Project kick-off: Strengthening local cleantech innovation consulting in China and India

Local consultants in Asia often face challenges in providing high-quality and cutting-edge advisory services to small and medium-sized companies. The recently launched "Asia Cleantech Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Financing Network" aims to strengthen local advisors and their services.

The launch of Training of Trainers (ToT) workshops in India and China in June 2016 provided the kick-off for this Asia Cleantech Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Financing Network (ACMFN) work stream. The ToT workshops conducted by adelphi were based on a hands-on and participant-oriented toolkit for supporting SME in the development and advancement of their cleantech innovations.

Participants plan to use toolkit to boost cleantech innovation

The four-day ToT workshop from 16 to 19 June 2016 in Beijing, China was attended by more than 20 participants and was organised by the China Electronic Energy-Saving Technology Association (CEESTA) and the Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture (IEDA). Delegates from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) of China, as well as delegates from financial organisations and international organizations, among others, took part in the training.

In India, 2 two-day ToT workshops were organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Delhi from 23 to 24 June 2016 and in Hyderabad from 27 to 28 June 2016, gathering more than 30 attendees. The participants were made up of representatives from consultancies, large companies, SMEs, financial institutions and technology experts. Whereas the majority of participants from India and China were already experienced in cleantech innovation in different fields, they showed a keen interest in understanding how the ACMFN project will provide advisory and new support services for SME.

ACMFN works to build a cleantech financing ecosystem in China, India and Indonesia

Using a participatory methodology and a combination of case studies, practical exercises and group work, the facilitators from adelphi let participants dig into the key issues and challenges posed by cleantech innovation. In their feedback, the workshop attendees commended the holistic toolkit approach. In addition to the skills and confidence gained through the structured methodology training, the networking and peer-learning opportunities offered by the Training of Trainers workshop were especially well received. Participants’ feedback showed that the majority is planning to integrate the AMCFN toolkit into their advisory and training programmes to boost cleantech innovation in the country. The ToT workshops created a shared understanding among the trained advisors of how to provide hands-on advisory services in the context of the ACMFN project.

The ACMFN works to build and leverage a cleantech financing ecosystem for cleantech micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) in China, India and Indonesia. ACMFN is a four-year project funded by the European Union through its SWITCH-Asia Programme. The consortium members of the project are adelphi, the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP), the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Pupuk (Indonesia), the China Electronic Energy-Saving Technology Association and Green Startups of China.