TOP 30 CLEANTECH COMPANIES ANNOUNCED FOR AUSTRALIAN CLEANTECH COMPETITION

Australia is well placed to play a lead role in the global clean technology sector judging by the calibre of the 30 semi-finalists announced today for the Australian Clean Technologies Competition 2012, says John O’Brien, managing director of Australian CleanTech.

O’Brien said they had been selected from a record field of 104 entrants that represents the best in Australian clean technology innovation and opportunity.

In total, the entrants have raised nearly $100m for their businesses so far with about 25% of this coming from external funders.

“The record number of entrants for this year’s competition demonstrated the depth of talent in Australian cleantech. Those that didn’t make the semi-finals should be extremely proud of their achievements so far and we welcome them back for the 2013 Competition.”

The Australian Clean Technologies Competition, part of the Cleantech Open based in the USA, was launched by the Parliamentary Secretary for Industry and Innovation Mark Dreyfus in May.

Dr Marc Newson, Cleantech Supplier Advocate said, “Going by the calibre of entrants for this year’s competition, Australian cleantech is extremely well placed to prosper at home and in the global market. Some of the technologies on display are world-class.”

A judging panel comprised of experts in innovation and commercialization included:

• Geoff Hoffman, Clayton Utz

• Marc Newson, Cleantech Supplier Advocate

• David Clark, Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick

• Paul van Bergen, KPMG

• Ken MacLeod, Scotia Macleod

• Ben Wright, ATP Innovations

• Andrew Pickering, Cleantech Ventures

The 30 semi-finalists were chosen from a national field of entrants across the spectrum of clean technology activity, which includes transportation, smart power, green grid, energy storage, green building, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and air water and waste management.

The semi-finalists and their categories are:

• Active Bioculture, Ourinbah, NSW – Air, water and waste

• Advanced Plant Nutrition, Toowoomba, QLD – Air, water and waste

• Aeratron, Smiths Lake, NSW – Energy efficiency

• Bennett Clayton, Ivanhone, VIC – Green building

• Biofiba, Point Frederick, NSW – Green building

• Casafico, Braeside, VIC – Green building

• CINTEP, Brisbane, QLD – Energy efficiency

• ELE Australia, Balmain, NSW – Renewable energy

• Elemental Energy Technologies, Sydney, NSW –Renewable energy

• Energy Saving Networks, St. Ives, NSW – Energy efficiency

• enLighten Australia, Artarmon, NSW – Energy efficiency

• Environmental Sciences Australia, Ainslie, ACT – Green building

• GenesisERT, East Perth, WA – Renewable energy

• GreenSync, Melbourne, VIC – Smart power, green grid and energy storage

• H2O Organiser, Cessnock, NSW – Air, water and waste

• Intelligent Software Development, Adelaide, SA – Smart power, green grid & energy storage

• Intresto, Armidale, NSW – Green building

• Katru Eco-Inventions, Baulkham Hills, NSW – Renewable energy

• nDure Technologies, Mulgrave, VIC – Transportation

• Recycling Solutions, Burleigh Waters, QLD – Air, water and waste

• Rotary Heat Exchangers, Bayswater North, VIC – Energy efficiency

• Silenceair International, Rozelle, NSW – Green building

• SkyCool, Hornsby, NSW – Energy efficiency

• Smart Roof Australia, St Kilda, VIC – Energy efficiency

• Solar Dwellings, Mount Hawthorn, WA – Energy efficiency

• Switch Automation, Chippendale, NSW – Green building

• Tat-G Corp, South Pambula, NSW – Air, water and waste

• Timbercrete, Bilpin, NSW – Energy efficiency

• Tropiglas Technologies, Yokine, WA – Green building

• VR TEK Global, Knoxfield, VIC – Air, water and waste

The semi-finalists will join the Cleantech Business Accelerator Program, which includes individual mentoring to help with the development of their business plan; an intensive mentoring workshop; and the submission of a final business plan.

Up to six companies will then be selected as finalists and will receive additional advice and introductions.

The Australian winner will be announced at an Investment Showcase and Gala Dinner in October 2012.

The winner will be funded to represent Australia at the international Global Cleantech Open Competition in the US in November 2012. All of the finalists will be invited to join the Australian delegation attending this event.

About Australian CleanTech Open

www.cleantechopen.com.au

The Competition is an initiative of the Gillard Government’s $58.4 million Buy Australian at Home and Abroad initiative, and is supported by Enterprise Connect, Commercialisation Australia, CSIRO and Austrade. The competition is being managed by Australian CleanTech a private research and advisory business.