Creating competence centres to support the development of the saint petersburg clean technologies cluster for urban environment

Abstract

In the framework of the federal and regional socioeconomic development strategies, as well as the interstate regional initiatives, a pilot project for creating an ecological and safe environment for living is implemented in Saint-Petersburg; the project embraces the introduction of energy saving and energy efficient technologies in all economic sectors. In the light of the foregoing, in 2014, an international consortium named Saint-Petersburg Cleantech Cluster for urban environment was launched. The cluster takes part in international and thematic projects aimed at the development and adoption of innovative technologies. In order to implement the federal programs related to fast adoption of energy saving and energy efficient technologies in industry, it is essential to train managers and entrepreneurs to engage them in clean technologies. This article sums up the potential role of the university community as a competence centre, a platform for cultivating a new attitude of economical energy and ecology management, of scientific and entrepreneurial research, and of competitive student initiative. The article analyses the influence of the federal and regional thematic competitions on the way the participating students view the topical issue of clean technologies implementation and on the participants' engagement in the development and creation of respective competences. The general conclusion is that universities can serve as competence centres within which the student communities will help promoting the clean technologies culture. The main result of the research is the proposed form of cooperation of the university and the cluster with the aim of encouraging the “clean” technologies culture. Research methods: the author of the article cites the expert opinions of the clean technologies clusters residents, of clusters theoreticians, energy saving and energy efficiency management experts, and university community members. The data base was composed of the open access data of the clusters and consortia, of universities, competitions and government agencies. Besides, the article proposes a research into the students' opinions based on the “real situation focus group” method.