Apr 17 2012
In advance of the 2012 Brinks Innovation Competition to be held this fall, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione will host a “Where Are They Now?” luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at the firm’s Chicago offices.
Hosted by Brinks shareholder and Brinks Innovation Competition co-chair James P. Naughton, the annual luncheon will feature updates from the winners of the 2011 Competition, a panel discussion with clean technology investors, and speakers from the clean technology field.
A highlight of the event will be presentations from two of the 2011 Brinks Innovation Competition winners: Dave Becker, VP of Manufacturing and Operations for Catacel Corporation, and Jerry Lui, CEO of Ecologic Tech. They will discuss their innovations and how the award has helped their companies grow. Rebecca Reibe, Director of Global Business Initiatives for the Global Midwest Alliance, will provide an update on the 2012 Brinks Innovation Competition and Midwest Clean Tech 2012.
The luncheon also will include a panel discussion, “Trends in Global Clean Tech Funding,” to be moderated by Allen Dines, co-chair of the Brinks Innovation Competition and assistant director, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Office of Corporate Relations. Mr. Dines also is president of the Midwest Research University Network. The panel discussion will feature Shez Bandukwala, board member at the Association for Corporate Growth; John Krzywicki, True North Venture Partners; and Alex Tang, vice president of programs and finance with the Clean Energy Trust.
In addition, Peter Eelman, vice president of exhibitions and communications for the Association for Manufacturing Technology, will discuss the International Manufacturing Technology Show and its collaboration with the Midwest Clean Tech Conference and the Brinks Innovation Competition.
Now in its fourth year, the Brinks Innovation Competition is the centerpiece of the 2012 Midwest Clean Tech exposition, and this year will also be held in conjunction with the 2012 International Manufacturing Technology Show. The Brinks Innovation Competition has become a preeminent venue for entrepreneurs in new clean technologies to present venture-ready business ideas to the scientific and research communities and potential investors. Inventors submit their products, services or processes to a qualified panel of experts - competing not only for a cash award, but also for opportunities to explore licensing and funding, network with investors and help their ideas become reality. Submissions are judged by a panel of experts representing regional universities, venture capitalists and clean technology business executives.