frame construction and integration of modern sustainable HVAC technologies. 3 business partners offer the system I haus I bau web- based including calculation- and planning tools for builders and craftsmen and planers. Interest to implement this system is articulated from Spain, France, Belgium Germany and Poland.

Improvement of energy performance of old buildings in Lower Austria : from 280 to median 78 kWh/m².y with subsidy of LA government. Target performance > less than 50 kWh/m².y. Heat demand in kWh/m².y before after overhaul

Development of passive house market in Austria

Further Information Simone Hagenauer Project manager Clusters ecoplus. The Business Agency of Lower Austria Niederösterreichring 2, Haus A 3100 St.Pölten, Austria