The operational framework outlines how a cluster organization would catalyze and facilitate action in Cleantech, and support the evolution of BC’s economy from a silo’ed economy into a networked and energized one. It is a non-linear, networked approach that reflects the complex and multiple relationships that cluster stakeholders have with each other and the locations where they interact.

The CORE Cleantech cluster would develop programming in support of the following:

• Communications & Marketing - activities to promote and communicate about the Cleantech Cluster itself, and the overall story/brand of Cleantech in BC.
• Capital - financial wealth, and covers all financial activities that need to happen to start, maintain and grow a business such as funding programs and investment.
• Market- developing and making connections between cleantech markets, including a) location-based markets (where the sale is taking place, ie. local, domestic, regional, global) and b) industry/sector specific markets (the wood products market’ or the ‘food/beverage market”).
• Talent -human capital required to provide business value - programs to recruit, retain, develop, reward people in the cleantech economy
• Technology Validation -applying scientific knowledge to solve real-world clean tech problems (tech development/R&D) and ensuring that the component and system technical targets have been met under realistic operating conditions (validation). Technology validation is measured in Technology Readiness Levels (TRL), which describe the development of a technology from basic research and feasibility studies through to full commercialization and scale
• Policy - Policy concerns areas where any level of government (local, provincial, federal, First Nations) are influencing or intervening in the economy. This includes the systems for setting levels of taxation, government budgets, the money supply and interest rates as well as the labour market, infrastructure ownership, and other government interventions and procedures (e.g. procurement, monitoring, collecting revenues). Note, that the CORE Cleantech Cluster would serve as a communications/engagement and research partner for communicating and discussing policy issues around cleantech adoption and development.
• Networks - A network in economic terms is a combination of individuals - i.e groups or organizations interacting to benefit the community as a whole. In terms of the CORE Cluster Framework, the term refers to the organizational members of the community (other Clusters, Accelerators, Industry Groups, Special Interest & Networking Groups, Economic Development Networks, etc). The cluster organization would work to energize linkages between organizations, regionally, nationally and globally.
• Infrastructure & Space to Innovate- Infrastructure crosses all sectors and includes hard infrastructure such as land, waterways, buildings such as science park & labs, offices, roads, ports, airports, communication links, bandwidth, fresh water, waste treatment facilities, and soft infrastructure such as Public Agencies (national, regional, municipal) & Academia (universities, tertiary institutions) & Associations (unions, non-profits, donors). For the CORE cluster, infrastructure relates directly to access to facilities such as labs, office space, science parks, etc

Draft Recommendations

The following are the draft recommendations presented at the Globe 2020 event: