The CleanTech Innovation Forum provides unique networking opportunities for those involved in developing renewable energy and other environmental technologies to discuss innovations, fast-track technology transfer, find partners, offer capabilities and seek funding/licensing agreements.

The recent announcement from Government of a 15% energy target for renewables by 2020, now underlines the real urgency and the exciting opportunities that lie ahead in the UK market. Furthermore, with innovative engineering & design, expertise in research & development and the benefit from Europe's largest wind, wave and tidal resources, the scene is now set for the UK to become a natural centre for world-class renewable energy solutions.

Yet no business, investor, entrepreneur or research institute can work alone - innovation and successful commercialisation requires collaboration and partnerships. The CleanTech Innovation Forum aims to facilitate in this partnering process and so help maximise the speed in which new and enhanced products and technologies are brought to market.

Staged alongside the acclaimed Low Carbon Best Practice Exchange, these new events bring together stakeholders from industry, R&D and finance to explore new opportunities for partnerships, investment and procurement. The scope of the event encompasses all aspects of the renewable energy industry - wind, wave, tidal, hydro, fuel cells, biofuels and solar, together with energy storage, infrastructure and other innovations that enhance energy efficiency and reduce environmental impacts.

These multi-format networking events include four key aspects:

Partnerships ~ An extensive programme of roundtable discussion groups and pre-arranged meeting opportunities, creates tremendous networking opportunities for stakeholders to explore collaboration options and streamline the new product development process.

Investment ~ Companies, academic/research institutions and entrepreneurs involved in developing early-stage innovations can discuss investment opportunities with venture capitalists, business angels and other prospective business partners.

Procurement ~ An Innovations Showcase and a programme of workshops enable policy makers and corporate decision-makers, to review examples of cutting-edge innovations that contribute towards reducing carbon emissions, sourcing renewable energy and minimising damaging environmental impacts.

R&D Collaboration ~ Companies, research institutes and universities interested in national and transnational co-operation will be able to meet with potential partners to explore partnership and other collaboration opportunities, such as new FP7 projects.