ben Beens says: Verry interesting

Elsa Heleno says: It is always nice to see a good project. Good luck !
The world needs these kind of initiatives so that we may live in a better place.

bert rechter says: Tackling a worldwide problem can/must start on a smaller scale. This is
exactly what this is meant to be, and, if succesfull, will find many followers around the world.
So, let's hope for an increasing number of participants in this very interesting and worthwhile project!

Mark Farmer says: The ability to innovate & develop new solutions in the field of renewable energy technologies and healthcare will be fundamental to creating a sustainable platform for our future.

This proposition goes to the heart of promoting real advances in these areas through bringing academia and industry together in an intelligent way and by increasing public awareness at a time when need for cultural change towards sustainability has never been so important.

I wish the project well!

Susan Frequin says: This project of Marc & Natalie is very usefull and needed to help the environment and to make a better world for our children and ourselves.
I hope that this Energy Park in Portugal will come and more investors will see the use of this new Reliable Energy with the sun and wind.......
Many success!!!!

Susan Frequin from The Netherlands

Karl Ward says: An excellent pitch and worthy of further support. In Newcastle we are employing a science city format based around the MIT model. At this point we are in the process of building the networks crucial to the success of the projetc in the long term. The science city here encompasses the key themes of Molecular Engineering; Energy and the Environment ; Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine; and Ageing and Health.

We would very much like to work with you and see how we can collaborate together.

You can read more at http://www.newcastlesciencecity.com/ or contact me directly via my profile or through linked in. I look forward ot hearing from you.

I would

Marc Rechter says: Dear Karl, thank you for sharing your positive support for our efforts. We very much look forward to communicate with you to identify how we can collaborate and continue to build and enhance what we view as our contribution to an emerging new model of economic and social growth. We believe this model can and should be replicated (adjusted for local characteristics) in many geographies, driving a revival of new technology development focused on health, energy and the environment. We are strongly in favor of the bundling of experience and networks to make this happen.

Our model is private sector driven, but will benefit from strong institutional / government support as we gather industry and academic backing. Having industry and academics actively engaged from the concept stage onwards in the Renewable Energy R&D cluster should allow for the development of a highly collaborative environment that can shorten time to market of new technologies, one of the key elements of success in today's highly competitive solar and other renewable technology markets.

Within the Preventive Health Care Clinic, we are looking to act as enablers for the health care industry, initially promoting a think tank to provide parameters for the design of a new Personalised Medicine based unit. Moving from a reactive based health care system to a prevention based system will require existing and new stakeholders to rethink the way in which their organisations operate. We believe thorough expert joint analysis and subsequent implementation of such a new model clinic will allow an acceleration of the promise that scientific advances of gene and cell therapy hold.

Our public facing facility, called Experience Park, is where we intend to challenge the general public to engage in science and technology, in a way that is fun, educational, and actionable at the individual level. In order to achieve a significant positive impact in CO2 reduction and health care improvement, a broad based
behavioral shift needs to be achieved in a relatively short time frame. We believe that the Experience Park concept can be supportive of this effort, while also stimulating a positive mind set in younger generations towards science and its many opportunities.

I look forward to take this discussion forward with you outside of this forum, and will be in touch shortly.

PS: by the way - one of our principle goals for the project execution and operation is to be carbon neutral or even positive. Among many ways to achieve this are the active management of a 200ha biodiversity park, generating our own (solar/wind) energy, and incorporation of forward looking design and engineering technologies in collaboration with leading academics and institutions (urban metabolism). The aim being to become a model sustainable community.

Marc Rechter says: Dear Mark, thank you for your comments, which go to the heart of our initiative.

We believe that a broad based, coordinated approach to renewable energy, health care and behavioral change is necessary to create the paradigm shift required for a more sustainable future.

Moreover, with the global geopolitical situation creating enormous challenges for European competitiveness and energy security, an acceleration of new (disruptive) technology output is a sine qua non for us.

Enabling this process through the development of the Algarve Energy Park as a model for sustainable economic and social growth is a very motivating activity.

