A growing number of companies, government agencies, NGO’s, networks and households is developing sustainability policies, despite the current recession. There’s large scale interest in sustainability visions like Cradle to Cradle and transition management , and continuously new initiatives are started. Even in the political spectrum there’s consensus about the need for change. However, for a sufficient effect, and for meeting international CO2 reduction targets, the speed of change should increase. An accelleration cannot be accomplished by companies or knowledge institutes alone, neither can government agencies or civilians. Co-operation is needed.

Starting from this assumption, an initiative group of North Netherlands government agencies, NGO’s, networks, and companies , carried out a survey. The survey included quick scans with companies, building contacts with more government organisations, and networks, reviewing possibilities for co-operation and options for financing this, and an assessment of the desirability of a new public initiative in a field of existing projects and structures.

The conclusion:
- the regional level is suitable for an accelleration initiative, even though economy crosses boundaries;
- sustainable innovation should be defined as: innovation towards C2C;
- accelleration asks for a transition management approach and a broad range of project types;
- good mutual contact helps project owners to get their projects started;
- a good contact network helps project owners to collectively initiate larger projects;
- none of the current initiatives is equiped to easily faciliate this.

Following these conclusions, the initiative group decided to set up a new informal sustainable development network for all participants in the North Netherlands economy, titled “Contactnet Duurzame Innovatie Noord-Nederland” (Contact Network Sustainable Innovation North-Netherlands) or CODIN for short. The objective is to further local initiatives for a sustainable economy and to provide a platform for new regional initiatives. This is mainly accomplished through facilitation of knowledge sharing and co-operation. The ambition is a strong and region wide network for sustainable innovation, an inspired co-operation between government agencies, companies, NGO’s and networks, resulting in new and significant steps toward a sustainable (read: working towards C2C) North-Netherlands.

About 100 government agencies and NGO’s who together can represent all sections of the Northern economy are therefore invited to join CODIN and to participate in proposed joint projects. Offered: a network of entrepreneurs and policy makers for sustainable innovation, action plans that can easily be translated to own target groups, and leverage for own investments in sustainable innovation. Asked: a contact person, a time investment, and a modest contribution in the basic costs of the network. To cover project costs, joint applications for regular subsidy programmes will be submitted, utilizing the leverage effect of the network. Project ownership will be transferred to participants where possible. Contact CODIN for further information. Depending on interest, local information meetings may be facilitated. A CODIN start symposium will be organized early 2010.