About the competition
The aim of this initiative is to strengthen the pipeline of new innovative Cleantech ideas and promote the development of these ideas into successful businesses in the Nordic countries. By joining the Nordic Cleantech Open all applicants will receive individual comments from our jury on their business cases. This is a great way to get feedback from some of the most skilled and relevant individuals possible.
For those who go through to the top 25 the competition deliverers much more. Examples are profiling of the company as one of the 25 top cleantech solutions in the Nordics, travel grants and free access to different meetings and evens that will help your business and a choice of five free software packages from Autodesk to a value of up to 120 000 €.
Who can apply to the competition?
Anyone looking to turn their cleantech idea into a successful business can apply. You must own the rights to the idea with which you are entering the competition. To be eligible, your entity must have received less than 750,000 EUR in external private financing. Grant funding and bank loans not included. Your business must be based in one of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland or Sweden). to apply, go to the Apply Page.
Who can contribute to the competition?
We are continuously looking for sponsors, experienced jury members and other actors to collaborate with us in order to make the competition better and to further develop the value of the initiative for the competing teams. In return we offer connections with the Nordic cleantech start-up scene, visibility and a lot of fun in along the way! If you want to be part of the Nordic Cleantech Open please contact bigge@nordiccleantechopen.com.
Founders & Steering Group
Cleantech Scandinavia
Cleantech Scandinavia is a membership network of investors and affiliated cleantech professionals designed to provide cleantech knowledge, contacts and investment opportunities; be a coordinating voice to promote the Nordic cleantech sector, and drive cleantech innovation and growth in the Nordic countries.
Venture Cup Denmark
Venture Cup Denmark works to inspire young entrepreneurs and facilitate the growth of new ventures. Together with the Danish universities and supported by some of Denmark’s most successful companies, Venture Cup arranges nationwide competitions to find the most promising startups.
Innovit Iceland
Innovit is a nonprofit initiative which purpose is to encourage entrepreneurship amongst university students and young professionals in Iceland. This is accomplished through various projects which include the largest startup competition in Iceland, Global Entrepreneurship Week, and Nordic Cleantech Open.
Advisory Board
Hans Enocson, National Executive Nordic and the Baltic States, GE
Hans Enocson represents GE’s management team in the region and is responsible for the growth of GE in the region. GE Nordics are actively marketing cleantech solutions as well as getting envolved in Nordic cleantech acquisitions. Hans is an avid spokesperson for GE Ecomagination and an appreciated speaker on cleantech.
André Heinz, co-founder and investment director of Sustainable Technologies Fund.
André has been active in the field of sustainable development since 1993 when he began working for William McDonough, the noted green architect and designer. At the same time, Mr. Heinz joined the board of the Vira I. Heinz Endowment, where he oversaw the creation of an environmental grant-making program. This was done through a series of 14 topical environmental colloquia that convened leaders from around the world. He continues to serve on the newly merged Heinz Endowments board, and on the Investment Committee, which oversees the management of the combined US$1.5 billion endowment.
Idar Kreutzer, CEO, Storebrand
Idar is the CEO of Storebrand ASA, a leading Nordic pensions provider. He holds several board positions within the Group, and is Chairman of the board of SPP. (Swedish subsidiary). He is Chair of the Corporate Assembly and a member of the Nomination Committee of Orkla ASA, Deputy Chair of the Corporate Assembly of Statoil ASA and member of the Corporate Assembly of Hydro ASA. He is also a member of the Norwegian Financial Services Association and a Council Member of World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
Hans Otterling, General Partner, Northzone Ventures
Hans Otterling is a serial entrepreneur with an impressive track record in launching internationally successful businesses such as ComPro Media, Waymaker, RIM and perhaps most well known – StreamServe. He is now General Partner of Northzone Ventures, a Nordic venture capital fund with €355 million under management backed by leading institutional investors in Europe. Northzone has been one of the most active Cleantech investors in the Nordics over the last years.
Jens Moberg, CEO and owner Leadership Institute Denmark
Jens Was previously head of Better Place Europe, Middle East and Africa. Before joining Better Place Jens has worked for Microsoft, holding the Corporate Vice Presidencies for Emerging Markets as well as US Enterprise and Partner Group. His carrier also includes several Microsoft Vice Presidencies for different European regions. Jens Moberg is also the Author of the best selling management book “Humanistic Leadership”.
