Cleantech Group Partners with California Israel Chamber of Commerce

Cleantech Group Partners with California Israel Chamber of Commerce
Strategic partnership launched with Israeli Cleantech Tour November 10-13

SAN FRANCISCO, October 10, 2008 – The Cleantech Group, LLC, founder of the cleantech investment category, announced today it has partnered with the California Israel Chamber of Commerce (CICC) Cleantech Initiative to facilitate international collaboration in the cleantech community and will be a lead sponsor of the Israel Cleantech Tour this November. This partnership adds to the Cleantech Group’s expanding global reach, which includes operations in North America, Europe, India and China.

“Since our founding in 2002, the Cleantech Group has accelerated global cleantech market growth by providing the world’s largest network of cleantech investors leading market research and financial services they need to be successful,” said John Balbach, a managing partner of the Cleantech Group. “California and Israel are increasingly important cleantech markets, and our partnership with CICC will serve to accelerate market growth and bring new investment opportunities to Cleantech Group’s members.”

CICC is a non-profit organization with a network of 7,000 companies, executives and investors dedicated to strengthening business and trade relations between California and Israel. The CICC recently launched the Cleantech Initiative to accelerate collaboration, leadership, investment, entrepreneurship and networking between the Israeli and California cleantech communities.

“California and Israel have a long history of technology partnership. They are two of the world’s largest and fastest growing cleantech regions, with about half of US cleantech investment happening in California and over 400 emerging cleantech companies in Israel,” said Eric Weiss, chair of the Cleantech Initiative, CICC. “The Cleantech Group has been integral in fostering cleantech growth globally and we look forward to bringing key industry players together to accelerate innovation and deal-flow in both regions.

The collaboration will kick into high gear November 11th as the CICC, with the help of The Cleantech Group, hosts the Israel Cleantech Showcase at Stanford University and at various on-site locations across in the Bay Area cleantech landscape.

In partnership with major cleantech venture investors, PG&E, CPUC, and other industry leaders, the Showcase will host 10 of the most promising Israeli companies in renewable energy, energy efficiency and water technology. The Israel Cleantech Showcase will include presentations by Israeli companies and Andy Karsner, (Assistant Secretary of the Department of Energy, 2006-2008), GE Energy Financial Services, SRI International, Applied Ventures, Energy Recovery Inc., Virgin Green and Chevron Energy Solutions.

The Israel Cleantech Showcase is part of a week-long Israel Cleantech Tour from November 10-13. Israeli cleantech CEOs and investors will engage in meetings, facility tours and roundtables at PG&E, California Public Utilities Commission, SunPower, Google, San Jose Water, and other local investment firms, universities and companies.

The Cleantech Group’s membership network is comprised of investors, high-growth companies, service providers, corporations and economic development agencies that focus on clean technology business globally. Through its partnership with the Cleantech Group, CICC members will gain priority access to the Cleantech Group’s resources, including the world’s largest cleantech business network, timely research, a global technology deployment accelerator program and leading industry events. Additionally, Cleantech Group members will gain new inroads into the Israeli business and investment community.

About Cleantech Group
The Cleantech Group pioneered the cleantech investment category in 2002. Today, it accelerates the development and market adoption of clean technologies globally through membership in the largest global network of investors and companies representing more than $3 trillion in assets. Member investors, growth companies/vendors, enterprises, service providers, and others receive access to capital, investment deal flow, market leading research and data, insight, sales leads, human capital, and promotional opportunities. The Cleantech Group also produces the premier Cleantech Forum events worldwide. Details at http://www.cleantech.com. 

About the California Israel Chamber of Commerce
The California Israel Chamber of Commerce (CICC) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthen business, investment, technology and trade relations between California and Israel. Over the years CICC accelerated hundreds of tech companies from Israel through its successful programs and helped US Investors and technology giants identify unique ventures and collaborative partners in Israel. Details at www.ca-israelchamber.org. More information on its Cleantech Initiative can be found at www.cicc-cleantech.com.