The Oekoenergie-Cluster (OEC) is Upper Austria's network of green energy and energy efficiency businesses. On the website of the OEC a database of all products and services of these partner companies is available. By simply clicking on a topic, the database provides a list of all businesses offering the specific product or service.

OEC-Link: OEC partner & product search

The Upper Austrian E-GEM programme supports municipalities in decreasing their energy costs and protecting the climate and environment. More than 200 of the 444 Upper Austrian municipalities already participate in the programme. In the 2011 E GEM networking event, more than 200 participants learnt about energy contracting possibilities for municipalities, energy-efficient public buildings and new technologies in street lighting.

Link: E-GEM (in German)

A new regional programme in Upper Austria supports the installation of photovoltaic systems in schools by subsidising up to 75 % (max. 3 kW) of the costs. Only 6 months after the programme launch, more than 280 schools have registered. The programme also includes a range of additional measures: boxes for PV training, training seminars for teachers, events and a comprehensive database on electricity production and school activities.

Link: www.pv-schule.at (in German)

In the framework of Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) the O.Oe. Energiesparverband coordinated the project "Solar Process Heat".

• 6 European Regions were part of the project
• 9 pilot projects were supported
• 173 persons were trained in solar process heat
• checklists and guidelines for interested companies were set up

Link: www.solar-process-heat.eu

A networking event "OEC Women – Green Jobs for Women" for female entrepreneurs, managers and students was successfully organised. Among the 75 participants were students from 8 universitites and 20 different fields of study as well as entrepreneurs and managers presenting their businesses and own professional careers. The event aimed at establishing contacts, giving an overview of the industry and exchange career opportunities and strategies. Keynote speaker and moderator of the event was Hanne May, editor-in-chief of "neue energie / new energy".

OEC-Link: OEC Women – Green Jobs for Women (in German)

At the occasion of the annual OEC assembly, partners who joined the network more than 10 years ago, received an award. The OEC is proud of the developments in the last 11 years:

• So far, more than 160 partner companies have joined the network.
• In 2011, the OEC partner companies employed more than 7,300 people and achieved a total turnover of more than 1.8 billion Euros.
• The OEC partner companies are successfully exporting to 70 countries worldwide.

OEC-Link: OEC Cluster Profile (pdf)

The new Upper Austrian HighTech fund has the goal to make the business location Upper Austria more attractive to high-tech companies and to offer them the opportunity of realising their ideas in Upper Austria. More than 11 million Euro are available for innovative start-up companies by the Upper Austrian government, the European Union and the Upper Austrian banks.

Link: Land Oberösterreich (in German)