Marc

Marc Rechter says: Dear Susan, thank you for your encouraging words! It is important to us that awareness is created across the different strata in society in a way that makes the benefits self explanatory. We'll do our best to make that happen!
Marc

helia bernardo says: Hi Marc,

Everything that is done to preserve and improve the environment deserves our attention for it was with great interest that I read the summary of your project and hope that it wil be a sucess because it covers various and important aspects to the academic and economic development of Portugal: the bet on renewable energy, preventive healtcare and retention of national researchers. Highlight for the fact that general public may also njoy to the facilities of Algarve Energy Park in the Experience Park.

Kind Regards HB

Diana Laranjeira says: Marc,
While reading your summary I got the idea that this is pioneer project that really could make a difference on the protection and preservation of Algarve's beautiful landscape. Your project assembles everything to be a success and I find it very interesting. I also believe that renewable energy and the maximization of natural resources is the future for Portugal.
Keep yourself in the path of the incessant search for ideas that could change the world. The GOOD ideas, like this project, will change it. Well done.

João Santos says: Great Project! The "Green message" is recent, so having this kind of sustainable projects is really important for Portugal and for the world. Being in Algarve, it can be a easy place to visit for foreign people (specialized and non specialized) and one great ecological tourism site to visit.

Congratulations!

João Santos

Ana Almeida says: All the efforts made to improve the environment and healthcare are praiseworthy... it seems a very interesting project, concerning not only the need to develop awareness in people and the world, but also giving them the opportunity to be a living part of it.

Lucy Amaral says: Congratulations for this good project! It has great potential!
We need more projects and entrepreneurship like this one. This kind of initiative promotes not only a good use of our energy and synergy but also helps to maintain the lovely Algarve’s landscape.
Good work.

Cátia Gil says: Great project! It´s always good to see such initiatives in our country. Furthermore, it is increasingly important to focus on projects with high levels of sustainability and renewable energy. Keep on the good work!!

Edite Alexandre says: Algarve Energy Park seems to be a very important step in terms of sustainability, environmental issues and preventive health care. It´s important to develop such projects in order to make the world a better place. In this project it´s also important the public component, through the Energy Experience Edutainment Park, which will certainly allow people to have a greener lifestyle! Good work!

Vera Toucinho says: What a great Project! There is so much to explore on environmental & health fields, that I’m sure this cluster will bring innovative and creative solutions. Algarve will be an excellent location for it, since we have the sun, the wind and the sea, great allies to create renewable energy.

I’m looking forward to hear some news from the project soon.

Vera Toucinho

Marc Rechter says: Dear Helia,

Portugal is a country of choice for the Algarve Energy Park given the country's consistent and strong drive towards a sustainable and renewable energy production base. It has achieved a leading position in Europe and the World in this crucial sector, and is now also taking the lead in the rapid introduction of Electric Vehicles, and the development of wave energy technology, among others. This progressive approach, jointly with the outstanding natural conditions in the country and the very good quality of living, are increasingly making it a destination for innovation driven firms, in the energy and health sectors, among others.

This is reflected in the highly successful MIT Portugal program (MIT´s largest program in Europe, which due to its focus on bio engineering and sustainable energy systems we view as a strong academic participant to our initiative), as well as Nissan´s recent choice to locate its new Li-Ion plant in Portugal. These are just some of the factors that together have allowed Portugal to increase its ranking as a leading energy innovator, attracting capital, academics, and corporate interest.

We hope to further enable this trend, and possibly share the experience as a model for similar and synergistic activities to follow in other countries.

Marc Rechter says: Dear Diana,

Thank you for your comments. They touch on an important objective of the Algarve Energy Park: to create a sustainable community based on the latest forward looking principles and technologies. This would include, for example, urban metabolism - the ability of urban structures to adapt to new sustainable technologies, and improved energy efficiency of buildings through usage of design, building and materials technology.

Overall, we are targeting for the overall project to be at least carbon neutral, if not carbon positive through the planting of historically indigenous tree and shrub species on the large land surfaces available to us.

We are confident that the experience derived from this approach will allow many novel approaches to community and building energy management that will significantly support efforts to reduce CO2 production linked to our current stock of energy inefficient buildings.