Lassi Noponen, Partner, Cleantech Invest
Lassi was one of the first professionals active as an investor in the clean tech space in the turn of the millennium. He is the co-founder and CEO (2000-2006) of clean tech investment company Proventia Group Oy. Through Proventia Lassi was the first external investor to Winwind Oy, a supplier of wind turbines. During 2000 – 2009 Mr Noponen served as a board member, deputy chairman and as the chairman of the board of Winwind. As the chairman he managed the founders and investors exit and 120m€ equity fund raising from Abu Dhabi. In 2009 this was the largest clean tech deal in Scandinavia. In 2009 Lassi was inducted to the Cleantech Scandinavia Hall of Fame.
Thorsteinn I. Sigfusson, Director General, Innovation Centre iceland
Thorsteinn Sigfusson is professor of physics at the University of Iceland and Director General of Innovation Centre Iceland. He has started over a dozen spin-off companies from research in Iceland and chaired various international societies and actions in alternative energy. He has published over 200 scientific papers and received a number of awards for his work. He is a laureate of the international Global Energy Prize awarded to him in St. Petersburg Russia in 2007.
Founding partners
The Nordic Cleantech Open is generously funded and supported by the following organizations. Without their support this would simply not be possible.
Nordic Innovation
Nordic Innovation is an institution under the Nordic Council of Ministers facilitating sustainable
growth in the Nordic economies. Our mission is to stimulate innovation, remove barriers and build relations through Nordic cooperation. We encourage innovation in all sectors, build transnational relationships, and contribute to a border less Nordic business region.
Tekes – the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation
Tekes is the main public funding organization for research, development and innovation in Finland. Tekes works with the top innovative companies and research units in Finland. Every year, we finances some 1,500 business research and development projects, and almost 600 public research projects.
Cleantech Finland
Cleantech Finland is a gateway to the top Finnish cleantech companies. Cleantech Finland gives clients, partners, investors, and other stakeholders all over the world easy access to the best cleantech expertise. Cleantech Finland has offices in 40 countries around the world through Finpro, Finland Trade Center network.
The Danish Enterprise and Construction Authority
The Danish Enterprise and Construction Authority is broadly responsible for enterprise and construction policy. Their job is to develop a competitive, market-based growth environment for companies in Denmark, and cooperate with the corporate sector, business associations and other public sector actors in order to make this happen.
Finnish Cleantech Cluster
The Finnish Cleantech Cluster features access to over 250 Cleantech companies, 60 % of Finland’s Cleantech business and 80 % of Cleantech research in Finland. In early 2010, Finnish Cleantech Cluster was ranked in the top three with the world’s best cleantech clusters.
Swentec
Swentec, the Swedish Environmental Technology Council, is commissioned by the government to develop a comprehensive and effective structure to strengthen the Swedish cleantech industry. Swentech provide knowledge about the cleantech sector, promote good examples, and act for increased collaboration in the area.
Swedish agency for Economic and Regional Growth
The aim of the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth – Tillväxtverket – is to achieve more enterprises, growing enterprises and sustainable, competitive business and industry throughout Sweden.
University of Iceland
The University of Iceland is a progressive educational and scientific institution, renowned in the global scientific community for its research. It isa state university, situated in the heart of Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland.
Venture Cup Sweden
Venture Cup is Sweden’s leading business plan competition. We help people with busienss ideas develop and realise their potential. We do this trough a competiton that gives participants feed-back, mentoring, education, inspiration and networking – all free of charge.
Statkraft
Statkraft is Europe’s largest renewable energy company. The group develops and generates hydropower, wind power, gas power, solar power and district heating, and is a major player on the European power exchanges. Statkraft also develops osmotic power and other innovative energy solutions.
Investinor
Investinor AS is a government funded venture firm, investing in Norwegian companies in the start up, early and expansion stages. We manage NOK 2.2 billion under a mandate from the Norwegian Parliament. We invest on the same terms and conditions as private investors, and have a clear exit strategy for all investments.
Innovation Norway
Innovation Norway boosts innovation in business and industry nationwide, fosters regional development and promotes Norwegian industry and Norway as a tourist destination. We back and promote entrepreneurs, newly-founded and small and medium-sized enterprises that seek to grow in international markets. We provide or arrange financing, link customer enterprises to know-how and help build networks for innovation projects.
Iceland Innovation Center
Innovation Center Iceland operates under the Ministry of Industry. The Mission of the Center is to strengthen the competitive position of Icelandic business and increase the quality of life, to diffuse knowledge and give support to entrepreneurs, growth companies and innovative enterprises, to excel in technology research, product development, analysis and testing.
Marketing Partner
Connect
Connect’s members are companies that represent competences from all branches both public and private sector. Their aim is to help entrepreneurs speed up their commercialization process and prepare them to meet investors and industrial partners.