Although large in terms of its geography, Canada has a relatively small domestic market for cleantech adoption.
Many Canadian cleantech innovators must pursue opportunities outside of our borders if they want to be successful, but navigating the global marketplace can be challenging. With often-complex laws and regulations, logistical and infrastructure challenges, and different cultural business environments, bridging the gap between foreign and domestic markets comes with a lot of potential barriers. Having help from trusted partners can ease that transition, and help ventures find and capitalize on opportunities.
On this episode of Cleantech Forward, Foresight CEO and host, Jeanette Jackson is joined by Hein Molenkamp, managing director of the Netherlands-based Water Alliance, Scott Allison, the senior project manager with Denmark’s CLEAN Cluster, and Tim Bailey, a partner with Gowling WLG.
Together the three explore the different ways in which these ecosystem builders contribute to the success of cleantech entrepreneurs as they bridge the gap between domestic and international markets, what they can do to help facilitate the relationships between customers and cleantech exporters, and the strategies they employ to connect innovators with the right partners, investors, and markets, ultimately helping them overcome the hurdles that come with international expansion.
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Scott Allison is the Senior Project Manager at CLEAN, the Danish Cleantech Cluster. At CLEAN, he is developing the City Solutions Platform to accelerate innovative climate solutions in global cities around the world in collaboration with C40 Cities Leadership Group. Scott has been in the sustainability space for nearly a decade. In 2014 he joined Contico, a green think tank and policy advocate, making sustainable recommendations to politicians, companies, and citizens. He is a passionate climate change project manager, leader, communicator, event and workshop organiser with expert knowledge gained from international experience.
Hein Molenkamp is the Managing Director of the Water Alliance. He is an experienced professional in the field of water technology with a background in engineering and business. During his time at the Dutch Water Alliance, Molenkamp played an instrumental role in promoting Dutch water technology internationally and forging partnerships with key stakeholders in the global water sector. Under his leadership, the Dutch Water Alliance became recognized as a major player in the water technology sector, both in the Netherlands and abroad.
Timothy Bailey is a partner in Gowling WLG's Calgary office, and leader of the firm's Calgary Intellectual Property Group. He specializes in representing high tech, oil and gas, cleantech, pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients. As a lawyer, Tim helps clients understand, defend, and enforce their intellectual property rights, commercialize technology, and navigate public and private transactions by addressing various intellectual-property issues that arise during due diligence, negotiations, and the drafting of transaction-related documents.
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The Cleantech Forward Podcast is Supported by Gowling WLG.