Mário Costa says: Congratulations for this very well though project. This will be a benchmark development for all Europe, especially because high level clusters are in demand. In terms of sustainability it looks like everything has been taken into consideration, which elevates the project to a level of excellence!

Congratulations again!

Sara Vicente says: Congratulations for this project. it's goog to know that entrepreneurs are being more concern about the environment and are willing to invest in renewable energy.

Guadalupe Monfreitas says: Algarve Energy Park, undoubtedly a great project for Portugal. Let’s hope this initiative captures strong partners and receives the support of government authorities, placing Portugal on the map of innovation and environmental health.

Alexander Chemyakin says: An excellent initiative! Looking into sustainable future yet taking the best of nowdays resources to achieve it. It seems that it has all the potential to become an example in pioneering both renewable energy and preventive health care worlds. Not to mention it's positive impact on Algarve region. Good luck!

Anastasia Gritsenko says: seems like good and sustainable mix of activities and opportunities in one great location that will profit from it a lot. Creative energy of enterpreneurs on the projects like this one gives hope for the energy challenge.

Marc Rechter says: Dear Ben, Elsa and Bert, thanks for your encouraging support. We are finding that industry, academic and government institutions are very supportive of our project, given its alignment with two vital sectors (renewable energy and health care). We are working on establishing formal relationships with and between these stakeholders, in a way that makes sense for the progress of the science and sustainable technologies platform we are building, as well as business economics and job creation.
We have already generated valuable contacts (Newcastle Science City and others) through the exposure of the Good Entrepreneur competition, and look forward to more contacts and opportunities.
We believe a significant behavioral change among the population will be necessary in order to achieve many sustainability targets. Such change cannot be achieved by a single product, person, government or institution, however a concerted and continued effort by a broad group of stakeholders can definitely shift the mind set. The Algarve Energy Park is one such effort that aims to contribute to an acceleration in technology development as well as shifting general public mind set.

Marc Rechter says: Dear Joao, Ana, Lucy, Catia, Edite and Vera, I am really pleased to see such dynamic and positive support develop from within Portugal! We believe this country has made exemplary progress in implementing sustainable systems and industries, and is strongly positioned to take advantage of its experience and head start. As opposed to the worries the financial and economic crisis may bring, this is an exciting time full of opportunity for a new generation of responsible entrepreneurs and scientists. Much like the Portuguese Discoverers that led the way to new worlds a few centuries ago, there is a great window of opportunity for the country to once again pioneer ways to a more sustainable world. The fabulous natural and cultural assets of the country will only enhance its ability to become a magnet for scientists, investors, and other international knowledge workers. We look forward to be part of the process!

Marc Rechter says: Mario, Sara, Guadaloupe, thanks for your support. We are convinced that a focus on sustainable goals, as entrepreneurs, makes the entrepreneurial activity (with all its ups and downs) significantly more attractive. We hope that the opportunities created by the current (apparent) paradigm shifts will provide strong motivation for a new generation of entrepreneurs and scientists. This is one of the core messages our Algarve Energy Park intends to communicate. By the looks of the response so far, it seems there is strong appetite for such a new paradigm.

Marc Rechter says: Alexander, Anastasia, great to see broad international support for a concept based in Portugal! We hope that our success can be shared with many through replication or knowledge sharing, in an attempt to accelerate the output of new sustainable technologies, and the adoption of such technologies by society. Cross border cooperation and sharing of ideas and technologies will be of major importance to both European as well as global welfare. The Algarve Energy Park thus looks to become a platform of international dimension, with highly collaborative systems and spaces, in support of sustainable progress and growth.

Marc Rechter says: Dear all,

A word of thanks to all who have sent us their comments and suggestions. Producing the pitch was a valuable exercise for us as it helped us prepare the communications strategy of a multiple component project.

Not making it into the shortlist was somewhat alleviated by our pitch ending in top 20 popularity list. There were also a few valuable new contacts that we made during the competition, which could benefit the execution of our plans.

We look forward to launching our website in September, so please check us out on www.algarveenergypark.com, and keep on sending us your thoughts and suggestions!

Any firms looking to find a suitable base for renewable technology R&D or component manufacturing in Southern Europe, please contact us on info@algarveenergypark.com.