Cleantech Group

Hear from Richard Youngman, CEO of Cleantech Group, as he sets the stage for Cleantech Forum Asia by providing an overview of the key trends and topics to pay attention to in the Asia-Pacific, and share our perspective on the intersection of AI and cleantech. We’ll share how participants can learn more about how this cutting-edge technology that is revolutionizing the landscape in a special track dedicated to the topic.

Meet many of the 2025 APAC Cleantech 25 companies in attendance. The annual list (launching April 9) which highlights private sustainable innovation companies in the region that have gained the attention of market experts. Richard will introduce the program and celebrate the achievements of those participating in the Forum with us.

The author of Unsupervised, one of Bloomberg’s best business books of 2023, will share his perspectives on how the combined force of AI, quantum computing, blockchain, and other frontier technologies are set to fundamentally reshape every part of our existence. And what this means for us in the cleantech innovation ecosystem.

Impact-based financing models hinge on measurable outcomes to trigger payouts, but tracking real-world impact of climate projects is not always an exact science. AI is changing the monitoring and verification game across the cleantech landscape, from tracking carbon reductions and reforestation projects, biodiversity gains, water savings and more. Speakers to explore how smarter data is reshaping climate finance, helping investors put capital where it truly counts.

Three start-ups will present their company and solutions in the Materials & Chemicals industry, from mushrooms to packaging to advanced bio-materials. Two Investor Reviewers will be on hand to ask ask questions.

The future maritime fuel mix remains uncertain and significant challenges stand in the way of industry-wide uptake of zero-emissions fuels Ammonia is one of the promising future fuels, though also in many ways the most controversial due to safety concerns and technology challenges. Hear from an innovator taking actionable steps to deploy ammonia as a maritime fuel and address the barriers to market uptake.

Have lunch with Daniel, the author of Unsupervised, one of Bloomberg’s best business books of 2023, after sharing his perspectives during the keynote on how the combined force of AI, quantum computing, blockchain, and other frontier technologies are set to fundamentally reshape every part of our existence. This is your chance for an informal and interactive discussion on that, and what it means for you, 2025+. Grab some lunch and come join (space-permitting). Lunch will be available outside the session room.

Materials innovation is held back by physical constraints of testing. Digital materials discovery streamlines this, but it’s still constrained by computing power – new innovations in AI/ML and advanced computing can break open significant multiples of efficiency. Furthermore, the advent of automated labs and emerging techniques like electrodeposition and cell-free systems rapidly increase validation to weeks or months compared to years or decades. How can we encourage more to engage in discovering next-gen materials with little to no economic or regulatory pressures?

Supply chains centered around specialty components are being developed in Asia that will drive the growth of novel fission and fusion reactors. Multiple players in China, Japan and Korea are developing components such as high temperature super conductors, divertors, tritium breeding blankets, cyclotrons and specialty materials for the fusion industry. As governments, public institutions, and universities get more involved and connected with private industries globally, Asia will continue to provide and scale its presence as a critical nuclear enabler.

Distributed energy resources are increasing rapidly in Asia Pacific. Rooftop solar accounted for 42% of all installed solar capacity in 2023 across APAC and battery installations have witnessed similarly strong growth. The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) allows asset owners to make the most of those assets by optimizing them to operate more efficiently and save money in the processes. Meanwhile, optimizing the usage of clean energy assets by time of use could also allow for those same assets to earn revenue.

Learn more about different battery innovations (from localizing black mass to rechargeable batteries to battery as a service), and get an intro companies focused on AI-driven data infrastructure and solar energy.

While conventionally viewed as a conservative and slow-moving sector, maritime shipping is on the brink of dramatic sustainability reform. Driven by key regulations that have recently come into effect such as FuelEU Maritime (Jan. 2025) and the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), fleet operators are under increasing pressure to reduce vessel emissions or face strict penalties. Join us to explore several solutions for vessel decarbonization, and share your thoughts around how and where they can have the most impact, and the role of both hardware and software solutions in meeting vessel emissions reduction requirements.

Many parts of Asia are growing their data center projects, and most recently there has been significant activity in Malaysia. Data center providers will have to leverage various solutions to ensure energy, water and other resources can be used efficiently so that data and computing services can scale in region. Speakers will discuss the opportunities and challenges around growing infrastructure in APAC, including the energy mix in the region and why it calls for building in efficiencies, and the regional challenges with water access.

The changes in national administrations, principally that of the U.S., has had influence on both the tactical distribution of government support but also the trajectory of attitudes with regard to cleantech innovation. Regional and political blocs are forming around trade and national security – the variance in opportunity for APAC countries varies significantly.
Join this session to hear from innovators, international investors, and global corporates from around Asia on the strategies they’re employing over this next year to avoid risk and create opportunity in this fast-evolving geopolitical environment.

