Cleantech Group

Participants can come by all afternoon to pick up their badge and ask questions.

Calling all start-ups! Join us for a three-part coaching session where expert coaches dive deep into business related topics and share their wisdom and advice for growing young companies. Topics are being finalized now, but you can secure your spot now while you register for the Forum in the registration system. Space is limited.

Join us for the opening session, where we’ll unveil the insights from the 2025 Global Cleantech 100 list, set for release on January 15. Get acquainted, through rapid-fire introductions, with companies in attendance leading the charge in cleantech innovation.
We’re also thrilled to announce the launch of our new program, the LATAM Cleantech 25 (launching December 5). Discover the emerging cleantech stars from Latin America and the Caribbean, and learn about our findings from researching this dynamic ecosystem.

Take time to enjoy a drink and hors d’oeuvres while enjoying the Forum’s new venue and building a connection with other attendees.

Cleantech Group will host a small invite-only dinner for the Global Cleantech 100 companies with us and the investors and corporations who provided inputs into the process, as Global Cleantech 100 expert panelists.

For all others, this time is left open for you. There is a restaurant option in the resort and many others off-site. Take a look at nearby Bay Park neighborhood, the Pacific Beach boardwalk or head on into the Gaslamp Quarter or Little Italy for great dining options.

Pick up your badge or stop by with a question.

Join us for breakfast and coffee to kick-off the day and continue networking with others before the program begins.

To get us into the spirit of a Cleantech Forum – we’re here to connect, right? – we will quickly introduce you to a few interesting companies over the last part of breakfast. Meet companies participating in Canada’s delegation. You will have time over the next two days to meet with them and learn more about their company and solution.

This session is still a work in progress. Check back soon for more details.

U.S. will have just inaugurated a new president, and after four years of arguably the most consequential policy push for cleantech in U.S. history, many segments of our theme have been galvanized. Join key speakers are we discuss the potential impact on the ecosystem , especially with a potentially dynamic may shift on its way. Will the manufacturing renaissance manifested by the IRA continue to be a catalyst? Which areas of industry are likely to continue adjusting to the climate reality? Which are more / less motivated now? We will also put Policy aside and look at the trends fully in motion now and discuss which are likely to accelerate.

Are you a start-up or scale-up interested in presenting your cleantech solution to the audience? Apply before November 1 to be considered for this showcase.

The chemical industry, responsible for approximately 3% of global emissions, faces increasing pressure to reduce its environmental footprint. This session will explore innovative technologies that offer the potential to directly decarbonize chemical production processes. Join us to take a closer look at how innovations such as photocatalysis, electrical heating and electrolysis presents an opportunity to directly reduce emissions using renewable energy.

As the global hydrogen market is projected to reach $201 billion by 2025, the demand for efficient and scalable electrolyzer technologies is skyrocketing. Beyond the existing and well-known systems, startups are innovating to address efficiency and scalability challenges. Let’s explore how novel technologies are revolutionizing hydrogen production, with insights from companies and investors driving the next wave of electrolyzer development. Discover how these innovations could be the key to unlocking a low-carbon future.

Estimates vary on how much data centers will consume in the next few years. The IEA released statistics saying that 460TWh in 2022 were consumed by data centers but it has the potential to rise up as high as 1050TWh in the next few years (roughly the energy consumption of Sweden or Germany).

Join speakers as they address the issues of data center decarbonization. We will look at the various renewable solutions and lessons learned from other decarbonizing industries.

Co-hosted by: TD Securities

The promise of pyrolysis, and the billions of dollars invested into it, are struggling to scale commercially. Plant closures have been announced while gasification moves to fill the marketplace for mixed plastic waste recycling. Join us to explore the new technologies to fill the gaps once intended for pyrolysis. Can Solvent Dissolution scale sufficiently to target specific polymers (PVC, PP, PS) or mixed waste? Can Pyrolysis be retooled in a modular setting to target specific polymers? What is the future of chemical upcycling of polymers through Solvolysis or other methods?

Are you a start-up or scale-up interested in presenting your cleantech solution to the audience? Apply before November 1 to be considered for this showcase.

This session is still a work in progress. Check back soon for more details

Nature-based solutions can provide more than one third of the mitigation needed by 2030 to keep climate goals in reach. Innovators in the nature tech will be vital in helping facilitate and accelerate these solutions, making them valuable tools in tackling climate change. Join us to explore the latest advancements in the sector.

