looking for new partner to achieve new goals? ecoplus clusters
DESCRIPTION
ecoplus Clusters allow us to be very near to companies, which in turn enables quick and flexible reaction to the changing demands of the economy. Our services for cluster members are designed in such a way as to yield both short-term and long-term results.TRANSCRIPT
The Business Agency of Lower Austria
Looking for new partners to achieve new goals?
ecoplus clusters.
ecoplus. the business agency of lower austria
We are partners for
entrepreneurial dedication,
technological innovation and
regional development.
We advise and accompany.
We promote and connect.
We are there for you.
Our promise: one-stop
service, a professional
partner at your side and
dedication to your goals.
For decades, the name ecoplus has been synonymous
with innovative business and regional development
policies. Activities have always been focused on develop-
ing the business location of Lower Austria – and on
supporting companies based in Lower Austria. Whether
resettlement or expansion of a
company, allocation of attractive
business locations, facilitated access
to educational and R&D facilities,
financial assistance for important regional projects,
cooperation and networking between companies and
industries, or even the first step into the new European
markets – ecoplus has a wide range of targeted and
continually evolving services aimed to help manage
new business challenges.
As a privately-run company, ecoplus
can guarantee the quick and flexible
assistance your business requires.
The extensive experience and professional qualifications
of the ecoplus team result in excellent service for all
our clients.
As the business agency of Lower Austria, ecoplus is
the interface between business and politics, companies
and government authorities, investors and initiators
of regional projects. As a provider
of services, ecoplus is active at both
national and international levels.
“Innovation through cooperation” is the secret of success
for more than 600 exemplary cluster projects. ecoplus
supports cooperation with esteemed research, develop-
ment and qualifications facilities. ecoplus enables access
to national and international programs and projects.
ecoplus takes on time-consuming organizational tasks
on behalf of your company, thus making it possible even
for small and medium-sized enterprises to engage in
application-oriented R&D at the highest levels.
ecoplus also proactively targets future trends which will
decisively impact the development of the Lower Austrian
economy, such as the production of organic plastics,
energy-efficient refurbishment of older buildings, and
the vital issue of food traceability.
ecoplus Clusters allow us to be very near to companies,
which in turn enables quick and flexible reaction to the
changing demands of the economy. Our services for
cluster members are designed in such a way as to yield
both short-term and long-term results. The overall aim is
to ensure that companies in Lower Austria are especially
well prepared for future challenges by erecting the best
possible framework for doing business.
The first step involves reducing in-house costs, enhancing
the energy efficiency of operations, finding new niche
markets to occupy and then developing products and
services for them. In the long term however, ecoplus
Clusters represent sustained development of market
potential and holistic innovation strategies.
These ambitious goals are best and most effectively
reached in cooperation – within the framework of
innovative, collaborative projects. Exploit mutual
potential. Learn with and from one another. Carry out
research and development. Create joint strategies and
enter new markets – together. Establish networks and
thereby define and differentiate each individual company
profile. The co-existence of cooperation and competition
can in fact be fruitful: while cooperation takes place
within individual projects and sections of a firm, the
overall autonomy of the company is preserved.
ecoplus Clusters. Working together to maximize strengths and opportunities.
companies &
technology
We connect companies and
markets, science and business,
research and application, ideas
and opportunities.
Our principles:
on-site presence,
professional management
and cutting-edge expertise.
We establish contacts.
We create networks which
connect industries, countries
and languages.
The Food Cluster of Lower Austria was created as
a project platform for the support of the native food
industry – for agriculture, processing and even food
retailers. In cooperation with native companies and
operations, projects mainly in the areas of food quality
and safety but also organic and regional food products
are initiated and managed. The joint development of
new, innovative products and processing systems
is encouraged. Current topics and issues in the food
industry are incorporated in
all qualification initiatives.
The Food Cluster of Lower
Austria is jointly backed by
the Economy and Agriculture
departments of the Lower
Austrian provincial govern-
ment.
Food Cluster of Lower Austria
Since 2001, ecoplus has activated clusters and cluster initiatives
in fields which are of great significance to the future economic
development of Lower Austria.
At present, the ecoplus Clusters department manages the econom-
ically vital areas of Green Building, Plastics, Mechatronics, Food
and Logistics. Augmenting these clusters is the e-mobility initiative
of Lower Austria, which is also being implemented by the ecoplus
Clusters department on behalf of the province of Lower Austria.
Over 600 companies with nearly 72,000 employees have been
connected in networks thanks to ecoplus Clusters. And over
320 collaborative projects involving around 1,600 Lower Austrian
firms have been realized to date.
Solid cooperation ideas enjoy financial support from the province
of Lower Austria.
Cluster teams form the interface to the public sector, support
companies in the realization of their projects and ideas, broker
cooperation partners and accompany projects to completion.
The involvement of R&D facilities as well as professional organiza-
tions is a matter of course. We offer a comprehensive program of
qualification opportunities which are tailored to current needs.
We are also the first point of contact in all matters related to
internationalization.
This cluster is an economic hub and network
encompassing the most innovative Lower Austrian
firms from all sectors of sustainable building and
living – and embracing all types of construction
materials and substances. The cluster team is
composed of architects, energy experts as well
as building and interior design professionals.
