This world is but a canvas to our imagination. (Henry David Thoreau)

International

The Borderstep Institute is part of a global network of research organizations, funding institutions, and businesses. We strive to raise international awareness on sustainable innovations.

Innovative products and services do not automatically gain broad market acceptance. Borderstep’s research supports green start-ups and businesses when accessing international cleantech markets. We provide consultancy services on sustainable innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship to decision-makers in politics and economic development communities.

Climate change and other major challenges of our time can be dealt with successfully only at the global level. While people have long been aware of the globalization of products, there is still little public awareness about the globalization of innovation processes and the support of sustainable start-ups.

Most of the responsibility for environmental effects lies with the industrialized countries. For this reason, they must now take on a leadership role in the transformation toward a green economy. Borderstep supports this by networking the international cleantech community and by systematically gathering data on goods and services provided by the green economy.

For example, a Borderstep study for the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) was the first to structure products and services in the area of climate adaptation and to provide a complete overview of German goods and services for transferring climate technology internationally. The results of the study were presented at the 20th UN Climate Conference in Lima, Peru.

Another sample is the research project SHIFT that aims at enabling universities, incubators, business development organizations, financial institutions, and other actors and intermediaries to support sustainable entrepreneurship more effectively.