The Interlinking of Entrepreneurs, Grassroots Movements, Public Policy and Hubs of Innovation: The Rise of Cleantech in New York City

Although increasingly complex, modern innovation is still largely viewed through distinct sectoral lenses-e.g. large corporate R&D and new product development, entrepreneurial small or new ventures, or public programs or projects. However, Cleantech innovation is different-more blended, networked and boundary spanning. To understand such innovation the emerging cleantech industry in New York City-triggered by growing environmental concerns and opportunities due to rising energy costs-is studied. At a general level, Cleantech decision making is viewed as a collaborative, complex set of activities involving diverse social entrepreneurs, grassroots movements, public policy actions and hubs of innovation-all encompassing varied sectors, institutions and individual backgrounds and motivations. After emerging patterns of innovation and other relevant factors are discussed, three grassroots NYC-based Cleantech endeavors are contrasted: vision42-a well-defined citizen-centric effort; Green Drinks NYC-a pure networking endeavor with no identifiable center (resembling a "meet-up"); and GREEEN.US-a fluid movement emanating from a university-based incubator and comprising diverse entrepreneurs, community activists, faculty, corporate executives and public officials. The lessons learned for Cleantech innovation and for modern innovation generally are then developed. Finally, Cleantech innovation is portrayed as a new form of innovation (emphasizing especially collaborative hubs of grassroots social entrepreneurship), and, thereby ultimately providing a basis for conceptualizing important aspects of overall modern innovation.