In its second year, the Global Cleantech Cluster Association (GCCA) Later Stage Awards received a record 200 nominations for its 10 Best-in-Class categories. The 200 innovative mid- to later-stage companies have been nominated in a variety of cleantech areas including solar and lighting energy efficiency, waste, and water. Each nomination came from the GCCA’s 40-member cleantech clusters. The winners will be announced at the Savannah International Clean Energy Conference November 11 to 13.
“We are delighted with the increase in nominations this year,” said Ben Taube, chair of the GCCA. “We’ve added 11 cleantech clusters to our membership since the 2011 nominations, and we are continually impressed by the flood of new innovations and ground-breaking technologies these clusters have to share.”
Three categories are also new this year: BioEnergy, Smart Grid and Sustainable IT and Tidal and Hydropower. Over the next five months, the nominations will be evaluated based on merits of technology innovation and business acumen. By the third quarter of 2012, the list of 200 will be narrowed to 30.
“The annual Later Stage Awards have become the international showcase of cleantech’s rising stars,” said Shawn Lesser, co-founder of the GCCA. “All the nominees are developing innovative clean technologies and growing their local green economies, and we are thrilled to support them through our award.”
The 200 companies will be evaluated by more than 30 judges from the venture capital and cleantech industry. Combined, the GCCA judging roster has invested over $3.5 billion in clean technology. The judges include Generation’s Climate Solutions Fund, The Rockefeller Foundation, Dow Venture Capital, and BASF Venture Capital. The GCCA Later Stage Awards ceremony will be held on the second evening of the Savannah International Clean Energy Conference on Nov. 13. Registration is currently under way at www.savannahcleanenergy.com
The full list of 2012 Later Stage Award Nominations can be found at: http://www.globalcleantech.org/2012-award-nominees/
Global Cleantech Cluster Association
www.globalcleantech.org
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