Main priorities include refurbishment and
upgrading of older buildings to low-energy
standards, construction of new multi-story buildings
to passive house standards, interior air systems, and
general living quality. Cluster activities are being
expanded step by step to encompass the related fields
renewable energy and energy technologies.
Green Building Cluster of Lower Austria
ecoplus Clusters. Achieve more in networks.
The Cluster also supports the development of new, innovative products on the basis of raw materials native to the region. Not only does this help preserve existing traditional varieties; it also helps native producers gain access to new markets and new customer segments. Elisabeth Zechner, Edelhof seed farm
Thanks to the large cluster network including firms both large and small – not to mention firms from all different sectors – we are always able to locate partner companies quickly and conveniently for all types of projects. Harald Zodl, Process Engineering Manager Profile, Rehau Polymer Industrie GmbH
As of April 2010, businesses
and entrepreneurs in Lower
Austria have a central point
of contact for all matters
relating to metals, mechanical engineering and
mechatronics: the Mechatronics Cluster in Lower
Austria, a joint venture between Lower and Upper
Austria. The effectiveness of cross-border cooperation
between these two provinces has already been
convincingly demonstrated by the success of the
Plastics Cluster. Individual guidance and assistance
is provided to participating fi rms by the ecoplus team
at the Mechatronics Cluster in St. Pölten, where focus
is on topics and issues of prime concern to Lower
Austria. Energy effi ciency – and in particular,
production effi ciency and energy effi ciency of
manufactured goods – is top priority.
Mechatronics Cluster in Lower Austria
Cooperation among the
provinces Lower Austria,
Upper Austria and Salzburg
has made the Plastics Cluster
the largest network for plastics technology in all of Europe.
Lower Austrian cluster partners profi t in more ways than
one: they are members of a large, supra-regional network,
but enjoy the local assistance provided by ecoplus. Topics of
special importance to Lower Austria such as organic plastics,
compounds, and recycling are the foundation for numerous
collaborative projects which open up completely new market
opportunities for Lower Austrian companies.
Plastics Cluster in Lower Austria
The Logistics Cluster has become the single
point of contact and service center for all
innovative companies which focus on the
logistics challenges of the future. Sought after are logistics
service providers as well as trade and industrial companies
who aim to exploit the full potential of logistics through
innovative collaborations.
Priority activities in Lower Austria include:
• awareness-raising measures for more effi cient
logistics processes (internal and external);
• the bundling of cargo shipments,
reduction in the number of empty runs on the road;
• more effi cient transport planning and
more multimodal transport solutions.
Initiators and backers of the Logistics Cluster of Lower
Austria are the Economy and Traffi c & Transportation
departments of the Lower Austrian provincial government.
Logistics Cluster of Lower Austria
We support cooperation among companies.
We promote innovation.
We ease access to research and development.
This provides a competitive advantage and
safeguards Lower Austria as a business location.
The e-mobility initiative of Lower
Austria is both fi rst and central point
of contact as well as the know-how
hub for all matters involving e-mobili-
ty in Lower Austria. This initiative will
inform and provide assistance to all those interested in the topic
of electric mobility: innovative companies, entire regions and
municipalities, but also all Lower Austrian citizens. ecoplus
initiates and supports regional and communal pilot projects
and aids Lower Austrian companies in their efforts to develop,
manufacture and market electric mobility-related products and
services. ecoplus is also active in the creation of a suitable
framework for future electric mobility applications. At the same
time, we aim to enhance acceptance of this new technology
among the general population. The provincial initiative e-mobility
in Lower Austria is backed by the Lower Austrian Economy and
Environment departments; the business agency of Lower Austria,
ecoplus, has been entrusted with its implementation.
e-mobility in Lower Austria
e-mobilin niederöster reich
The Clusters program is being co-financed with EU funds provided by the ERDF (European regional development fund).
The Business Agency of Lower Austria
A cluster is a platform for exchange of both information and experience. At the same time, it should also be a driver for cross-sector product innovations among companies.
Veit Schmid-Schmidsfelden, Managing Director of Rupert Fertinger GmbH and head of the trade association for machine and metal industries at the Lower Austria Economic Chamber
ecoplus Clusters
Tel. +43 2742 9000-19650
Fax +43 2742 9000-19684
Green Building Cluster of Lower Austria
www.bauenergieumwelt.at
e-mobility in Lower Austria
www.e-mobil-noe.at
Plastics Cluster in Lower Austria
www.kunststoff-cluster.at
contactsProfessional support with a plus. ecoplus.
Food Cluster of Lower Austria
www.lebensmittelcluster-noe.at
Logistics Cluster of Lower Austria
www.logistikcluster.at
Mechatronics Cluster in Lower Austria
www.mechatronik-cluster.at
Imprint:
ecoplus.
The Business Agency of Lower Austria
Niederösterreichring 2, Haus A
3100 St. Pölten, Austria
Photo Credits:
ecoplus (4), Getty Images (3),
Mechatronics Cluster (1), Staudinger (1)
© ecoplus January 2012
The Clusters program is being co-financed with EU funds provided by the ERDF (European regional development fund).
Partner of ecoplus Clusters
ecoplus. The Business Agency of Lower Austria
Niederösterreichring 2, Haus A
3100 St. Pölten, Austria
Tel. +43 2742 9000-19600
Fax +43 2742 9000-19609
www.ecoplus.at
www.loweraustria.biz