The opening session of our second day will introduce you to some of the 2025 APAC Cleantech 25 companies. The seventh annual edition will launch on April 9. Keep an eye on this space to see who you will meet!

The Asian Development Bank estimates that climate change can decrease the gross domestic product (GDP) of developing Asia Pacific by 17% by 2070 and up to 41% by 2100 if greenhouse gas emissions remain at high levels. Preparing for the realities of a highly electrified regional economy, as well as increased resource demand as a result of growing populations, will require building out infrastructure that’s ready for the challenges of tomorrow.
This session will cover innovation for grid infrastructure, coastal resilience, and cities infrastructure, with a lens on where initial de-risking zones will be.

AI-driven innovation has the potential to transform agriculture in Asia and farther afield, improving both resource efficiency and ecological sustainability. Let’s explore how AI is increasingly being used to accelerate the creation of climate-resilient crop varieties, develop pesticides and biostimulants that are better for the environment, and power robotics and automation solutions.

Join us to explore AI’s crucial role in maritime decarbonization. Digital solutions are emerging as a key enabler of maritime decarbonization, particularly for ports, fleets, and operational efficiency. Let’s discuss where and how can digital solutions and AI be deployed to maximize sustainability and decarbonization initiatives. What industry and market barriers stand in the way of industry-wide uptake, and how are first-movers leveraging digital innovation and AI to achieve deep decarbonization?

China has emerged as the world’s epicenter of cleantech manufacturing and deployment, and is racing forward in innovative technologies as well. With certainty, countering China’s supply advantages will be a focus of many governments around the world. Join us to unpack China’s strengths domestically and in export markets, and dig into the areas of cross-border cleantech innovation that are likely to improve or decline over the coming years.

As the climate changes various other factors contribute to power outages, tools leveraging AI and technologies supporting grid resiliency can ensure power gets to where it is needed and the grid structure remains safe and reliable. As various regions in Asia see growth in electrification, increasing renewables and areas of additional load growth and variable energy demands, innovation can be used to better stabilize the power profiles.

This Innovation Showcase will feature start-ups from Third Derivative (RMI’s climate tech accelerator) new initiative that will support ~30 startups working on industrial decarbonization and hard-to-abate sectors. The “Future Industries Partnership” was recently forged through a philanthropic partnership with HSBC to expand start-up support to SE Asia, India, and the Middle East. Hear from innovators who have developed carbon-negative building materials and another offering point-source emitters an affordable, simple and safe solution for carbon capture.

Geothermal energy is thriving. Several technological breakthroughs saw record levels of investment flow into new geothermal technologies, such as enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). Increase in drilling speeds has reduced overall project costs and risks considerably. Still, most of new geothermal activity currently focuses on Europe and the US. Why is Asia lagging in geothermal innovation, how can new technologies be implemented here and what needs to happen for new geothermal start-ups to emerge from Asia?

Traceability, or the ability to track a material across the entire supply chain, will be the key enabler of supply chain decarbonization and sustainability efforts in the coming years. From critical minerals to petrochemicals, batteries, steel, and rubber, participants in most global supply chains will be required to provide sustainability and traceability data on their materials and products in order to comply with regulations such as EU the battery passport mandate, EU Deforestation Act, and the French Anti-Waste for Circular Economy. Join us to discuss the maturing traceability market, identify specific implications for APAC suppliers and producers, as well as the future of traceability and forward-looking revenue and business opportunities.

Blended finance can go beyond de-risking technologies to stimulating market demand in hard-to-abate sectors across industrial decarbonization. Many breakthrough solutions face a “chicken-and-egg” problem: investors wait for clear market demand, while market signals rely on capital engagement with innovation. This session will explore how blended capital stacks can break this cycle by mobilizing early investors and stimulate market momentum in critical industries.

Meet four innovative start-ups; a Breakthrough Energy Fellow making green methanol affordable, a cultivated pork company making meat without the animal, a company extracting critical materials (nickel) at a low cost, less energy, and less water, a company that has permanent CO2 storage through mineralization, and learn about a company building innovative solutions to optimize energy storage, generation, management, as well as smart grid interactions.

South and Southeast Asia are already facing acute challenges from climate change effects – extreme heat, changing weather patterns, and accelerating threats to crops are impacting millions already. Demand for climate adaptation tech and healthtech have long existed in entirely separate markets – with the accelerating impact of climate effects on human health, we can expect this to begin changing in short order.
This discussion will involve perspectives from investors who have baked the climate and health overlap into their thesis, and practical takeaways from innovators attempting to navigate two imminently converging markets.