Cleantech News & Insights

Cleantech in Business, 18.03.2026

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 03:49:14 GMT

Networking space for the Cleantech Industry in Victoria and beyond.

Join us at the Victorian Cleantech Cluster event on March 18th— where bold entrepreneurs take the stage and the clean tech community comes together.

Expect sharp startup pitches, powerful networking, and the kind of conversations that spark real collaboration.

We’re creating the space to connect, challenge ideas, and keep the momentum building across Victoria’s clean tech ecosystem.

Be in the room. Let’s keep the wave going.

March 18th, 4:30pm, FBIDEAs Innovation Hub, 650 Lorimer Str. Port Melbourne, 3207 VIC

https://events.humanitix.com/cleantech-in-business

#VictorianCleantechCluster #CleanTech #StartupPitches #ClimateInnovation #EnergyTransition

From Seed to Scale

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 03:34:46 GMT

Scaling your cleantech startup in the Victorian Economy and beyond.

Victoria is driving innovation in renewable energy, circular economy industries, and critical minerals. With a 2045 net zero target, expanded waste-to-energy capacity, and new renewable gas and power initiatives, the state is positioning itself as a global hub for sustainable industry. Cleantech is the catalyst — delivering the advanced recycling, resource recovery, and green manufacturing solutions that make the circular economy possible. Now is the time to secure your place in the fastest-growing sector of Victoria’s economy.

Our panel featured four leaders at the forefront of investment, commercialisation, and market expansion:

Eva Rodriguez (Breakthrough Victoria) – Blending technical depth with investment insight to back breakthrough technologies in climate resilience, energy systems, and advanced manufacturing.

Alex Oppes (Virescent Ventures) – A leading climate tech VC investor supporting founders developing solutions in energy, mobility, agriculture, and circular innovation.

Lisa Hui (Global Victoria) – Championing Victorian cleantech in international markets and helping local companies secure partnerships, customers, and visibility on the world stage.

Matthew Williams (AxleTree Capital) – An experienced financier focused on scaling infrastructure and technologies that need patient, strategic capital to reach commercial maturity.

Our expert panel cut through the noise and spoke about deliverable actionable insights:

Unlocking Global Opportunities: Navigating export markets and leveraging government networks to scale beyond Australian shores.
Bootstrapping Innovation: Identifying non-dilutive capital and smart funding strategies to propel early-stage cleantech companies.
The Commercialisation Pathway: Overcoming regulatory hurdles and infrastructure challenges to transition from pilot project to large-scale deployment.
Financing Approaches: Understanding the current debt, equity, and corporate capital landscape available for cleantech infrastructure and venture investment.

Thanks to the City of Melbourne and Earth Systems for helping sponsor this event!

Check out a media article on the event: https://futurenowgreennews.com/victorian-cleantech-startups-patient-capital-to-global-scale-on-aseans-150b-gap/

2025 Australian Cleantech Showcase

Mon, 05 May 2025 01:15:10 GMT

2024 NEXUS Geelong

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 06:03:23 GMT

NEXUS has Geelong's Clean Economy in the spotlight again

Last week the Victorian Cleantech Cluster was thrilled to welcome more than one hundred guests to Wurriki Nyal Civic Precinct for our second annual NEXUS Clean Economy Showcase. Presented in partnership with the City of Greater Geelong, NEXUS was a meeting of minds for people working in cleantech, circularity, sustainability and climate innovation – all the major elements that drive our clean economy.

We began the day with a look at what Geelong has achieved over the past decade, as Deputy Mayor Anthony Aiken took us on a journey to see where the region has come from, and importantly, where it’s heading. Geelong’s fervent support of clean economy development has supported more than 60 businesses, resulting in over 700 new jobs and over 2,600 people trained to deal with the transition. Significantly, this has seen an increase of more than $20m in sales of cleantech and sustainable products and services locally.

Our keynote was delivered by Ashleigh Morris, CEO and Co-Founder of Coreo, who explored life and work in our growing circular economy. There were plenty of takeaways from Ashleigh’s presentation, including our dire need for resource recovery as a country that still relies so heavily on virgin materials for the vast majority of products. Ashleigh’s passionate message for circularity resonated with the audience and gave us plenty to consider about how we design, use and discard the things that drive our daily lives.

We were also joined by Andy McCarthy who discussed his new book, Here Comes the Sun: How a high-school dropout brought renewable energy to coal country. Andy shared his experiences of growing up in Geelong in a time when the opportunities for getting involved in renewable energy and cleantech were sparse at best and shared his vision of hope for a future powered by clean energy.