As part of our sustainability efforts, we serve a plant-based menu at all forum meals to help reduce our environmental footprint while highlighting local produce and in-season products.

This session is still a work in progress. Check back soon for more details

How are ports moving the needle on decarbonization and maritime sustainability? Speakers will explore key dynamics between ports and other maritime actors, key technologies and innovation enabling the decarbonization of port operations, and lessons learned from implementing decarbonization strategies and technologies. The session will also explore economic opportunities for ports in alternative fuels, green hydrogen, and renewables.

Are you a start-up or scale-up interested in presenting your cleantech solution to the audience? Apply before November 1 to be considered for this showcase.

The deployment of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology is essential for achieving global climate goals. However, the industry faces significant challenges, including project delays, rising costs, and regulatory uncertainty. As CO2 emissions from industry or power generation rise, so will investment in capture technologies to meet 2050 goals. Join key players from the carbon capture ecosystem to discuss the current state of the industry and explore strategies for overcoming these challenges.

Cement production accounts for around 8% of global emissions. Recent years have seen a significant increase in innovation looking to address these emissions. Yet the large amount of developing solutions presents a challenge to cement producers trying to understand the best potential use cases for different approaches. Join us to brainstorm on a roadmap for emissions reductions across to globe.

Are you a start-up or scale-up interested in presenting your cleantech solution to the audience? Apply before November 1 to be considered for this showcase.

With the U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) tightening food safety regulations and requiring enhanced traceability for high-risk foods, companies are turning to technologies like blockchain, sensors, and biotags to stay compliant. Let’s dive into the growing adoption of these solutions, exploring how they’re transforming the $8.77 billion global food traceability market. Hear from innovators and industry leaders on how these technologies are shaping the future of food safety, sustainability, and regulatory compliance.

Join industry leaders and experts as we explore cutting-edge innovations in drought resilience. This interactive briefing will delve into the latest advancements in water management, renewable energy-driven desalination, and sustainable technologies that are transforming our ability to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of drought. Discover how emerging solutions are creating new opportunities and challenges in water-stressed regions worldwide.

Industrial heating accounts for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions, making it a challenging sector to decarbonize. Innovators are leveraging cheap renewables production to bring green energy and heat to industrial customers through a variety of materials and mechanisms to store and release heat.

The devastating 2024 wildfire season in the U.S., with over 4.4 million acres burned by September, highlights the urgent need for innovative solutions to mitigate the impacts of wildfires. Hear from key players from the wildfire resilience technology market as we discuss the latest advancements and emerging trends.

The EV market is at a tipping point. Auto majors are reporting losses and closing production plants, and pulling back on electrification commitments. Meanwhile, EVs are becoming increasingly commoditized with minimal differentiation and innovation, while OEMs struggle with slow process cycles and high production costs. There is a bright spot though, with innovation in electric motors, batteries, power electronics, and control systems reaching commercialization and enabling a new generation of more sustainable, efficient vehicles that can meet new demand. Join us to dive deeper into these technology innovations and how they will the disrupt the EV design and production processes.

Global food production faces a triple threat of climate change, diminishing land availability, and growing demand. As the world warms, our ability to cultivate key food crops is being disrupted; while yields are struggling to keep up with population growth. Advances in crop inputs and plant genetics unlock the possibility of maximizing yields and minimizing emissions amid drought, flooding, and heatwaves. Biological products can reduce our reliance on chemical-based pesticides and fertilizers, while gene-editing technologies are enabling the rapid breeding of new, climate-resilient crop varieties.

Join us for an open air networking/strolling reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres, a chance to unwind, and a little fun, as we wrap up the day. Meet up with friends, make new connections, strike up a conversation with a colleague you haven’t seen yet and enjoy the amazing backdrop of Mission Bay.

Pick up your badge or stop by with a question.

Join us for breakfast and coffee to kick-off the day and continue networking with others before the program begins.

This session is still a work in progress. Check back soon for more details.

First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) climate infrastructure projects, while offering significant potential rewards, often face challenges in securing the necessary funding to scale beyond small-scale pilots. Catalytic capital, with its risk tolerance and impact focus, is well-positioned to bridge this funding gap and de-risk investments in these promising projects. This session will explore the critical role of catalytic capital in supporting the growth of FOAK climate projects and its potential to drive innovation in the next decade.

