About us

ecoplus Clusters. Achieve more in networks.

Since 2001, ecoplus has initiated clusters in fields which are of great significance to the future economic development of Lower Austria.

At present, the ecoplus Clusters department manages the economically vital areas of Green Building, Plastics, Mechatronics, Food and Logistics. Augmenting these clusters is the e-mobility in Lower Austria initiative, which is also being implemented by the ecoplus Clusters department on behalf of the province of Lower Austria.

Over 600 companies with nearly 94,000 employees have been connected in networks thanks to ecoplus Clusters. And over 250 collaborative projects involving around 1,200 Lower Austrian firms have been realized to date. Solid cooperation ideas enjoy financial support from the province of Lower Austria.

Cluster teams form the interface to the public sector, support companies in the realization of their projects and ideas, broker cooperation partners and accompany projects to completion. The involvement of R&D facilities as well as professional organizations is a matter of course. We offer a comprehensive program of qualification opportunities which are tailored to current needs. We are also the first point of contact in all matters related to internationalization. 

The Lower Austrian Cluster Program 2007-2013 is being co-funded with EU funds provided by the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund).

Eco-Innovation Support Through Clusters:
Linking ecology and business is a joint horizontal topic in Lower Austrian cluster and network activities aiming at a smart, specialized & sustainable regional economy. For example:

• Transformation of the construction industry towards energy efficiency,
• Establishment of a new area of competence in bio-plastics,
• Energy efficiency in production processes,
• Bundling of runs and avoidance of empty runs in cargo transportation,
• Improvement of processing, packaging and distribution of regional organic food
• Initiate “e-mobility” pilot regions and support companies in their efforts to develop electric mobility related products and services

International Collaboration:
In order to continuously develop and improve its cluster services ecoplus participates in strategic international cluster projects and networks, such as:

• The European Cluster Excellence Initiative aiming at developing a European Quality Label for cluster organisations, training materials and a European Cluster Manager Club, co-funded by DG ENT, CIP under PRO INNO Europe® (2009 - 2012)
• ASVILOC+, a project aiming at fostering regional innovation systems, co-funded by DG Regio, INTERREG IVB SEE (2009-2012). ecoplus is involved as sub-contractor of the Austrian project partner AWS providing expertise in cluster development.
• CEE-Cluster Network, a project aiming at joint cluster policy development and increased cooperation between clusters in central and eastern Europe, funded by DG ENT, FP6 under PRO INNO Europe® (2006-2009)