Our first two afternoon panels put industry experts in the spotlight covering state and national policy and research aims as well as local SMEs working to grow Geelong’s clean economy.

Two poets then gave the audience some food for thought as they captivated the crowd and brought home the message of people, planet and peace.

The second two panels saw local government representatives and key organisations behind the microphone to share what they’re working on to grow the clean economy far and wide.

Nigel Murphy, Chair of the Victorian Cleantech Cluster, wrapped up the day for us with key insights and a look at some major projects on the horizon.

This year's showcase featured 20 expert speakers, ten companies on display, and an innumerable amount of passion from the people that attended.

We'd like to thank everyone who made NEXUS such a fantastic event this year, particularly Tina Perfrement from the City of Greater Geelong, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes and on the day to bring it all together.

2023 NEXUS Geelong

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 06:53:06 GMT

Geelong, the sleeping giant of cleantech and circular economy

On 11 August, we were thrilled to welcome 140 people from cleantech, circular economy, sustainability and climate action to the Wurriki Nyal Civic Precinct in Geelong for a day of discovery, engagement and connection.

This showcase of local innovation and expertise didn't disappoint, with 25 speakers on stage, 12 companies exhibiting and 5 start ups pitching at the Australian Final of the ClimateLaunchpad competition.

While there were plenty of fantastic takeaways from the day, the overwhelming feeling that Geelong is a sleeping giant in cleantech and circular economy definitely came through loud and clear. The opportunities locally are significant and aren't showing any signs of slowing down. One of the reasons is undoubtedly the cohesion between the major players like City of Greater Geelong, Deakin University, The Gordon, Geelong Port, Geelong Sustainability, Geelong Manufacturing Council, and the hundreds of other local organisation that are all singing from the same hymnsheet. It's safe to say that Geelong is leading the way for cleantech in Victoria, and we couldn't be more delighted to be able to showcase the success stories from all over the region.

Thanks to everyone who made the day a resounding success, in particular Tina Perfrement from City of Greater Geelong, Philippa Bakes from Regional Innovation for a Circular Economy (RICE) and Sina Lengelsen from Climate-KIC Australia.

2022 Victorian Cleantech Expo

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 03:05:13 GMT

A show of strength in November '22

November 2022 saw the return of the Victorian Cleantech Expo, which was also the first in-person expo presented by VCC since it's formation in 2019.

Over two days at RMIT University's Storey Hall in Melbourne CBD, 400+ guests were treated to the latest insights from across the cleantech landscape with more than 70 speaks on stage and 30 companies exhibiting their innovations.

Day 1 was opened by Sustainability Victoria's CEO, Matt Genever, who gave us an insight into local sustainability initiatives and the important impact of SV's work in the broader cleantech landscape.

The morning was full of presentations and panels with some of Victoria's most prolific cleantech advocates from universities, government and across the private sector.

At lunchtime we were treated to a a viewing of Regenerating Australia, from writer/director Damon Gameau, as well as a poster competition from some of RMIT University's brightest up and comming cleantech researchers.

The afternoon focussed on the European energy sector and what we can learn in Australia, followed by some of CSIRO's latest technology developments, a focus on founders, and opportunties in finance and investment.

We rounded out the day with networking drinks and pitches from 13 local companies making waves in cleantech.

A special mention to the winners of our pitching competition, Bardee and Mantaray.

Day 2 began with a keynote from the City of Melbourne's Lord Mayor Sally Capp, who discussed the importance of developing a strong circular economy, and activities and projects that are driving Melbourne's Net Zero ambitions.

We were delighted to be joined by the City of Melbourne to launch the new Zero-Carbon Jobs Cluster, to support local businesses and grow jobs in the cleantech space throughout Melbourne.

Before lunch we were also thrilled to have Peter Castellas from Climate Zeitgeist announce the Climate Investor Forum in March 2023. This forum, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, brings together the key market players from cleantech and finance to explore the ways of funding our sustainable future.

It was then over to Global Victoria, who provided the latest insights and opportunities from overseas markets across South East Asia.

Finally, when all was said and done, we shared a drink and something to eat, with our awesome cleantech community.

A massive thank you to all of the people who attended the expo and especially to our major partners and supporters.

The expo will return in 2023 - with a twist! Stay tuned for more information coming in March 2023.

