Combing the World for Cleantech Entrepreneurs – Universities are Crucial to Success

Universities are clearly crucial in building a green economy and removing bottlenecks in the innovation pipeline from these institutions to the market is key.

This year has brought a lot of productive give-and-take of ideas on clean energy innovation by people around the world who saw opportunity rather than doom in the combination of environmental and financial challenges.

Last May, for example, I joined over 140 participants from all sectors at the White House Energy Innovation Conference http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/energy-innovation-conference-keynote-part-1-3%22%20%5Ct%20%22_blank to discuss how to accelerate energy innovation and support entrepreneurs and small businesses in the energy sector. During follow-up regional meetings in June, scientists, entrepreneurs, innovators, venture capitalists, military and government experts, and others discussed policy and processes that can enhance all stages of the energy innovation pipeline.

Earlier this month, the United Nations Environment Program and the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century showed concrete results (at least in terms of effort) when they revealed in a pair of new reports that by early 2010 more than 100 countries enacted policies to boost the development of a green economy and businesses in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Jonathan Ortmans

Full Story: http://www.entrepreneurship.org/PolicyForum/Blog/post/2010/07/25/Combing-the-World-for-Cleantech-Entrepreneurs.aspx