Cleantech today is all about combinations. Impactful and disruptive innovations of all types happen at the ‘intersects’ – as we have seen happen with bio and information technologies, and as with mobile devices and the internet.

Nothing could feel truer today for clean technologies – where the energy and resource-intensive industries intersect with IT, data, communications, finance, biotech, AI, and robotics. The innovations in both technology and business models are disrupting traditional boundaries between previously silo-ed industries. The IT industry is most obviously converging with the utility world, but IT innovation is also starting to change agriculture, waste, water, and construction – just to name a few very old and traditional industries. Entrepreneurs are finding innovative combinations to generate new types of companies, with solar and batteries being the most obvious ‘combination.’ Companies are also working together in new ways, forming partnerships with those that only 5 years ago would have seemed unlikely bedfellows.

And global ideas and trends are also wreaking havoc, where powerful streams meet, and the power of ‘Crowds’ can take hold. For example, the forces of democratization and personalization are starting to change the worlds of energy and finance.

At Cleantech Forum Europe 2016, we will be focusing on this idea of the convergence of cleantech innovations and industries. It is apropos that our 2016 host city is Lyon, France – a historic city built and grown over a period of 2000 years at the point where two rivers (the Rhône and the Saône) meet – La Confluence. Today, the city has one of the most progressive agendas when it comes to being a ‘smart city.’

All these ideas will play through our Forum as we examine the very latest in the ever-changing theme of cleantech, and as we get a glimpse of the future.

Early check-in to Cleantech Forum Europe for exhibitors and those attending tours or pre-meetings.

For the 8th year running, Cleantech Forum Europe will offer a pre-Forum opportunity to see some of the cleantech sights of our host city/area. We are offering participants two tour options:

Option 1: The Green Chemistry Tour

Green Chemistry is a strategic area of interest for Lyon and home of the Chemical Valley. This tour will stop at 2 key areas within the Chemical Valley.

• Axel’One, a collaborative innovation platform dedicated to chemistry and the environment
• Solvay’s research and innovation center

Option 2: The Clean Energy Tour

The itinerary for this tour is as follows:

• Smart Electric Lyon, which is an urban laboratory designed to test and develop new ways of using energy. We will visit the Smart Electric Lyon showroom where we will be able to interact with exhibits and learn about the activities and results of the project.
• CNR is the Rhône-Alpes regional utility. We will visit one of its groundbreaking projects called Hyway, which is “multi-fueling” station for different types of vehicles. We will also test drive the Hydrogen vehicles it is rolling out as part of the project.

Click here for the full itinerary and timings. Space will be limited and sign ups are on a first-come, first-serve basis via our registration process.

The opening session of the Forum will provide the official words of welcome from your hosts – the Chamber of Commerce and Grand Lyon, and Cleantech Group (CTG) and Enovation Partners (CTG’s new parent company) – and an introduction to this year’s host city/region (Lyon) and host country (France).

CTG will provide a guiding narrative, based on our view of France and what we see from the point of view of an objective outsider. The locals will provide the color – and correct us where we go wrong!

To set the scene, GreenUnivers will provide the facts and figures on the deals getting done, for both France as a whole and for the Rhône-Alpes region. Albin Jourda will provide the local perspective on the particular strengths of Lyon and the area.

Against that context, Fabrice Plasson will introduce us to an innovation company (Amoeba) who has opted to list on a junior Exchange (Euronext), a trend of the last 2-3 years which has been quite unique to France. And Sandra Rey will outline her bold vision for bacterial lighting, representative of the rise of a new generation of entrepreneurs in France.

To round out this opening session, investors representing seed, venture and growth will join a panel-style discussion on the current environment for entrepreneurship and cleantech financing in France.

Available Presentations:

Amoeba

Glowee

GreenUnivers

All our guests are invited to attend this special networking reception, leaving you free afterwards to explore the culinary delights of Lyon for dinner, and discover why it is reputed as the gastronomic capital of France.