VCC Annual Report 2020/21

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 02:35:42 GMT

We are pleased to present the Victorian Cleantech Cluster (VCC) Annual Report 2020/21.

"The last year has been important for Cleantech. We have seen the sector grow significantly, despite the difficulties of COVID-19. There is certainly growing economic, social and political recognition that this sector is important for our future. More capital is seeking cleantech investment with the increased realisation that our footprint must be lighter to ensure our world can embrace the challenges of sustainability and climate change. Our time is now!"

Nigel Murphy, VCC Board Chair.

You can download the VCC 2020/21 Annual Report through the link.

Victorian Cleantech Expo 2021: A Brilliant Beginning

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 03:34:29 GMT

In April this year, the Victorian Cleantech Cluster held the first Victorian Cleantech Expo, attended by over 300 cleantech industry professionals. With 56 incredible speakers, and a breadth of sectors represented by our attendees and live sessions, this event’s success is an indicator of the thriving and passionate cleantech community here in Victoria.

Held from the 20th to the 22nd of April, the expo was three days filled with engaging live presentations, panel discussions, keynote speakers, industry insights and sector collaboration. The Expo was held in partnership with Global Victoria, and brought together leaders in Cleantech from around the world, sharing Victoria’s exceptional calibre of technology and innovation.

The results are in, and our attendees had an overwhelmingly positive experience at the first Victorian Cleantech Expo.

"The Victorian Cleantech Expo brought together many of the key players in the emerging cleantech sector - innovators, financiers, government and industry. The dynamic was fantastic and certain to create new technology, businesses and opportunities for Australians. This sector is so vitally important for us as we move towards a more sustainable future. Thank you to the Victorian Government for their support - this event is a must have for 2022!" Nigel Murphy, VCC Board Chair

Live Sessions:

The Expo showcased global industry leaders and cutting-edge innovations in cleantech across sectors such as; new energy, air, environmental management, water, waste, recycling, circular economy, green buildings and agriculture.

The expo was spread across 15 outstanding sessions addressing a vast variety of cleantech topics from; financing cleantech innovation, fast tracking start-ups, cleantech success stories and the role of research.

See the full program here.

Speakers:

Opened by the Honorable Lily D’Ambrosio, the Expo featured an incredible lineup of 56 speakers!

Our speakers represented organisations including; ClimateWorks Australia, Nestle, Beyond Zero Emissions, Barwon Water, C4NET, Department of Environment Land Water and Planning, Austrade, Point Advisory and many more. Our speakers included representatives from Government, start-ups, universities, venture capital organisations, cleantech innovators and entrepreneurs and more.

Download our full list of speaker bios here.

The Expo Booths:

The Victorian Cleantech Expo proved to be a fantastic opportunity for industry professionals and attendees alike to collaborate, showcase their organisation and foster new connections within the industry.

Event attendees had the opportunity to access the Virtual Trade Show Booths throughout the expo for the opportunity to engage in unique networking opportunities, engage with government, learn about commercial activity, and discover new cleantech organisations. The VCC were delighted to receive overwhelmingly positive feedback about our exhibitors trade show booths.

Overall the Victorian Cleantech Expo was an immersive and engaging online experience which consisted of countless opportunities to learn, connect and collaborate with leaders and innovators across cleantech sectors.

Thank you to everyone who attended this year's virtual event, we look forward to holding our next Expo in 2022.

Interested in learning more? Contact the VCC via admin@victoriancleantech.org.au

Member Spotlight - ASPIRE: Creating Opportunities from Waste

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 04:05:47 GMT

The concept of a circular economy is founded on creating opportunities from waste. This only works if there’s a way of connecting people to create these opportunities, which is the exact mission of VCC founding member ASPIRE .

The Advisory System for Process Innovation and Resource Exchange (ASPIRE) platform is an innovative match-making service that brings together remanufacturers, purchasers and recyclers. Originally developed by CSIRO and Data61, this service responded to a growing number of manufacturing companies talking to their local councils about waste disposal costs. The platform addresses the root cause of these concerns by helping businesses and councils to generate revenue from excess resources that would otherwise end up in landfill.

When an expression of interest for commercialising ASPIRE opened in late 2018, it was the perfect opportunity for Cameron McKenzie. Having worked in the construction industry for 20 years, Cameron described himself as baffled by the irresponsible way that many companies and individuals deal with their waste. He later moved into helping small businesses with risk and litigation, where a lot of his work focussed on supply and value chains. “One of the things that I really enjoyed was putting businesses in touch together to solve problems”, Cameron explains. “When ASPIRE came across my desk it was exactly that, but in a digital solution.”

