Eco-efficient
technologies will see impressive global growth
rates in the coming decades, but the market is
highly competitive and focuses on utilising new
and emerging technologies. A large number of Danish
companies are active participants and they have
found the following niche areas, which FORA (research
and analysis division under the Danish Ministry
for Economic and Business Affairs) describes as
Danish 'strongholds' in a recent report. The report
was prepared for the Danish EPA as input to the
preparation of a Danish action plan for eco-efficient
technology.
Wind energy from mega turbines
The report assesses that by creating an effective
Danish wind cluster it will be possible to develop
a competitive mega turbine and competitive offshore
turbines that will allow Denmark to maintain and
further develop its stronghold in wind energy.
Water purification
Denmark possesses strongholds in new combinations
of existing purification technologies and combinations
of eco-efficient technologies in the industrial
biotechnology field. Therefore a Danish water
cluster will make it possible to develop new,
competitive water purification solutions.
Industrial biotechnology
Today the chemicals used in industry impose a
severe strain on the environment. Up till now,
the problem has been contained by imposing threshold
values for the use of chemicals. Indications are
that progress in industrial biotechnology will
produce organisms with only limited environmental
impacts and these may substitute or lower the
use of certain chemicals.
Furthermore development of industrial biotechnology
may open up new combinations of technologies to
solve environmental issues that up until now have
been difficult to address, such as water purification,
soil purification and animal feed production.
The creation of a Danish industrial
biotechnology cluster could make it possible to
develop solutions with huge commercial potential.
Bio fuels
There is significant potential in bio fuels for
cars and for heating.
Strategic collaboration involving Danish companies,
knowledge institutions and authorities could promote
a competitive technology and form the basis for
an emerging Danish business stronghold.
Fuel cells
In certain areas such as fuel cells for heating,
strategic collaboration involving Danish companies,
knowledge institutions and government authorities
may lead to the emergence of competitive technologies
that will form the basis for a Danish business
stronghold.
A total of 420 environment companies
with 60 000 employees have been identified in
these areas, along with 46 knowledge institutes
focussing on eco-efficient technologies. This
makes the environment cluster one of Denmark's
largest business clusters.
Environment Minister Connie
Hedegaard presented the Government's strategy
on eco-efficient technology in early June. This
strategy is to result in an action plan to be
launched in autumn. The plan is to improve environment
protection and at the same time enhance Danish
exports of eco-efficient technologies. The plan
includes initiatives to form binding partnerships
within Denmark's stronghold areas between enterprises,
the authorities and knowledge institutes.
