Kari Herlevi, program manager of the Finnish funding agency for technology and innovation Tekes, was glad he attended this week's Cleantech Forum XVI in San Francisco.

"It was really valuable for me. I just transferred to California half a year ago and I really need these kinds of events where all the cleantech experts gather together," he told the Cleantech Group.

"It’s a hub of networking and a hub of knowledge so it's really valuable for me."

Forging international ties: from left to right, Kari Herlevi from the Finnish funding agency Tekes; Stefan Wluka of Fuchs; Chenoa Farnsworth and Miyuki Merry of Kolohala Ventures; Robijn Hornstra of Any Road Advisors; and Mark Blundell of eurovoltaic Plc (photo) >> [1]

Nearly a thousand attendees representing practically every continent overran the Fairmont Hotel for two days, and were welcomed by San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom.

Newsom called persuasively for increased cleantech industry momentum, characterizing current efforts as only "playing at the margins" of climate change.

Tim Konicek (L) of Cleantech Partners and colleague Chris Bongars (R) from Cleantech Asia Capital Management talk shop with Pangaea Ventures’ Andrew Haughian (C) (photo) >> [2]

Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT [3]) launched a website where cleantech vendors can submit sustainable technology proposals for the megachain’s stores. (See Walmart: cleantech solutions wanted [4].)

Representatives from Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT [5]) and IBM (NYSE: IBM [6]) talked about ways to improve energy efficiency through software development.

Clean transportation opportunities were discussed by electric car companies Th!nk and Reva, along with the non-profit CALSTART.

And speakers from Spain's Acciona (MCE: ANA [7]), General Electric (NYSE: GE [8]) and Pacific Gas & Electric reviewed the solar industry's growth over the last 30 years.

Electrovaya’s CEO Sankar DasGupta might be trying to convince CID Capital’s Raj Pai (C) and Global Environment Fund’s Julia Pulzone (R) that his 100 percent electric two-seater is not much smaller than a Toyota Yaris. (photo) >> [9]

Brief pitches from 21 selected companies such as Simbol Mining Corp., Wind Harvest International (see Harvesting the wing under tall turbines [10]), Nanoexa, Electrovaya [11] (TSE: EFL [12]) and Industrial Origami were also interspersed throughout the day's agenda.

Most often seen around the exhibitors' hall wielding a handheld drill powered by his company's lithium-ion batteries (no tomatoes were harmed in Sonora Transplant's greenhouse exhibit), Nanoexa COO Richard D’sa (R) put the power tools away long enough to grab CEO Michael Pak (L). (photo) >> [13]

Most memorable pitch conclusion: “It’s so simple, we can’t fail!” Verilite CEO Eyal Richter asserted to a room of some 300 potential investors.

At the evening’s gala dinner, the cleantech efforts of what Cleantech CEO Nick Parker described as “hometown juggernaut” Google (NASDAQ: GOOG [14]) and United Arab Emirates’ Masdar Initiative were recognized. (See Google, Masdar receive 2008 Cleantech Awards [15])

Technologies for designing green buildings and retrofitting others started day two, followed by a talk on finding and maintaining sustainable fresh water supplies for industry needs.

Describing cleantech investment opportunities in India and China, industry insiders encouraged the audience to get a first-hand look at the possibilities (see Think different about cleantech in India and China, say experts [16].) Cleantech Forums will be held in both countries later this year.

The Cleantech Group, organizers of the Cleantech Forums, formally launched a new India operation [17], chaired by high profile investor Vinod Khosla, intended to accelerate the adoption of cleantech in India.

Marcia Hatch (L) and Gordon Empey (R) of Heller Ehrman Venture Law Group were only too happy to smile for the camera. (photo) >> [18]

And Andy Karsner, assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy, announced the recipients of a newly-established program to speed up the tech transfer process from lab to market. (See New U.S. DOE program links VCs and researchers [19].)

Karsner's talk followed on the heels of a technology transfer discussion featuring speakers from university licensing, venture capital and industry.

Were they discussing women in cleantech or their exhibits? From left to right, Julia Hamm, Solar Electric Power Association; Kathleen Gilligan, California Cleantech Open; Annette Walker, California Cleantech Open. (photo) >> [20]

Cleantech Forum XVII will be in Brussels. More details available here [21].