ASPIRE transitioned into commercial operation in 2019 and won the Australian Technologies Competition in the same year. In March 2020, the new ASPIRE platform was launched. More than passively listing buyers and sellers of recycling and reuse opportunities, this platform actively suggests business-to-business collaborations. “ASPIRE’s not passive”, Cameron emphasises, “we create markets around supply and demand of resources that might not necessarily have markets around them.” This is achieved in part by making it compulsory for businesses to nominate material that they want to acquire from the platform, rather than using it solely to offload their own waste.

They’ve had some successful stories so far. In the City of Kingston, A-Tech Recyclers now have an e-waste recycling partnership with the council. Some of the council’s own waste is now diverted and turned into innovative building materials by Casafico and local company Enigmaclean have reduced their waste to landfill by 75% through both reuse and recycling. The City of Greater Dandenong has partnered with Corex and Smart Recycling to tackle plastic and timber waste respectively. Hume City Council is now home to a great example of industrial symbiosis with Rotometrics chemical waste being used by Global Waste Management for wastewater treatment. Hume have also partnered with Close the Loop to use a new compactor to facilitate expanded polystyrene recycling. In the City of Bayswater, Aximill are taking USG Boral’s plasterboard and McDonald’s coffee grounds to make compostable kitty litter. In a business-to-business collaboration, AB Mauri Yeast are sending their food waste to EarthPower as a feedstock for bioenergy and to NSW farmers as feed supplements. These examples all highlight the power of circular thinking and the importance of bringing different stakeholders together to create new opportunities.

One of Cameron’s favourite success stories involves a business that was importing a material from a construction site overseas. There were big delays and a lot of problems with this supply chain, so they came to ASPIRE for a solution. “We literally found someone who was across the road throwing out that exact product,” Cameron revealed. One stakeholder was paying a lot for disposal and the other for procurement, so opening this local network created shared value. The relationship is ongoing and they’re now working together on other items to support each other’s businesses.

ASPIRE’s work isn’t without its challenges and similar platforms have either collapsed or stagnated. Having researched other examples, Cameron identified that these systems were predominantly commission-based. In contrast, ASPIRE has opted for a subscription service that enables them to focus on best serving their customers’ needs. The challenge is convincing businesses to move away from the status quo, particularly if they can’t see a short term financial incentive. Cameron says that ultimately it’s about behaviour change and building relationships that focus on what you can do rather than what you can’t: “We look at it more as an economic value add to the business, rather than dealing with waste.”

Despite the challenges of 2020, ASPIRE has successfully expanded from Victoria into both Tasmania and Queensland. They started the year with around 400 businesses and now they have over 650 subscribers to the service. “ASPIRE’s built on relationships; we’re a relationships platform,” Cameron says. This encouraged ASPIRE to become a founding member of VCC so that they could build better relationships and networks here in Victoria. That’s how they found out about the Australian Technologies Competition, which ASPIRE won in 2019. Cameron says that really put ASPIRE on the world stage, and they immediately saw connections on their website from across Europe, the US and Asia.

With regard to the future of clean technology, Cameron is optimistic. “Due to COVID, I think everyone in the world now has got more of a sustainable mindset,” Cameron observes, “you’ve just got to get people to keep looking at it.” ASPIRE are committed to doing as much as they can locally, but the team is excited to be launching a pilot in Hong Kong in the new year.

Find out more on ASPIRE's website.

2019/20 VCC Annual Report

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 05:51:03 GMT

On behalf of the VCC Board and staff, we are pleased to present the Victorian Cleantech Cluster (VCC) Annual Report 2019/20.

"It has been a year of early growth for VCC where we have not only achieved much, but importantly established a foundation to contribute to Victoria’s leadership role in Cleantech innovation and commercialisation."

Nigel Murphy, VCC Board Chair.

You can download the VCC 2019/20 Annual Report through the link.

Victorian Cleantech Cluster partners with EnergyTech Hub to accelerate Australia’s Sustainable Energy Transition

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 01:51:41 GMT

Creating deeper industry connections between the energy sector and cleantech organisations will accelerate the sustainable energy transition as the EnergyTech Hub, powered by Startupbootcamp, collaborates with the Victorian Cleantech Cluster.

Aimed at bringing down the barriers to providing sustainable, reliable and affordable solutions to Australia’s energy challenges, the EnergyTech Hub is focused on executing pilot projects to help local and international scaleups test, implement, and scale commercial-ready technology and business model innovations into the Australian market.

