A newly-released Study commissioned by Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty says, with Metro Orlando’s strong research institutions and industries, it is “well positioned” to achieve scientific pre-eminence in clean technology-based research, to develop and strengthen its cleantech industry and to attract major clean technology companies, as well as, homegrown ones.
The Study, entitled Metro Orlando Cleantech: Assets, Capabilities, Presence and Potential, was undertaken over a one year period, by the Institute for Economic Competitiveness of the University of Central Florida, under its Director, Dr. Sean M. Snaith.
Among other dimensions, the Study highlights the evolution of the cleantech industry; examines the six major cleantech areas of opportunity for the region; highlights clean tech clusters and initiatives; Metro Orlando’s current strengths; Metro Orlando’s cleantech industry and its potential for growth, including the region’s economic strength, leadership, R&D capabilities and strong technology base.
The Study notes the enormous potential surrounding the cleantech market. In fact, global clean technology investments amounted to $8.4 billion in 2008, with the global market value of clean technology estimated at $284 billion and expected to reach $1.3 trillion in 2017.
Metro Orlando, which is already home to various industries such as Advanced Manufacturing, Agro Technology, Aviation and Aerospace; Modeling, Simulation and Training; Software and Hardware, among others, and supported by agencies like the Institute for Economic Competitiveness the Economic Development Commission, and the UCF Technology Incubator, creates the right climate of innovation and entrepreneurship to nurture and grow cleantech companies, the Study says.
The Study also makes a number of practical and action-oriented proposals that could be undertaken in the near and medium term, including policies and that could benefit the region. These include: Establishment of a Cleantech Leadership Council; promotion of new partnerships between UCF and other regional academic and research institutions; enactment of comprehensive green building codes and ordinances; development of cleantech cluster-related strategies; encouragement of Green transportation and establishment of a permanent Green Jobs Steering Committee, among others.
