A Guide for Sustainable Urban Development of the 21st Century

Shanghai Manual – A Guide for Sustainable Urban Development in the 21st Centurythe region. 54 From Google, Apple and Hewlett Packard to Facebook and Twitter, the SiliconValley has witnessed the creation of start-up companies that constitute the underpinnings of theglobal economy and modern culture. San Jose has been more recently trying to leverage thishotbed of innovation with a “Clean Tech Strategy” that sets goals for economic growth and jobcreation in clean technology jobs in clean energy, and resource efficiency.As part of a larger “Green Vision,” the city’s Clean Tech Strategy has set a goal by 2022 ofcreating 25,000 clean tech jobs from its current total of about 4,000 jobs in the clean tech sector.This strategy intends to leverage the region’s easy access to venture funding, highly skilledengineers and entrepreneurs, world-class research institutions, supportive government policies,and technology incubators like San Jose’s Environmental Business Cluster. 55The San Jose clean technology strategy uses traditional business retention and attractionapproaches combined with sophisticated networking of technology and governmentalpartnerships that are:• Providing incentives and services at every stage of growth to encourage both establishedclean technology companies and start-up firms to stay and grow in San José;• Incubating next-generation technologies through partnerships with local universities andthe US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory-backedEnvironmental Business Cluster;• Providing city demonstration opportunities for innovative clean technology products;• Creating opportunities for local residents to receive training for employment in cleantechnology industries;• Advocating for legislative changes that will support the clean technology industry’sgrowth.The San Jose-based Environmental Business Cluster is a clean technology incubator thatprovides commercialization support and facilities for emerging clean energy and environmentaltechnology companies. Founded in 1994 by the city of San Jose in conjunction with San JoseState University’s Research Foundation, its services include expert coaching and strategiccounsel, focused educational and networking programmes, targeted access to investors, strategicpartners and industry networks, office space, equipment, conference rooms and trainingfacilities. 5654“Rising Tigers,” The Breakthrough Institute, Oakland, California, United States, 2009, p.9http://thebreakthrough.org/blog/Rising_Tigers.pdf55“San Jose’s Green Vision,” City of San Jose, United States website, accessed 20 August, 2010.http://www.sanjoseca.gov/greenvision/CleanTech.asp56San Jose Environmental Business Cluster website, accessed 20 August, 2010:http://www.environmentalcluster.org/23