The collaboration with the Victorian Cleantech Cluster and its members will open up many opportunities for scaleups and organisations participating in the EnergyTech Hub, supporting Victoria to become a major hub for innovation, as well as uptake and commercialisation of clean technology.

Scaleups on the EnergyTech Hub program will have direct exposure to the relevant regional and international networks provided by the Victorian Cleantech Cluster so they can work on collaborative cleantech pilot projects, find co-investment opportunities and get access to industry expertise and market insights.

It will also encourage networking and commercial cooperation, bringing EnergyTech Hub organisations, Victorian companies and institutions together to drive the ongoing adoption of clean energy technology. This will in turn aid economic growth and transition to a more sustainable and circular economy.

“"The Victorian Cleantech Cluster (VCC) is thrilled to be a launch partner of the EnergyTech Hub" said Nigel Murphy, Chair of the VCC. "We see the work of the EnergyTech Hub as very important in building the capacity of cleantech scaleup companies in Victoria. The VCC is very keen to support this initiative through the cluster. Many of our members are well situated to support scaleups in the Australian market through the opportunities presented by the EnergyTech Hub. Collaboration is the key - having business, government, research and capital all pulling towards a cleantech future will drive and stimulate innovative and commercially successful companies in this sector. We want Victoria to be at the forefront of this global opportunity."

“The EnergyTech Hub has recently launched and we are delighted to extend the network to include the Victorian Cleantech Cluster, to accelerate collaboration and learnings within the network and have sustainability top of mind as we restart the economy and look to create new jobs and commercial opportunities” adds Chair of the EnergyTech Hub, Kate Russell.

The EnergyTech Hub is currently supported by industry leaders including VivaEnergy, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, EnergyAustralia, the Victorian Cleantech Fund, the Centre for New Energy Technologies (C4NET), YBF Ventures and COSEC .

Participation in the EnergyTech Hub is open to stakeholders from across the energy ecosystem including other industry players and large energy users. This cross-company collaboration will play a key role in driving change in the energy market that is otherwise prone to resisting disruptive innovation. For more information on how to get involved, visit the EnergyTech Hub website .

EnergyTech Hub’s first insights event Unpacking Sustainable Led Recovery will be held on June 18 at 2pm. Register here .

For more information, contact:

Phoebe Ellis, Marketing & Communications at SBC

phoebe.ellis@startupbootcamp.org | +61 477 818 898

What is Circular Economy?

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 05:09:08 GMT

Cleantech Opportunities in Recycling and Beyond

Australia's goal to double circularity by 2035 is ambitious. Australia has clear targets

which prioritize industry, Built environment, Food and Agriculture and Resources and sets sectoral enables and cross cutting objectives for the set respected priorities. For achieving this goal after governments, business would play a crucial role by innovating circular economy technologies and adapting practices.

Business are at the forefront of driving innovation in a circular Economy framework. Furthermore, they are uniquely positioned to rethink their products and processes to reduce waste, design for durability and repair, and enable product reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling. Business can support circular economy transition by thinking strategically, planning, reporting, product redesign for circularity, collaboration and partnerships along with investing in new business models.

This new policy represents a wealth of opportunity for cleantech businesses in Victoria. Recycling is a central part of the circular economy, but what exactly is the circular economy? And what role can Victorian businesses play in implementing it?

What is the Circular Economy?

The circular economy is a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated. In a circular economy, products and materials are kept in circulation through processes like maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacture, recycling, and composting. The circular economy tackles climate change and other global challenges, like biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution, by decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources.

1) The circular economy is based on three principles, driven by design:

2) Eliminate waste and pollution

3) Circulate products and materials (at their highest value)

Regenerate nature

Underpinned by a transition to renewable energy and materials, the circular economy

is a resilient system that is good for business, people, and the environment.

Important resources are becoming increasingly scarce and at the same time, resources are lost in landfills. Circular economy tries to close that loop and create a system that can reuse the waste product and turn them into new materials to be used for the production of new goods. In theory, this should save business owners lots of money in waste removal and saving on production costs. In reality, it is a little more complicated.

Clean Technology: Opportunities in Recycling

In Victoria, recycling is facing two main problems: quality of products going into recycling and a lack of demand for the recycled materials. The quality of products can be increased by redesign of the problem and better sorting of recycling, which is generally the responsibility of larger corporations, governments and households.

