Venture capital, or funds provided by investors to start-ups and small companies with the potential for growth, has poured into so-called “cleantech” sectors in the last few years.

To coincide with the 13th European Forum on Eco-Innovation, which took place in Lisbon on 26-27 November 2012, the Portuguese government published the first Catalogue of Portuguese Eco-Innovation Competencies. Luis Florindo, Advisor to the Board of Directors of AICEP, explained the thinking behind the catalogue; and Paulo Lemos, member of the Board of Directors of APA and member of the Eco-Innovation Action Plan High-level Working Group, discussed the broader issues relating to eco-innovation in Portugal.

The 13th European Forum on Eco-Innovation, which took place in Lisbon, Portugal on 26-27 November 2012, focused on eco-innovation in the water sector. Eco-innovation is crucial for the water sector because of looming supply problems. Almost half the world population will be living under severe water stress by 2030 if no new policies are introduced, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. In many countries, it is already happening.