Cooperation and collaboration between government, academics, and private industry is the “Triple Helix” of successful cleantech projects, and the Research Triangle is “good at forging partnerships,” an international expert told the annual meeting of the Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster (RTCC) Wednesday.

Nearly 11,000 jobs have been created and $1.3 billion invested in cleantech across the region since 2009.

Simon Hansen, director of regions for the Copenhagen-based C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, said in his keynote address that even though cities compete for jobs and business, those in the cleantech forefront see each other as “collaborators.” They share information about what works and how or what doesn’t and why.

C40 is an initiative of 86 global megacities run by mayors. Hansen shared best practices and case studies. Specific outcomes of city-city collaboration include increased building energy efficiency in London, smart roofs in Washington, D.C., and the C40 Clean Bus Declaration to support city ambitions to decarbonize urban mass transport-a movement gaining traction in China.

Hansen noted that 1.4 million people move to cities every week and the world’s 500 megacities are top business centers. C40, he said, “Is a group of cities and mayors who share working solutions to challenging problems. It isn’t an “open club,” he said. Cities have to commit to certain goals and standards such as a target to reduce emissions and data-driven measurement of success.

“Successful future cities will run on data,” Hansen said.

Business and growth priorities

RTCC, a 5,000 member network, is the only U.S.-based cluster member of the International Cleantech Network (ICN). The cleantech cluster in the Research Triangle region includes more than 350 cleantech companies. Cleantech venture deals in the region totaled $211 million in 25 deals from 2013-2015, and 39 cleantech-related patents were filed in the region from 2000-2015.

In July, RTCC, an initiative of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership and funded by private industry, launched a strategic plan to increase awareness locally and globally of the region’s impressive cleantech cluster and the way it sparks business and job growth.

Business and job growth are priorities of the RTCC, Ed White, chair of the organization founded in 2012, told the group in summing up its accomplishments so far. According to RTCC’s online Metrics Dashboard, launched in 2015, between 2009 and 2016, more than 10,700 jobs and $1.3 billion in investments were announced by regional cleantech companies. Cleantech companies in the cluster include Fortune 500 firms, mid-size companies and startups.

Jenn Bosser, RTCC executive director, told WRAL Techwire that even startups play a role in the regional cleantech economy as large, traditional companies wrestle with the disruption caused by emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things and real-time data analytics. “We see these large traditional companies turning to entrepreneurs” to help them come up with ways to incorporate these new technologies, she said. RTCC, she added, “Provides an opportunity for those two groups to connect. We’re somewhat unique here in that the RTP has both – which is not that common in this sector elsewhere in the U.S. or the world.”

On top of that, of course, the region has the three major research universities as sources of research, talent, and innovation.

One example of regional collaboration that includes large and small members of RTCC is the Duke Energy “Coalition of the Willing,” which developed ways to store renewable energy for use on the grid as needed, which involves real-time decisions and data.

“Duke engaged with 27 partners to help them find a solution, ranging from small startups to large competitors,” she said. They included industry giants such as Cisco and ITRON and small startups.

Designed community developing at Chatham Park

One regional project, Chatham Park in Chatham County, is a designed community that White said “will show what cities of the future will look like.”

Thomas D’Alesandro IV, president of developer Blakefield, explained that the project is an outgrowth of the garden city movement in England. Residents will always be within walking distance of parks and local nature. D’Alesandro previously worked on the similar, though smaller and older, Reston, Virginia designed city project.

The 7,000 acre Chatham project includes 2,000 acres of open space, 4,000 acres for residential and 1,000 for businesses. It’s close to the UNC Medical Center and developers are talking to churches and the YMCA about locating there. It will include 1gb Internet connections for residents and 10gb pipes for businesses.

“We are trying to create an integrated space where people are close to schools, work, and nature, as opposed to the fragmented development you usually see in the suburbs,” D’Alesandro said.

Despite the region’s progress, White pointed out, “We have a long way to go.”

The areas cleantech cluster is impressive, but North Carolina cities don’t break into the top ten on Clean Edge’s U.S. Clean Tech Leadership Index. ranks states and metropolitan areas across multiple areas, including how much clean electricity they generate, how they mandate for energy production, what they offer in tax breaks and subsidies, and how much capital they’re raising for renewable energy businesses. Charlotte lands at 29 and Raleigh at 32 on the Index.

California, home to the top three cities, San Francisco, San Jose, and San Diego, dominates the state rankings. Massachusetts is second followed by Vermont, Oregon, New York, and Colorado. Hawaii, up nine places in seven years is 10th.