The lack of a market for recycled materials is a huge economic opportunity that can be tapped into. The World Economic Forum estimates the circular economy is a $4.5 trillion business opportunity. Waste disposal is seen as an expense for larger companies, collecting and reusing these materials delivers cheap resources while saving the business on waste removal.

An example of this is ‘Geocycle’ who collects waste and recycles it to make cement. This also has the benefit of establishing a network between companies that can be beneficial in the long run. Where companies don’t have the connections to work together directly an opportunity also rises. ASPIRE facilitates the infrastructure to connect businesses that might benefit from using waste products from other businesses.

Circular Economy: Beyond Recycling

Demand for Circular Solutions:

The Circular Gap Reporting initiative (CGRi) reports that the world was only 9.1% circular in 2019. Whilst barriers to circular economy vary from country to country, in Australia the interest in a circular economy is growing (as shown by the Recycling Victoria: A New Economy report). As the demand for circular solutions grows, so does the opportunity for Victorian clean technology businesses. In fact, small companies worldwide are currently the front runners in the circular economy transition.

Australian Business Opportunities:

There are a number of circular economy components in which Australian clean technology businesses are already taking steps to fill;

Product design - making durable, degradable, upgradable, good quality products. This increases resale opportunity for the consumer and means that the product can stay in use for a longer time.

Sustainable safe inputs - Using materials that are not toxic and will not have a negative impact on the biosphere when they reach the end of use. For example using recycled and natural materials (like fungi, algae) instead of plastic. For example: this edible plastic .

End-of-use recovery - when the product can’t be used anymore there needs to be a strategy and market so the materials are not wasted. An example of this is the Save our soles initiative in Victoria, that collects and recycles worn-out sports shoes that would otherwise have ended in the landfill.

Process recovery and re-use - in the process of making things there are often by-products which mostly end up as waste. An example of how to rethink by-products in the company Rainbow Bee Eater that uses crop and timber waste to make low cost bio-char and low cost fuel gas.

A Huge Opportunity:

Circular economy and the problems facing recycling in Victoria should be seen as a huge economic opportunity for Australian businesses. Especially the potential to create a market for low-cost materials and resources, providing better recycling and waste disposal solutions and the far reaching network opportunities.

Other businesses are transitioning to leasing out their products rather than outright selling them, changing the current idea of ownership. Innovative ideas like these are key to a more circular economy, which should be seen as an opportunity to tap into a market with a big potential.

Are you a VCC member yet? Join today!

Already a member? Are you i nterested in hosting VCC Member Events or Workshops? Please email admin@victoriancleantech.org.au to register your interest.

RESOURCES:

What does 'cleantech' mean for Victoria?

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 04:20:16 GMT

Leading cleantech innovation

In the face of rising electricity, gas, water and resource costs and increasing international competition, Victorian industry has been investing over the last decade in efficient energy and resource technologies that improve their bottom line and deliver better environmental outcomes.

The clean technology industry, or ‘cleantech’, is an emerging sector around the world and an area where Victoria is internationally recognised.

What is ‘Cleantech’?

Cleantech is defined as ‘economically viable products, services or processes that harness renewable materials and energy sources, dramatically reducing the use of natural resources or cut or eliminate emissions and waste’ with the focus on finding solutions to address environmental, energy, waste, air and water quality issues. (Cleantech Export Strategy 2017).

What makes Victoria a leader in the space?

Focus on innovation

In Victoria, there is a heavy focus on research, innovation and technology development which is providing opportunities for small and medium Victorian businesses. The long-term economic benefits that cleantech delivers means that Victorian products and services are extremely valuable for overseas sustainable development objectives.

Strong regulation

The strong regulatory environment in Australia and Victoria has driven the growth of the cleantech sector to date and provides a good basis for many cleantech companies to consider export markets, as they’re already adhering to some of the world’s highest standards.

University partnerships

Victoria has strong international technical and research partnerships and several of Victoria’s universities have international campuses across the Asia Pacific region providing significant infrastructure resources and strong local networks. Victoria’s universities are developing cutting edge energy technologies with investors eager to commercialise.

To complement the growing energy technology expertise, Victoria's universities produce more graduates than other states in fields such as engineering and ICT, providing the engaged and skilled workforce needed to support cleantech projects.

Supportive government policies

The support of long-term policies and strong regulatory and governance frameworks help to drive technology development and adoption.

