Eolus
 CorPower Ocean
 Cleantech Invest
 EDF Renewable Energy
 Energy Policy Initiatives Center
 Environmental Business International
 Greenwood Energy
 IKEA

WHY GREEN CONNECTIONS?

To accelerate our shift towards a greener world, a global connection between the pioneers of sustainability is needed. Through Green Connections, our ambition is to create a platform for inspiration and success stories between the Southern California region and the Nordics, working together to reduce the carbon footprint on the planet while additionally creating sustainable business opportunities and synergy effects. Green Connections invites visionaries, experts, motivators, practitioners, and decision makers from both regions to share and exchange knowledge, ideas, and technologies within energy storage and renewable energy. Companies that are in expansion phase, and want to learn from others or perhaps are looking to establish in California or the Nordics, will also find great benefits in attending Green Connections.

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Why Sweden?

Sweden is one of the global leaders in the cleantech sector. The country has wide experience and expertise within most aspects of Cleantech and is outstanding within the areas of Renewable energy, Sustainable technologies and Green Vehicle technologies. Sweden has also the largest share of renewable energy sources in the European Union, and The Global Clean Tech Innovation Index 2012 ranks Sweden third in the world in promoting cleantech. Finally, Sweden was recently ranked the most sustainable country in the world by the Swiss investment group RobecoSAM. 

Sweden and Clean Tech in short:
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• Every year, between 300 and 900 new cleantech companies are incorporated in Sweden.​
• Sweden is a global leader in environmental technology, renewable energy and cleantech
• ​Sweden has among the highest R&D spendings in the world, and has been proactively pursuing policies that have encouraged research and development in renewable energy, production of biofuels, environmental protection technologies, among many others​
• ​​Cleantech innovation is strongly incentivised by government policy, but also by the large number of domestic cleantech Investors in Sweden
• Sweden has one of the highest percentages of Smart Cities in the European Union

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For example, Stockholm was awarded the EU Green Capital status and is one of the world’s most connected cities with a focus to improve the environment with the help of IT. Meanwhile, Southern Sweden city Malmö is converting towards full usage of renewable fuel such as sea weed biogas.

“There is no doubt that Sweden is a pioneer when it comes to environmental technology” 
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Mark Brzezinski, former US ambassador in Sweden

Why Finland?

Finland has been recognized as the third most innovative country in the EU and is a global leader within energy efficiency, clean industrial processes and bioenergy. Finland’s energy system includes a high share of carbon neutral production, i.e. renewable energy sources. In Finland, the share of renewable energy sources is roughly twice the EU average. Almost 40 % of Finnish energy is already produced with sustainable methods. The 2030 energy strategy set by the Finnish Government targets an over 50 % share of renewables in the final consumption of energy. The 2030 strategy moves towards solutions for decarbonization in the sectors of smart networks and transport and benefits of improving flexibility and by noting the prospects of involving energy consumers and citizens in the transition.

 Finland and Clean Tech in short:
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•  Finland is a center for world-class cleantech companies and innovative startups with over 2000 enterprises active in various cleantech sectors
• The Finnish Government aims to raise the turnover of Finnish cleantech companies to EUR 50 billion by 2020. In 2013, the turnover was EUR 25,8 billion. An increase of 100 % is anticipated only within 7 years.
• The Finnish cleantech business employs around 50,000 people. 40,000 new jobs are expected by 2020.
• R&D: Finland is the world’s leading researcher in the energy and environmental field.
• Decades of dedicated work for sustainability.
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Finland was awarded the greenest country in the world in 2016 according the environmental performance index (EPI). Finland is Number 1 in qualified engineers, funding for technological development, and public & private sector ventures. Finland is Number 2 in cleantech in The Global Cleantech Innovation Index 2013 and EU Eco-Innovation Scoreboard 2013.

”Finland’s cleantech sector is spearheaded by the best of the best, incorporating a 
publicly-boosted, bottom-up approach”
 
- Shawn Lesser, president and founder of Sustainable World Capitala

Why San Diego?

San Diego is one of the most innovative regions in the world and attracts some of the most talented engineers, scientists, and investors. Furthermore, San Diego is perfectly located right on the Mexican border, which provides access to a thriving industrial manufacturing sector. Having your production platform at a short distance away from San Diego lowers cost and makes communicating and visiting easy. San Diego are in many aspects prominent in the Clean Tech innovation and is establishing itself as a future hub for both research, education and commercialization of new green technologies

San Diego and Clean Tech in short:
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• The cleantech industry is well established and growing steadily, which creates jobs and delivers a win-win situation for the economy and the Environment
• Eminent solar city and ranked no.1 in the US when it comes to solar panel installations
• Imperial Valley, California's clean energy playground, aims to advance the renewable energy industry with a main focus on solar, biofuels and geothermal energy sources (more information here)
• World leading cleantech region. More than 800 Clean Tech-, 300 innovator- and more than 400 market enabler-companies
• San Diego’s world class universities attract talent, and there's a great synergy between the Universities and the region.

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For example, San Diego is annually saving $250,000 by applying LED Street Lighting in the city and the San Diego Airport is currently developing a digital system enabling full utilization of aircraft storage.

“San Diego has proven to be a national leader in the cleantech economy” 

Jason Anderson, Clean Tech President in San Diego