Hosted by: ONLY LYON 

Coffee and pastries – not a full breakfast – will be served before the start of the morning plenary, in the main Forum networking area (Salle de la Corbeille).

To provide macro-context, the session will begin with thoughts from COP-21. How critical a turning-point was December? How can we translate the momentum into real and lasting impact? What will be signed in April? What does all of this mean for our innovation community? How long before we see and feel the impact?

Cleantech Group (CTG) will provide a ‘State of the World’ keynote, providing our updated views on “innovation trends” to take note of, some thoughts on the conference theme, and some examples of powerful convergent trends and innovative combinations.

Talking combinations, David Arfin, final speaker of the opening session, will talk about his work combining the power of structured finance with renewables and other clean technologies. As the creator of the SolarLease for SolarCity, Arfin will speak on business model innovations and how to marry the powerful forces of de-risked finance with the ever-improving conditions for deploying sustainable technologies at greater and greater scale.

Moderated by: Stephen Marcus, Director, Cleantech Group

Available Presentations:

Cleantech Group

First Energy Finance

You have heard start-ups do their 5-minute pitches. Now it is the turn of the multi-national corporations. Continuing a tradition of recent Cleantech Forums, we will briefly introduce you to a few key open innovation and venturing executives – all of whom are making their debuts at a Cleantech Forum. They will explain what their innovation mandate is, and what they are looking for.

Moderated by: Jules Besnainou, Director, Cleantech Group

Thierry Mallet has been Executive Vice President in charge of Innovation, Business Performance and Marketing for SUEZ environnement for the past 3 years. A member of the group’s management committee, he will talk to us about Innovation as a strategic imperative for a large multi-national corporation like SUEZ, what they are doing, and the impacts it is making.

Available Presentation:

Thierry Mallet, SUEZ

Following our morning networking break, we will split into our two main tracks for the 2016 Forum – the Saône Track and the Rhône Track.

Hear the perspectives of top innovators in the field in which technological advances and new services – robotics, sensors, advanced recycling, mobile apps, big data analytics, the sharing economy, and more – will take us from the status quo landfill and incineration practices to a world of reduce, re-use and recycle business models. We will aim to chart the future of recycling all along its value chain, and discuss opportunities to dramatically increase the lifecycle of products through new developments in materials recovery and consumer engagement strategies.

Moderated by: Jérôme Verdier, Director, SITA Recyclage, SUEZ

Co-Hosted by: SUEZ

Available Presentations:

OptiMiam

SmartBin

Votechnik

The race for zero-emission vehicles has only just begun. Battery Electric Vehicles have taken an initial lead with OEMs like Tesla, Nissan, BMW, and Renault who’ve all had initial production successes. However, we are now seeing the emergence of production-grade Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles from auto-OEMs like Hyundai, Honda and Toyota. These vehicles provide longer range and shorter refueling times than their battery-based counterparts, and enjoy a highly-abundant fuel source. What role will hydrogen ultimately play in the broader electrification of vehicle powertrains?

Moderated by: Troy Ault, Director, Cleantech Group

Co-Hosted by: Anglo American Platinum

Available Presentations:

Hydrogenious

Chubb, our lunch host, is holding a small, invitation-only roundtable for 10-12 CEOs during lunch. Request an invitation before April 8th (europe@cleantech.com).

Otherwise, enjoy the lunch break and come visit some of the exhibitors in our networking areas.

Hosted by: Chubb

Hear from experts in the construction field on the latest solutions to creating more optimized buildings. While cement accounts for roughly 5 percent of global CO2 emissions, the industry is re-inventing itself through new and efficient processes and partnerships with innovative startups to not only reverse its environmental impact, but make improvements to the whole supply chain of building development. We will share some case studies and new possibilities in construction – whether it is a new type of binder that improves the mechanical strength of construction materials, new catalytic processes that removes pollutants from the air, or other methods that can sequester carbon while also improving the insulation and energy efficiency of buildings.