Victoria's Cleantech Capabilities

Environmental Services

Demand for Victoria’s comprehensive environmental services expertise has emerged from a growing Victorian population and a legacy of progressive state regulation. Strong adherence to international environmental standards and the inclusion of modern clean technologies sees Victoria’s knowledge of environmental solutions being sought worldwide.

Victoria’s expertise in cleantech is diverse, with a focus on finding solutions to address environmental, waste, air and water quality issues through a combination of services, consultation and technology.

Victoria’s cleantech knowledge has enriched the state’s amenity and landscape through dynamic collaboration between private and public-sector innovation, contributing to Melbourne’s liveability rating. Victoria's high standard of environmental protection enables us to enjoy clean air and water, picturesque and fertile landscapes, and an abundance of wildlife. Protecting these natural assets is key to maintaining our quality of life.

New Energy

The global energy sector is undergoing a significant transformation. Countries around the world are looking for new ways to meet their future energy challenges and Victorian expertise is in demand around the world to provide the solutions. Many of Victoria’s research institutions are leading the way in developing new and creative solutions in the new energy sector.

With a wealth of renewable energy resources available within Victoria and Victorian companies offering world-leading solutions to solar, wind, and micro-grids, Victoria is well-equipped to meet the global demands for new energy technology products and solutions.

Waste and Resource Recovery

Many of Victoria’s leading waste and recycling businesses have commodified unique scientific advancements to provide services or products that improves business efficiency for clients in material requirements and cost reductions.

By 2041, Melbourne’s population is projected to reach 7.8 million people and will generate around 63% more waste – approximately 16.5 million tonnes per year. With this growth, it is critical that we look at new ways of recovering resources and managing waste.

Under the notion of “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” government, research bodies and businesses are continuing to collaborate towards circular economy solutions. This is considered the next phase of waste and recycling in Victoria, where businesses will exchange production outputs efficiently with little or no end-point waste going to landfill.

Are you a VCC member yet? Join here today!

Already a member?

Are you interested in hosting VCC Member Events or Workshops?

Please email admin@victoriancleantech.org.au to register your interest in providing event space and/or catering.

If you’d like to contribute content to share on our social media channels and to assist us in preparing articles about our members and activities, please reach out to communications@victoriancleantech.org.au

Photo credit: Michael Wilkins

Foundation Member Roundtable - September 2019

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 06:08:41 GMT

Foundation Member Roundtable - September 2019

The Victorian Cleantech Cluster (VCC) hosted its first Foundation Member roundtable on Wednesday 11th September, bringing together representatives from its membership base to seek ideas and feedback to understand the needs and priorities of its members.

Hosted at RMIT’s City Campus, the session was facilitated by Nigel Murphy, Chair of the VCC board and Managing Director of Earth Systems, who set the scene for the session and provided a forum for open discussion on the priority directions of the VCC to focus on in its early days. It was easy to see the breadth of experience and expertise from the VCC’s early members with members - backgrounds in renewable energy, IP protection, hygiene product manufacturing, waste management and circular economy, and environmental management were just a few of the skills present among the group.

Some repeating messages was clear throughout the session:

To effectively map and understand the state of play in Victoria’s cleantech sector;
Focus on facilitating capital investment and access to finance, including inviting venture capitalist to join as members and involving them early in conversations;
Host regular high-quality workshops and events, with cutting-edge speaker including problem-solving sessions for new and emerging issues; and,
Build linkages across different industries.

By using the outcomes of the day to inform the focus of activities over the next few months, the VCC board now has some guidance from its membership base on what is important to them and where to direct its resources.

There was also a conversation around fostering a mentality among members of wanting to contribute to the cluster. The strength and success of the VCC also rests with the engagement, enthusiasm and shared voices of its membership base, as well as an effective volunteer Board and Cluster Coordinator, which will be recruited for soon.

Some additional priorities for the VCC Board to deliver before the end of the calendar year including:

Confirming membership categories
Recruit a ‘Cluster Coordinator’ to assist with the day to day management of the cluster including admin, membership management and events
Exploring innovative funding models to build a sustainable cluster
Prepare Cluster Calendar of events for the next 6 months
Growing the VCC membership base and building a strong brand

The VCC Board has a lot to do over the coming months but they’ve delivered a lot since the VCC’s inception back in February 2019 and it’s launch in June. It’s an exciting time to be involved in Victoria’s transition to a more sustainable economy and with the skills and energy present in the room during the Roundtable, there’s no doubt the VCC are on the way to building a stronger, more coordinated sector.

