Global Cleantech Leaders Convene in Paris for Europe's Premier Clean Technology Event

PARIS, March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cleantech Group™, a leading global research and advisory firm focused on cleantech innovation, announced today that the annual European Cleantech Forum will be held in Paris, France from April 26-28, 2010 at Le Meridien Etoile.  This year's theme, "Towards a New Normal: Taking Resource Efficiency To Scale," will explore the global challenges and opportunities associated with accelerating the adoption of cleantech innovation in the coming decade.  

Record attendance is expected at the Forum as the world's clean technology community assembles for three days of knowledge sharing, deal making and relationship building.  The Forum will draw together executives from the world's largest corporations, investors, entrepreneurs, and government leaders, along with representatives from a wide array of global organizations, including Deloitte, HSBC, International Finance Corporation, Accenture, McKinsey, and Total Energy Ventures.

The Forum will offer a variety of opportunities to directly engage with the most influential industry executives actively financing, acquiring, and deploying clean technologies and will explore the increasing strategic role that large corporations will have in the market.  Attendees will hear from innovative startups in the trenches, investors looking to put capital to work, and government leaders trying to make aggressive impacts on regional economies.

A highlight of speakers for the Cleantech Forum Paris include:

• Jean Louis Borloo, French senior minister for ecology, energy, sustainable planning and development and sea
• Antoine Frerot, CEO, Veolia Environnement
• Nick Robins, executive director, climate change centre of excellence, HSBC
• Peter Jones, London Waste and Recycling Board
• Olivier Appert, CEO, IFP
• Jan Verdenhalven, CEO of SGL Technologies
• Benoit Charpentier, senior vice president investments, TOTAL Energy Ventures
• Clay Luthy, head of electric vehicles, IBM
• Michael Linse, partner, Kleiner Perkins
• Pramod Chaudhari, executive chairman, Praj Industries Limited

"The cleantech market is rapidly evolving, and if companies are to succeed over the next decade they will need to be more informed and more connected to the sector than ever before," said Sheeraz Haji, president of the Cleantech Group.  "Cleantech Forum Paris is the key European event for the industry, providing unparalleled networking opportunities with world leading innovators, investors, and policy makers."

The three-day industry event will be comprised of keynote talks, panel discussions, cleantech awards and CEO presentations, with numerous breakout sessions, lunches, and casual receptions. The first day of the conference will feature an eco-boat tour of the Seine River.  Attendees will have many opportunities to engage with key industry leaders and network with hundreds of influencers throughout the Forum's duration.

Sessions at the Forum are designed to be interactive and help develop a clear roadmap towards accelerating market adoption of clean technologies. Attendees will be able to gain a global perspective of the market with access to insights from key leaders in North America, Europe, India and China, Israel and the Arab region. Cleantech Forums are news-breaking events as well, with major investment, policy, and scientific initiatives frequently announced.

More information on the Cleantech Forum Paris, including an agenda and details on how to register, is available at http://cleantech.com/cleantechforum/paris10/index.cfm

About the Cleantech Group, LLC

The Cleantech Group, the leading global research and advisory firm focused on cleantech innovation, pioneered the clean technology category in 2002. Today, it helps its clients make critical business decisions by providing the latest market intelligence through subscription-based research, custom advisory services, and global networking events. The company's growing international client base includes global corporations, investors, entrepreneurs, governments, and service providers. The company also produces the premier Cleantech Forum® and Focus™ events worldwide, including upcoming events in Paris, Boston, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Details are available at http://www.cleantech.com.

SOURCE Cleantech Group, LLC