Are you a start-up or scale-up interested in presenting your cleantech solution to the audience? Apply before November 1 to be considered for this showcase.

This session is still a work in progress. Check back soon for more details.

We’re witnessing a fundamental shift in modern materials discovery through the use of digital tools like AI/ML coupled with hybrid cloud technologies and advanced computers. More corporates are embracing the potential impact and are actively engaging with this innovation. This doesn’t seem to be a passing trend. Join us as we share ways to stay relevant, reposition your thinking around digital tools and discuss the different tools available to better enable rapid, reliable, and systemic discovery or risk being outpaced by competition.

As much as a third of all the food we produce is lost or wasted before it even reaches the end consumer. Not only is this a food security issue; agrifood waste accounts for around 6% of all greenhouse gas emissions. While waste reduction is imperative, innovation is unlocking opportunities to valorize agrifood waste into useful foods, fuels, and materials. Let’s look at how different agricultural and food industry waste streams can be optimized as feedstocks for biodiesel, SAF, bioenergy, etc. as well as food and fiber products.

In 2023, a stunning 1.2 terawatts of electricity generation and storage joined the grid interconnection queue–a near match to the U.S.’s 1.3 terawatts of total capacity. While grid interconnection waits have inherent legal and technical challenges, innovation is finding ways to leapfrog the interconnection queue problem and start generating and making use of clean energy today. Join speakers to explore innovation work arounds for the grid roadblocks; data centers co-locating with wind farms, green manufacturing processes optimizing for off-peak renewables, and a continual increase of distributed energy resources as examples.
Speakers will also discuss the short-term and long-term innovative solutions that can get electricity where it is needed most, as well as the technologies that will provide the most immediate benefits to the grid. Let’s explore the many ways to improve outdated infrastructure while strengthening the grid to prevent outages.

Are you a start-up or scale-up interested in presenting your cleantech solution to the audience? Apply before November 1 to be considered for this showcase.

The aviation industry faces a pressing need to reduce its carbon footprint, which currently accounts for 2-3% of annual global emissions. While electric aircraft and hydrogen-powered planes hold promise, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) offer a near-term solution for deep decarbonization. How can the three main solutions, electric aircrafts, hydrogen aircrafts, and SAF, be deployed strategically to maximize both short and long-term emissions? What essential technology innovations unlocking high efficiency and mass production? What challenges remain and where are key opportunities for investment?

The textile industry is the second most polluting sector globally, contributing 8-10% of annual greenhouse gas emissions. Despite high collection rates, textile recycling remains a significant challenge, with low overall recycling rates across regions. We will explore the pressing need for innovative solutions to revitalize the textile recycling industry and reduce its environmental impact.

As part of our sustainability efforts, we serve a plant-based menu at all forum meals to help reduce our environmental footprint while highlighting local produce and in-season products.

Are you a start-up or scale-up interested in presenting your cleantech solution to the audience? Apply before November 1 to be considered for this showcase.

With two established commercial battery recycling technologies (hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy) and several university spin-out technologies coming to market, the battery recycling market is ready to handle more diverse battery chemistries than ever. But, concerns over energy efficiency and material recovery are complicating investment strategy, calcifying clear niches and potential clashes for technologies. Join us to explore the competitive landscape of battery recycling and the role of direct recycling in the U.S., in the absence of federal Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation.

Heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) play a crucial role in the transportation sector but contribute disproportionately to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 20-30% of transport emissions. California has been at the forefront of efforts to decarbonize HDVs, implementing ambitious policies and regulations to phase out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Let’s look at the progress made in California’s transition to zero-emission HDVs, the challenges and opportunities facing the industry, and the potential for scaling up these technologies to meet the state’s decarbonization goals.

Half a decade into a whole-of-government effort to reduce reliance on China for critical materials, how is the U.S. faring in its efforts? Initiatives to mandate local production of new energy products and stimulate innovation in novel extraction and recycling methods are bearing fruits in the form of new manufacturing facilities that have sprouted around the country.

Speakers will debate how competitive the U.S. is in the big picture of new energy products (solar, batteries, electrolyzers, EVs) and the outlook on the supply chains necessary to realize sustainable independence.

Join us for one last chance to network before we say good-bye until next year!