We believe – and have ample evidence to demonstrate – that cross-sector networks are extremely effective at increasing interactions at the leading edges of sector-based R&D, generating new ideas, stimulating open innovation, and encouraging new business collaborations.  It removes the ‘silo’ thinking that can prevail in businesses who never meet with similar peers operating in different sectors, and who think, wrongly, that they are the only ones facing a particular set of challenges.

At the same time, particularly during the formation of new clusters, having a sector-based community network encourages early sharing of ideas, technical and business issues, and starts to cohere practitioners in academia, research and business.

Envirotech UK sought out YTKO for their expertise in animating communities of interest, as well as our ability to provide a technical infrastructure on which they can be based.  Research had demonstrated the richness of business expertise in this sector, but spread over a large geographical area, as well as various segments broadly within the compass of environmental technologies who would benefit from being able to come together under an umbrella organisation for the benefit of the whole.

Not only this, but given the scale of the problems that need addressing, a national vehicle was needed, able to connect different players and expertise in the envirotech landscape, not only in the UK but further afield.  Global problems need global efforts: Envirotech seeks to support and connect the business community to create the solutions we all need.