Net Zero Industrial Cluster Exchange (NICE)

About NICE

The Net Zero Industrial Cluster Exchange (NICE) was a knowledge-sharing platform focusing on how regional and local development strategies could effectively support the transformation of regions and cities towards decarbonisation and net zero.

The aim of NICE was to establish an international network of projects and initiatives to share knowledge on the design and implementation of sustainable and inclusive (just) regional and local industrial transformation strategies responding to decarbonisation.

The specific objectives of the Network were:

1. to provide comparative information and insights on regional/local industrial transformation initiatives that sought to achieve low carbon, net zero or carbon negative processes for industrial clusters and sites;
2. to analyse the design, governance and implementation of initiatives, in particular the respective roles of companies, public authorities, universities/research institutes, non-grant sources of finance (government and private), and different models of private/public cooperation;
3. to assess the government support measures provided (incentives, investment, infrastructure, advice, training, partnership facilitation etc) and the evidence for their effectiveness;
4. to identify good practice, innovative ideas and emerging results in the operation of regional and local industrial transformation initiatives; and
5. to facilitate contact generation, knowledge sharing and networking among partners in the network.

The core of NICE was to facilitate practical knowledge sharing between private companies, public authorities and other stakeholders responsible for industrial clusters or other industrial transformation initiatives undertaking decarbonisation towards net zero. This was done through:

• partner meetings – 1–2 face-to-face meetings per year of all the network participants, reviewing progress with initiatives and the results emerging. These were hosted in turn by each of the partners, combining a mix of plenary and small group discussions, and project visits;
• coffee break workshops – regular online, short (e.g. one-hour) workshops on specific implementation topics;
• policy engagement – briefings on experiences with, and gaps in, policy support as a basis for engagement meetings with national and international policymakers at ministerial / senior official level;
• knowledge platform – a website with online resources on the partner initiatives and research / information; and
• dissemination – use of the website, blogs and social media to disseminate knowledge to a wider audience globally.

Pilot phase funded by the Scottish Government and Michelin.

Case Study Initiatives

Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc  – A joint venture between Michelin, Dundee City Council, and Scottish Enterprise, created to redevelop a former tyre-manufacturing site to net zero uses, with particular focus on sustainable mobility and sustainable energy. The focus is on attracting fresh investment and encouraging new and innovative start-ups, as well as a skills academy to support net zero economic activity. Clean Tech – A partnership between Michelin, the city of Hallstadt and the district of Bamberg to develop a former manufacturing site as ‘neutral’ ground for  firms to collaborate on creative innovations that can be exploited for decarbonisation. Key foci are clean energy (e.g. drive technologies), sustainable and resource-efficient production, AI and digitalisation, and lifelong learning. GreenHub Denmark – A public-private partnership in North Jutland working with green innovation, sustainable business models, testing and demonstration to tackle climate challenges. The partnership involves research, business, energy suppliers, housing associations, regional and local government, providing a platform for creating and testing new green products and services.

Publications and Resources

• Corbett, H. and Fonseca, L. (2023) “Investing in a skilled workforce for a just Net Zero transition” briefing paper for the 3rd Net Zero Industrial Cluster Exchange network conference, 21 November 2023, European Policies Research Centre.
• Corbett, H. and Fonseca, L. (2023) “Enabling Low-Carbon Entrepreneurship and SME Development to Drive a Net Zero Future” briefing paper for the 2nd Net Zero Industrial Cluster Exchange network conference, 20 June 2023, European Policies Research Centre.
• Conference Summary: Inaugural NICE Conference on Regional Decarbonisation Strategies and Access to Finance.  28 September 2022.
• Conference Summary: 2nd NICE Conference on SME Low-carbon Development and Business Attraction. 20 June 2023.
• Conference Summary: 3rd NICE Conference on Skills for a Just Transition. 21 November 2023.

Coffee Break Workshops & Events

• Workshop 1: Carbon Management Guidance with Lewis Barlow, WSP Technical Director. 14 February 2023.
• Workshop 2: Workforce for Net Zero Project Delivery with Antonios Katris, Research Fellow at the University of Strathclyde’s Centre for Energy Policy. 19 April 2023.
• Workshop 3: Leading Change in Communities Experiencing Economic Transition with Prof Andrew Beer, Executive Dean of the University of South Australia Business School. 15 November 2023.
• Workshop 4: Michelin’s Approach to Regional Regeneration After Plant Closure with Alexander Law, Director of Public Affairs at Michelin Development. 14 March 2024.
• Innovation Strategies for System level transformation Workshops.
• CIADEL Meeting. 25 May 2023.

Media

Project videos and related content are available via this YouTube playlist.

News

New report on Monitoring Localised Decarbonisation Goals Successful Culmination of EU-Funded ENTRANCES Project Marks Milestone in Energy Transition Exciting Developments in Green Skills and Sustainability Initiatives Unveiled in Wales Celebrating Interreg Europe Funding Success!