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Wittenborg presentation at the opening of the CleanTech Centre in Zutphen!

Wittenborg University today presented the GREAT-project, an ambitious European research project the university is one of only two Dutch partners in, at the official opening of the CleanTech Centre in Zuthpen on Saturday between 13:00 and 16:00. The other Dutch partner is Ontwikkelingsmaatchappij Oost-Nederland (Oost NV). The CleanTech Centre is a sustainable innovation centre catering for the eastern region of the Netherlands where knowledge about a sustainable future is exchanged between the private sector, educational institutes and the public sector. It further seeks to address the challenges companies face in terms of clean technology and smart energy by clustering these needs and finding solutions by partnering with government agencies and the education sector.

GREAT is a cross-border EU-funded project which aims to encourage small to medium size enterprises (SME’s) as well as communities to develop technological solutions for Smart Grid, Renewable Energy and Distributive Generation. It also promotes research and develop policy issues for regulatory authorities and provide structured co-operation opportunities between SMEs, research institutes and technology developers.

On Saturday Wittenborg, presented by university director Maggie Feng and senior lecturers Mirjam Leloux and Alexander Bauer, through its own information stall at the CleanTech Centre’s “Future Market”.

As partner in the GREAT-project, Wittenborg has developed the first of a set of economic tools to inform and encourage SME’s to get further engaged in the use of green energy. The first economic tool, dealing with solar energy, was presented at a successful Tech Watch event in Claremorris, Ireland, recently organized by the Irish partners in GREAT, Údarás na Gaeltachta and WestBIC.

These economic tools helps SME’s to recognize the existing business opportunities in the sustainable energy market in the Netherlands, England, Ireland and Belgium.

At today's event Wittenborg will also offered innovation vouchers available to businesses which give access to free advice and support to businesses in order to stimulate transnational trade, Feng said. It also views the event as an ideal opportunity to promote the book “Sustainable Value Creation” which was penned by Wittenborg senior lecturer dr Teun Wolters and published by WUAS Press last year.

At the same time it promoted an information and networking event on Smart Grids which is taking place on Thursday, the 9th of October as part of Green Tech Week, organized by the Smart Grid Alliance, which is part of the GREAT-project. Thursday’s event will take place at Watts Connects (Energy Businesspark Arnhem Buiten, Utrechtseweg 310, Gebouw HO2, Arnhem).

WUP 4/10/2014