Moderated by: Gunther Walenta, Senior Climate Change Manager, LafargeHolcim

Co-Hosted by: LafargeHolcim

Available Presentations:

BulldozAIR

Carbon8 Systems

Solidia Technologies

Learn how Lyon and other global cities are leveraging existing energy infrastructure and smart grid software to connect volumes of street objects and to drive a host of new services and benefits to its citizens. As smart cities become symbiotic with smart grids – sharing telecommunications, ICT, sensors and other equipment – its inhabitants will not only have more control over their energy management, but will also profit from safer urban spaces, lower parking and traffic congestion, and more. We will discuss the business models that are taking advantage of this convergence trend, and how the ‘Utility of the Future’ and other players will facilitate better environments in cities.

Moderated by: François-Xavier Roussel, Directeur Performance et Innovation de la R&D, EDF

Co-Hosted by: EDF

With the backdrop of the 800-hectare “Chemical Valley” just off the Rhône, what better subject to discuss than the opportunities and challenges for commercialization of sustainable chemical and materials innovation? You will hear from investors and corporates across different industry verticals about their thoughts on best business model approaches and partnership use cases. Questions to address include:

• How can growing advanced materials companies best reach their capital requirements?
• How can innovators best target their customers along the value chain (both upstream and downstream)?
• What strategies might ensure higher exit multiples?

Moderated by: Hans Dellenbach, CFO, Emerald Technology Ventures

Co-Hosted by: Solvay

Available Presentations:

Calyxia

I-Ten

Jet Metal Technologies

The integration of renewables and behind-the-meter technologies are transforming the way utilities are viewing their customers. End users are now playing an active role not only in generation, but also in supplying flexibility and data into the grid system. This means that utilities need to re-think how they deliver and engage their customers. This session will include a selection of panelists and entrepreneurs who are taking an active part in rethinking how utilities engage with their customers.

Moderated by: Jonathan Pulitzer, Managing Director, GE Ventures

Co-Hosted by: GE Ventures

Available Presentations:

GreenCom Networks

Open Utility

The solar industry is finally regarded as mainstream, even commoditized. Not only should we all celebrate this, but we should also keep a close eye on where it may go next. Innovation will continue, and now we are finally entering the cost competitive/grid parity phase. Hard to answer, but exciting questions are: what more can solar do; where can new materials, robotics, software and control take us; and what else can solar be combined with? In short, the possibilities are endless and very exciting.

This session will provide such perspectives, with a keynote from a veteran in the European solar industry, Olivier Jacques. He will talk about where he sees the industry heading in the next 10 years, with the potential confluence of solar with both energy storage and energy management systems.

Following the “state of solar” presentation, we will hear from aspiring emergent innovation companies, trying to find their niche in what will be one of the mega-industries of the 21st century – and take advantage of this next phase of solar. Expert panelists, including Olivier Jacques, will provide some comments and questions for each.

Moderated By: Dan Gabaldon, Partner, Enovation Partners

Available Presentations:

APsystems Solar

BM Solar

Enstorage

SoHo3X

Solview/Capital Nature

TIGI

For those who would like to take the opportunity while at the Forum to explore the city, we are offering optional guided walking tours of Lyon’s Old Town (Vieux-Lyon). This unique area of Gothic and Renaissance architecture was chosen by UNESCO as a World Heritage site and covers 24 hectares along the banks of the Saône river. Old Lyon’s urban development took place principally in the 15th and 16th centuries. The tour will take delegates to some of the key sites within the Old Town, which may include the famous Gothic Cathedral as well as wandering through the narrow cobbled streets and passageways called “Traboules.” These famous covered passageways lead from one street to the next via corridors through residences and are the avenues to discover some of Lyon’s best hidden architectural treasures.

Reservations are available for the first 100 who sign up for the tour. All registered attendees will be receiving an email to sign up in the coming weeks. Availability on the day of will depend on if there are places remaining. 

Join us for the 12th Cleantech Forum Europe Dinner & Awards. There will be drinks on arrival from 7:30pm, followed by an 8:00pm seated dinner – as well as the presentation of the 2016 European Cleantech Awards – in the sumptuous 17th century Hôtel de Ville, courtesy of the Mayor of Lyon, Gérard Collomb.

