Ninth Annual Forum Reaches Record Attendance as Industry Influencers Gather to Network and Discuss How to Tackle Industry Challenges
SAN FRANCISCO – April 24, 2013 – Cleantech Group™, a global market intelligence firm helping executives connect with cleantech innovation, today announced the success of Cleantech Forum Europe, which took place in Bilbao, Spain, April 16-18, 2013. The ninth annual event kicked off with investors spending a day in City Hall, at the invitation of the World Mayor of the Year, followed by two information-packed days at the award-winning Euskalduna conference centre. The event’s keynotes, panels, roundtables and company presentations focused on three key growth questions—Where? How? With whom? —within the context of how to unlock growth in an open innovation world.
The event was made possible by the support of numerous repeat sponsors, headed by global partner, Autodesk, and close collaboration with local partner, Innobasque, along with the member firms of its Southern European Cleantech Hub. The latter also provided engagement with Latin Cleantech, in the form of strong representation from Spain and Latin America.
On the final evening, Cleantech Group hosted an awards night in the Museo Guggenheim. This year’s awards, which spanned four categories, honored the accomplishments of both established players and newcomers in the cleantech industry:
- Emerging European Cleantech Enterprise of the Year: Midsummer
- Standout Fundraising Achievement of the Year – Europe & Israel: Tamar Energy
- Innovation Hero: Assaf Barnea, CEO, Kinrot Ventures
- European Corporation of the Year: Saint-Gobain
“This year’s Cleantech Forum Europe attracted more than 450 investors, large corporations, entrepreneurs and influencers from across the cleantech world—more than 25 countries were represented,” said Richard Youngman, Cleantech Group’s Managing Director of Europe and Asia. “Such an impressive and international gathering of thought leaders and innovators served as an ideal setting to create new connections and to address how, together, we can collaborate to unlock the growth potential of global innovation. Cleantech can learn much from biotech’s history; the learning of how to create effective partnerships between start-ups and large companies proved a key watershed in biotech’s development path. We are delighted with the event’s success and look forward to continuing the dialogue next year at Cleantech Forum Europe’s tenth annual event.”
In 2014, Cleantech Forum Europe will travel to Stockholm, Sweden to celebrate the 10thanniversary of this European innovation event.
About Cleantech Group Inc.
Cleantech Group’s market intelligence, events, and advisory services accelerate market adoption, stimulate demand, and remove barriers to cleantech innovation. A global company with offices in North America and Europe, we connect business leaders with cleantech innovation through the i3 platform the most comprehensive up-to-date source for insights into companies, investors, financing and relationships across the clean technology ecosystem. In October 2012, Cleantech Group merged with GreenOrder, a leading sustainability strategy and management consulting firm. Details at http://ctgillc.wpengine.com.
CONTACT:
Emma Zolbrod
emma.zolbrod@cleantech.com
250.598.0623
Cleantech Group