Global Problems, Local Solutions: ICN’s Annual Meeting in Brazil

Last month, members of the International Cleantech Network (ICN) gathered in Rio de Janeiro for their Annual Meeting – three days packed with exchange, partnership-building, and real-world challenges brought to the table by decision-makers from across the Global South. For Clean, Denmark’s Water & Environmental Cluster and a long-time member of ICN, the meeting once again underlined how valuable global collaboration is for Danish innovation – and how relevant Danish solutions remain in an international context.

The meeting also marked a new milestone for the network: the beginning of a formal partnership between ICN and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, a global organization working with over 2,500 local and regional governments. Their shared aim: to connect cleantech ecosystems and local governments, and jointly scale climate solutions where they’re needed most.

Over the course of three days, ICN’s members engaged with local politicians, companies, and thought leaders in Brazil and beyond. What emerged was a rich and candid picture of the scale of environmental challenges in South America, and how ICN’s model of peer-to-peer learning, collaboration, and ecosystem development continues to offer pathways forward.

Water & Energy Opportunities

The meeting opened with a keynote from Ana Asti, Undersecretary of Water Security and Sustainability for the State of Rio de Janeiro, who brought a powerful message:

We don’t know the answers to our challenges. We are looking for solutions and innovations that have been used in other places around the globe.

Her presentation made it painfully clear that over 1,000 favelas in the state are still without basic sanitation. Waste from informal hillside settlements flows directly into Guanabara Bay, creating a cascading set of issues for the local economy, ecosystems, and public health.

“We need to think out of the box,” Ana said, pointing to the limitations of isolated technical fixes and calling for systemic, multi-actor approaches.

Ana Asti, Undersecretary of Water Security and Sustainability for the State of Rio de Janeiro

Clean’s representative, Henrik Bjørnager Jensen, responded:

This issue that Ana is describing is not unique to Rio de Janeiro. A lot of people around the world live without basic sanitation. And if we approach this with only one technology or actor in mind, we’ll fail.

The day concluded with a case study from South Africa, presented by Bruce Raw of GreenCape, showing how a project evolved into a broader community transformation after realizing that lighting, safety, and dignity mattered more to locals than initially assumed.

“The best ideas come from the people who live with the problem,” Bruce reminded the audience – a theme that resonated through the remaining sessions.

Circular Economy Challenges

Day two saw local leadership continue to take the stage. Ivan Euler, a city council member from Salvador, shared a major redevelopment project along the city’s beaches – an area that’s set to open in November and aims to attract both locals and tourists.

But behind the new infrastructure, persistent environmental issues remain. “If we can reduce the pollution in the rivers, it will be a huge shift for Salvador,” Ivan said. Despite national and regional awareness of Brazil’s polluted rivers, concrete solutions remain elusive.

The audience listened closely. Ivan’s presence wasn’t just symbolic – it was intentional. “It is phenomenal to have this opportunity,” he said. “I want to learn from what other places have done, and we’re already collaborating with Danish companies and universities through Clean.”

His story was complemented by Guilherme Borges from Orla Brasil, the private operator behind many of Brazil’s beachfront kiosks. Their model includes launching new local companies wherever they expand – a recognition that each community requires its own solutions and partnerships.

“There are global solutions that smaller businesses can use. Sustainability isn’t only for governments or big corporations,” Guilherme explained.

If the environment is better, everyone wins.

The day closed with a quiet but telling exchange. Rodrigo Espinosa, from the Argentinian BQS Green Tech Cluster, turned to Ivan and said: “We have a lot of knowledge to share. Maybe some of our experiences can help you with your future work.” It was a small moment, but one that perfectly captured the value of ICN: a platform where expertise and empathy go hand in hand.

ICLEI – New Partnership

On the final day, the spotlight turned to building capacity in developing markets. Clusters from Latin America and Africa shared how they measure impact and foster innovation, even in environments with limited public resources. Moderated by Denis Leclerc, the discussion emphasized the role of cleantech clusters in enabling both bottom-up and top-down innovation – something ICN has quietly championed for over a decade.

A key moment of the day was the announcement of a formal collaboration between ICN and ICLEI South America – Local Governments for Sustainability. The partnership – initially focused on South America – aims to:

• Develop joint projects and fundraising efforts
• Support innovation procurement and commercialization
• Connect ICN member clusters with cities and local governments
• Facilitate access to new networks
• Advance sustainable development through cross-sector collaboration

ICLEI’s Executive Secretary for South America, Rodrigo Perpétuo, told the room.

I am confident that a great alliance is coming.

In the afternoon, Bruce Raw returned to lead a session on ICN’s own development. What platforms create the most value? What does replication mean in a context where every ecosystem is different? These strategic questions set the tone for ICN’s future work – but also emphasized the importance of reflection, humility, and member-driven priorities.

Looking Ahead

For Clean and its partners in Denmark, the three days in Rio reaffirmed that international collaboration isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity. Whether it’s testing Danish water solutions in Brazilian favelas, sharing lessons learned with Argentinian peers, or co-developing projects with global city networks like ICLEI, the strength of Denmark’s cleantech ecosystem grows when it’s connected.

ICN gives us access, insight, and impact we simply wouldn’t have on our own

Henrik Bjørnager Jensen concluded. “It’s a reminder that our technologies and values – when applied with respect and cooperation – really can make a difference globally.”

ICN and Clean will soon share more information about the challenges presented in Brazil, so Danish companies can submit their solutions.

Find all our activities here.