Jul 10 2012
Australia is well placed to play a lead role in the global cleantech 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 have been selected from a record field of 104 entrants that represent 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 funding.
“The record number of entrants for this year’s competition demonstrated the depth of talent in Australian CleanTech.”
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, Scoria 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.
The Australian competition is an initiative of the Gillard Government’s $8.2 million Supplier Advocate Program and is supported by Enterprise Connect, Commercialisation Australia, CSIRO and Austrade.