There are a maximum of 300 seats available, reserved on a first come, first served basis through the Forum’s online registration system.

Coffee and pastries – not a full breakfast – will be served before the start of the morning plenary, in the main Forum networking area (Salle de la Corbeille).

“No Man is an Island” is one of the most well-known phrases associated with the 17th century English poet John Donne to signify that human beings don’t thrive when isolated from others. Cleantech investors are no different. Every investor is a piece of the wider financing ecosystem, and they need to work together to collectively thrive. And today’s financing landscape is much broader (and more complicated) than it used to be, with each type of financier having its own objectives, tolerance to risks, financing mechanisms, and capital availability. This session will include speakers representing different types of financial players, discussing the roles they can play to effectively finance the next generation of cleantech entrepreneurs alongside one another.

Moderated by: Alexis Figeac, Project Director, INNEON

Co-Hosted by: INNEON

Available Presentation:

INNEON

We have all seen the pictures: from Beijing to Los Angeles to Paris, poor air quality in growing cities has become a daily concern. In recent years, pollution has been much more visible, both in real life and in the media. Populations’ worries are justified, as 8 million people die every year because they breathe bad air on a daily basis, both indoors and outdoors. This session aims to provide a vision of how we will inhabit future cities, and “Act for Air.” We will discuss and present a range of business models working on innovative air pollution solutions, including prevention, monitoring, mapping, purifying, farming, and even creation of good quality air – showcasing new technologies and ideas that will change our urban futures.

Co-Hosted by: i-Lab Air Liquide

In the best traditions of Cleantech Forum Europe, we will hear presentations from a range of upcoming companies throughout Wednesday morning. In this first session, we will focus on “environmental protection” companies; the majority relate to water or food.

Available Presentations:

Biomae

Elencon

Enoveo

Lactips

Process Angel

Ynsect

How can we improve the environment inside our homes, offices, and public spaces? Learn about what scientific studies have revealed about optimum sources of radiation, temperature and air renewal that can increase the comfort and well-being in 90 percent of our habitats. What developments in architectural design, building physics and innovative products will significantly improve the bio-climatic and acoustic conditions inside buildings – and how far are we from a multi-comfort reality?

Moderated by: Richard Youngman, CEO, Cleantech Group

Co-Hosted by: Saint-Gobain

Available Presentations:

Echy

In Air Solutions

Saint-Gobain

Silentium

Qivivo

In the best traditions of Cleantech Forum Europe, we will hear presentations from a range of upcoming companies throughout Wednesday morning. In this second session, we will focus on energy-related companies.

Available Presentations:

Bidgely

Chakratec

ElectRoad

Steeper Energy

Zenpark

A clear trend of recent years has been the growth of cleantech accelerators, all around the world. CTG will provide an overview on this trend, with a few examples to illustrate what is available to entrepreneurs willing to travel.

This will set the stage for us to hear from a select group of top entrepreneurs from Big Booster, an international start-up acceleration program connecting Lyon and Boston innovators – and an official partner of Cleantech Forum Europe 2016.

Moderated by: Richard Youngman, CEO, Cleantech Group

Available Presentations:

Cyleone

Smart & Blue

CTG regards helping you navigate your way towards an uncertain future as a core part of our role and value proposition. In that spirit, we are going to end this year’s Forum by providing our “early warnings” on innovation trends we are keeping an eye on – and why. In the past 5 years, we have seen cleantech become a collection of “intersections”, or confluences, between energy and industrial technologies and enablers such as software, big data and internet of things. In this session – and with the help of some of the brightest minds in academia and business – we will present what we believe are 3 future enablers of cleantech: blockchain technology, gene editing (CRISPR-Cas9) and 5G networks.

Moderated by: Jules Besnainou, Director, Cleantech Group

Available Presentation:

Cutting Edge

We will close out the 2016 Forum and partake one last time in the food and beverages of our host city, Lyon – the world capital of gastronomy.