This is the second part of the interview with Jacques Chirazi, speaker and moderator at the Green Connections 2015. You can find part one here and Mr. Chirazi's presentation here.
Why is it important to talk about clean technology and having events like the Green Connections?
The topic clean technology is very popular and there are a lot of clean technology conferences and events in San Diego. What is however interesting with SACC San Diego’s Green Connections is that it connects businesses from two different markets – the Swedish and Southern California markets. Many of the Swedish companies are interested to expand their businesses out Sweden by entering new markets like the US. These types of networking events help bridge the gap between two different countries and help foster new business relationships.
If somebody from Sweden is ready to expand in the US it is important that they don’t think only about Silicon Valley, L.A., New York or Boston. San Diego is a great entry point to the US economy. I think that people don’t realize that San Diego is the second largest city in California with the lowest costs of doing business in the State of California.
Hopefully, it should go both ways. I would love to see American companies wanting to go to Sweden and learn about the Swedish market. Sweden could potentially be an entryway to the European market. Usually, American companies start by expanding in the UK because of the similar language and culture.
Why do you think that that is? That American clean technology companies don’t go to Sweden?
I think it is as simple as that the language is a barrier, but then again, Sweden has a high level of proficiency in English compared to other European countries. It could also be the lack of awareness. I think that the average person lack of awareness about the incredible cleantech innovations taking place in Stockholm and Gothenburg for examples. The Swedish government has been very progressive on how to address subject concerning sustainability, mobility and developing smart cities in general.
What do you think Southern Californians could learn from Sweden when it comes to clean technology?
It’s a hard question to answer but Sweden is good at developing innovative sustainable policies. Sweden has impactful national policies that affect all the regions and cities in Sweden. Southern California could learn how to implement innovative policies that could benefit all the stakeholders in the economy.
Another thing we could learn more about is how Swedish cities (public sector) are more willing to take more risks. There are a lot of innovative projects going on in Swedish cities. Some projects could on the onset sound a little daunting but could be very successful if it is carried out successfully. The Swedish cities have an appetite for well-evaluated risk – something I think many American cities could learn from.
The other way around then, what do you think Swedes could learn from Southern California and San Diego when it comes to clean technology?
Possibly the way startups finance their projects. Here in the US, especially in California, you could raise capital quite easily whereas in Sweden it is not that easy.
The difference with the US and many other European countries is the level of risk and appetite of risk in the private sector. American entrepreneurs can fail two, three or five times and they will always rise up again. Failure is not something that will hold you back. Eventually, after your fifth failure, you will be very successful and the failures before that will fade away. On the contrary, I think that the idea of failing in many European countries is seen as something bad. Europeans in the private sector are more conservative of how to treat risk and therefore not willing to take the leap. That could be something Swedes could learn about the private sector of Southern California.
Last but not lest, our two questions we ask all our speakers:
If you could make a change in the world towards sustainability, what would that be? (2-4 sentences)
I would address water. Water is essential to life on earth . The way we treat water, conserve water, essentially we need to develop new ways to clean, treat and transport water that is cost effective.
What are your three best tips on being climate smart in a big city as San Diego?
1. Fully use all the mobility options. Bike share, car share, mass transit system, etc.
2. Look through your consumption habits.
3. Start getting consciousness about your water consumption and usage. This is not only about water for direct consumption but also ‘process water’, the water that is used for producing something like a pair of jeans or a computer processor.
Get your tickets for Green Connections here.
Possibly the way startups finance their projects. Here in the US, especially in California, you could raise capital quite easily whereas in Sweden it is not that easy.
The difference with the US and many other European countries is the level of risk and appetite of risk in the private sector. American entrepreneurs can fail two, three or five times and they will always rise up again. Failure is not something that will hold you back. Eventually, after your fifth failure, you will be very successful and the failures before that will fade away. On the contrary, I think that the idea of failing in many European countries is seen as something bad. Europeans in the private sector are more conservative of how to treat risk and therefore not willing to take the leap. That could be something Swedes could learn about the private sector of Southern California.
Last but not lest, our two questions we ask all our speakers:
If you could make a change in the world towards sustainability, what would that be? (2-4 sentences)
I would address water. Water is essential to life on earth . The way we treat water, conserve water, essentially we need to develop new ways to clean, treat and transport water that is cost effective.
What are your three best tips on being climate smart in a big city as San Diego?
1. Fully use all the mobility options. Bike share, car share, mass transit system, etc.
2. Look through your consumption habits.
3. Start getting consciousness about your water consumption and usage. This is not only about water for direct consumption but also ‘process water’, the water that is used for producing something like a pair of jeans or a computer processor.
Get your tickets for Green Connections here.
