Conference on Clean Energy: Financing and Partnering for Emerging Businesses - Nov. 2, Hynes Auditorium, Boston

BOSTON, MA-September 26, 2006-Soaring energy prices and tightening regulations are once again making clean energy technologies attractive for investors. The second annual Conference on Clean Energy: Financing and Partnering for Emerging Businesses will showcase very early stage companies based on cutting edge technologies, as well as funded startups, in a series of investor pitches, presentations, panel discussions and exhibits. The event will be held on Thursday, November 2 at the John B. Hynes Convention Center in Boston. It runs from 8:30 AM till 5:00 PM, followed by a reception for all participants.

California, New York State and other regions of the country have established rapidly growing clean energy clusters. The Conference on Clean Energy hosts-the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center, the Massachusetts Hydrogen Coalition, and the Energy Special Interest Group at the MIT Enterprise Forum-have designed the Conference and related events to support the growth of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Cluster in order to compete with the more established regions and to enhance economic growth in the Commonwealth.

"Our inaugural conference last year drew over 200 attendees and provided considerable exposure for the early stage companies that had the opportunity to pitch their businesses to investors and others in the sector. We know that some of these companies were able to enhance their business as a result of connections made at the conference," said conference chair Dr. Linda Plano of the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center. "The proof is in the pudding and people are contacting us this year to request speaking opportunities and a number of investors have already registered for the event. It is our intention to build on what we started last year to help spur the growth of a clean energy cluster in Massachusetts and the Northeast." Sponsored by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Renewable Energy Trust and Foley Hoag LLP, the conference is an exciting opportunity for investors to learn about the latest technologies emerging from universities and startup companies in the Northeast. Entrepreneurs, inventors, service providers, universities, job seekers, and employers will benefit from the diverse sessions designed to promote interaction and education within the sector.

As a complement to the early stage companies featured in the investor presentations, the Massachusetts Hydrogen Coalition (MHC) will provide a forum for established Clean Energy companies that will share their successes. These sessions will provide insight into the hot technologies and market areas while providing valuable information on lessons learned in the process from ideation to raising capital to sales. The Energy Special Interest Group at the MIT Enterprise Forum is hosting a free job fair, open to all job seekers with a passion for clean energy and a desire to help make their employer a success in the sector. Companies searching for qualified and enthusiastic employees are encouraged to apply to exhibit at the Job Fair. The Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center was created in 2004 as a program in the Massachusetts Economic Stimulus Bill. Its goal is to support technology transfer activities from public and private research institutions to companies in Massachusetts. To achieve this goal, the Center works with technology transfer offices at Massachusetts research institutions; faculty, researchers, and students who have commercially promising ideas; and companies across the Commonwealth. The MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge, http://www.mitforumcambridge.org , is a volunteer, non-profit organization based at MIT whose mission is to promote and strengthen the process of starting and growing innovative and technology-oriented companies.

The Massachusetts Hydrogen Coalition, Inc., is a membership based non-profit, 501 (c)(6) corporation focused on expanding hydrogen, fuel cell and related industries in Massachusetts.

Conference registration and other information are available on line at www.mattcenter.org/CEConf06/CE-Conference.htm.