European Tech Tour Names Most Promising Cleantech Companies in Europe

Selected Companies for the 2009 Cleantech Summit Announced;
24 Companies Stand to Benefit from Investment Funding

The European Tech Tour's inaugural Cleantech Summit 2009, in which is being held today and tomorrow in Geneva, will showcase 24 leading European start-up and early stage cleantech companies. The Summit will support the development of start-ups developing products and services that will have a strong influence on combating climate change and alleviating the environmental impact of business. The Summit is the first cleantech event in the European Tech Tour's series of vertical events which bring together Europe’s most innovative privately-held technology companies with the vision and resources of Europe's top venture capitalists. Cleantech is currently the subject of intense political and social interest and is one of the fastest growing investment markets.

During the Summit, delegates will hear presentations from the 24 winning companies, who have been selected from a pool of over 300 applicants. The selected companies span cleantech segments such as: solar, wind, wave and bio energy; energy efficiency and storage; clean transport; biomaterials; and waste management. The top-24 companies were selected by a committee composed of experienced cleantech investors and professionals across Europe.

The winning companies include:
* Alertme
* Amminex
* Aquamarine Power
* Bekon
* BPS
* CellEra
* ChapDrive
* Chemrec
* Concentrix Solar
* CPT
* EVO Electric
* Heliatek
* Hymite
* Juice
* Novaled
* NovoPolymers
* Power Plus Communications
* Recupyl
* ReVolt Technology
* SiC Processing
* Solarion
* Torqeedo
* Watteco
* Wave Star Energy

In addition, panel discussions will address timely topics such as: Smart Grids, Smart Meters and the Applications for Start-ups; and The Future of Renewable Energy. The sessions will have participants from industry (Schneider Electric, Honeywell, Statkraft, BP Alternative Energy, AXPO, Bard Engineering), venture capitalists and start-ups.

There will also be a number of keynote speeches including:

* Mr Pieter Wasmuth, CFO of RE Power, who will provide the keynote address at the opening gala dinner. REpower Systems is one of the leading manufacturers of wind turbines for onshore and offshore applications;
* Mr Pierre-Francois Unger, State Councillor for the Department of Economy and Health, Canton Geneva;
* Mr Michel Jarraud, Secretary General, World Meteorological Organisation will also be addressing the Summit attendees.

An international delegation of more than 140 influential investors, technology industry leaders, service providers and academics has signed up for the event.

“This summit is about what our society needs to address the climate change issue: collaboration. We are facilitating the collaboration between entrepreneurs and investors, start-ups and established companies, energy generators and energy users; and between business and politics,” said Bernard Vogel, President Cleantech Summit 2009. "Some very exciting start-ups are taking part in the Cleantech Summit 2009, many with the potential to impact consumers' lives for the better in the long term."