More than 40 investors and venture capitalists are coming to Stockholm for the Cleantech Venture Day 2009

Pressrelease 2009-09-21

The main objective of the Stockholm Cleantech Venture Day is the encounter between cleantech entrepreneurs and investors. With ten days left until the event, this objective seems already to have been met. More than 40 venture capital companies and industrial investors and have registered so far. They are coming from all over the world to meet the 25 Scandinavian cleantech companies who have been selected to present their cases.

Scandinavia is known for having world leading innovations in all the tech categories that so-called Cleantech comprises, such as solar thermal, photovoltaics, wind, wave, biofuels, geothermal and heat exchangers, as well as new materials and energy saving innovations. Scandinavia also has a long tradition of leading edge water quality innovations. This is the reason why investors from all over the world who are following this sector choose to come to Stockholm for this event.

Crucial investements
Many of these cleantech innovations are tested, ready to be installed and vastly superior to conventional technologies, but still have a hard time getting into the market. This is partly due to the conservatism of the traditional industries who are the buyers. But also many times these cleantech entrepreneurs are just too small to be qualified as suppliers. Building reference sites and production facilities, marketing effectively, and offering necessary service and support are expensive activities for small entrepreneurs. This is the reason why investment is so crucial to make growth possible.

Cleantech has been a hot topic for the past couple of years, but the fact remains that the growth of the sector is too slow, which is mainly due to lack of investment. The financial crisis is a factor, but also a cautiousness about how programs and subsidies will affect markets and a lack of understanding of the technologies, markets and business models.

Better understanding of the cleantech industry
Investors and cleantech entrepreneurs need to gain a better understanding for each other and also for the new market landscape that is being formed by the accelerating climate- and ecosystems crisis. Considering the challenges we're facing today both these parties need to transcend conventions and think globally and radically in terms of investment, growth, cooperation and competition.

It is for this reason that the organizers of SCVD2009 have made the concerted effort to cross some borders of their own - inviting the best entrepreneurs from all of Scandinavia and investors from all over the world to come and meet in Stockholm.

- IKEA GreenTech is now actively looking for investment opportunities in the cleantech sector. We believe that the Stockholm Venture Day provides not only good opportunities to meet interesting cleantech companies, but also gives inspiration to new ideas, says Christian Ehrenborg, CEO of IKEA GreenTech, Sweden

- It is the first time that Capricorn Venture Partners attends the Stockholm Cleantech Venture Day, and we expect to get a good overview of the Nordic cleantech community and establish valuable contacts. At Capricorn Cleantech Fund we are closely looking at the Scandinavian clean technology markets especially in the field of renewable energy, biofuels and green chemistry, says Paul Decraemer, Head Cleantech Investment Practice, Capricorn Venture Partners /Capricorn Cleantech Fund, Belgium

- We see Stockholm Cleantech Venture Day as a very good opportunity to see many exciting companies and also to meet the investors' community from all over the Nordics. This will be the third year in a row we are attending this event, says Per Ericsson, Venture Partner at Environmental Technologies Fund, the UK

A sample of organisations already registered:
Northzone Ventures, Enviroment Technologies Fund ETF,Statkraft Development, Climate Change Capital Private Equity, Sjätte AP-fonden, IKEA GreenTech,Vaekstfonden, Sustainable Technologies Fund, Veraventure Oy,Alta Venture, Pulptech,BankInvest, VNT Management Oy,Alexander Hughes Executive Search Consultants, Eqvitec Partners, Creandum, Portelet Asia Pte. Ltd., StoneFund, Chalmersinvest, Energy Future Invest, RWE Innogy, Almi Invest, Eidsiva Vekst, Innovationsbron, AGF Private Equity, Swedfund International, Sweden Cleantech Incubators, Biowaz AS, Vertical Wind Industry AB, Vinnova, The Swedish Energy Agency, Vinge, Amadeus Capital Partners, Conor Venture Partners, Industrifonden, Swedish Environmental Technology Council, Nordic Cleantech Cup, Venturecup,Lahti Science and Business Park, Sales Chasm Solutions, Invest in Sweden Agency, Tokyo Office, SEB Venture Capital, GP Bullhound, Stora Enso New Business Creation

Stockholm Cleantech Venture Day 2009 is organised by the Stockholm Cleantech Business Network, Stockholm Innovation and Growth (STING) and Cleantech Scandinavia. It takes place on the 29th of September at Kistamässan, Kista Science City

About IKEA GreenTech
http://www.ikea.greentechab.com/

About Capricorn Venture Partners /Capricorn Cleantech Fund
http://www.capricorn.be/

About Venture Partner at Environmental Technologies Fund
http://www.etf.eu.com/

For more information contact the organisers:
Aaron Kaplan, Stockholm Cleantech Business Network
aaron.kaplan@stockholmcleantech.com
Phone: +46 704 06 67 20

Svetlana Gross, Cleantech Scandinavia
svetlana@cleantechscandinavia.com
Phone: +46 73 940 20 81

Press and accreditations:
Registration fees, travel, accommodation and meals are free of charge for invited journalists. Application for accreditation required no later than 25th September.

Annica Englund, Media & Press for Stockholm Cleantech Venture Day
annica.englund@kista.com
Phone: +46 707 71 92 04