Here’s what they’ve done so far:

Established Legal And Financial Structure
Established Operational Board
Building Member Base
Developed Website
Produced Explanatory and Promotional Video
Official Launch (June 2019)
Finalised Sponsorship Agreement With Liveability Victoria International
Benchmarking Global Clusters (underway)
Identifying and reaching out to Cleantech companies and organisations in Victoria
Launched Social Media initiative

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Launch of the Victorian Cleantech Cluster

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 12:10:49 GMT

A quick glance around the room at the sheer number of people that gathered together for the launch of Victorian Cleantech Cluster was all that was needed to see the demand for a transition to clean technologies and a stronger Victorian sector.

The Victorian Cleantech Cluster (VCC) launched last Thursday 27th June as a not-for-profit member driven organisation with a vision for Victoria to be the Southern Hemisphere capital for innovation, uptake and commercialisation of clean technology. Liveability Victoria International is a major sponsor of the VCC.

The sold-out event hosted around 150 attendees from across the cleantech and environment sector, with representatives from government, universities and both large and small businesses.

Wurundjeri Elder, Aunty Georgine Nicholson opened the event with a Welcome to Country, reflecting on the history of her ancestors in the area and recognising the clear need for sustainable approaches to protect our environment.

The Hon. Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change and Minister for Solar Homes followed, marking the event as an important moment during an exciting time – the creation of a Victorian collaborative cleantech organisation at the dawn of a new era in clean technology.

The final speaker of the evening was Deputy Mayor of Melbourne, Arron Wood, reflecting on his personal journey in increasing awareness and education of environmental issues and his role in making the City of Melbourne run on 100% renewable energy. Arron spoke genuinely about his excitement and support for the cluster and the need for a more coordinated sector.

The event closed with a showing of a short promotional video of the VCC and its members featuring leaders in Victoria’s cleantech sector, including DELWP’s Secretary John Bradley and VCC Lead, Nigel Murphy.

The energy and excitement in the room was palpable - the entire sector clearly wanting a collaborative, supportive platform to support Victorian businesses that help solve global environmental challenges.

The VCC is now seeking Foundation Members until 31 July 2019. After this time, memberships will be available across a range of categories. These will suitable for all organisations, from start-ups to big business and associate members. If you are interested in becoming a Foundation Member, please visit the Membership page on the VCC website.

The VCC will offer a range of member events each year, including networking opportunities, speakers’ series and member workshops focused on themes such as investment attraction, marketing your business, risk management, export readiness and international market entry. The VCC Steering Committee are in the process of developing our event calendar for 2019/20. If you are interested in providing suggestions for events, speakers and themes please get in touch at admin@victoriancleantech.org.au

Victorian Cleantech Cluster - Information and Networking Session

Wed, 03 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Attendees from across the cleantech sector gathered to hear about the newly established Victorian Cleantech Cluster

In a packed venue, over 70 attendees from across the cleantech sector gathered to hear about the newly established Victorian Cleantech Cluster on the afternoon of April 3rd, 2019.

The industry-led cluster, with initial support from Liveability Victoria International, will bring together Victorian companies and organisations in the clean technology space, to be a part of a collective voice, explore investment, market and export opportunities, collaborate and help shape a sustainable future for all Victorians.

The afternoon opened with Nigel Murphy, Managing Director of Earth Systems, and lead of the Victorian Cleantech Cluster working group. he shared his vision for the Cluster, the reason behind the need for a more coordinated cleantech sector, the potential benefits for members and upcoming activities the cluster will facilitate.

Representing the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Peter Hansford then shared his history in cleantech space, and the trends driving the need for a strengthened energy, environmental and sustainability industry. Peter also issued some sound advice for ensuring the success of new clusters, emphasising the need for an engaged sector in the involvement of the cluster and a proactive, skilled cluster coordinator.

The evening closed with a panel session featuring Peter Hansford (DELWP), Kate Nicolazzo (Moreland Energy Foundation) and Gwendolin Raban (Asaleo Care) with Nigel Murphy fielding questions from the participants.

The VCC currently has around 15 founding members, an engaged working group and is in the process of developing its logo, website and event calendar for 2019. It is operating as an unincorporated not-for-profit association.

An official launch event for the Victorian Cleantech Cluster will be held in June 2019 with more details to follow. If you are interested in receiving further information about the cluster, including membership, upcoming activities and subscribing to hear about events, please contact admin@victoriancleantech.org.au .