ATLANTA, Sept. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- The Global Cleantech Cluster Association (GCCA), a network of cleantech clusters, companies and professionals, today announced its Global Top 30 Semi-Finalists for its 2012 Later Stage Award. Representing the top later stage cleantech companies best positioned to attract investment for growth, the Global Top 30 span North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.  Over the next three months, the Global Top 30 will be judged by 28 cleantech venture capitalists, investors and serial entrepreneurs, who have collectively invested over $3.5 billion in clean technology globally.  Winners in 10 categories will be announced on November 12, at the Savannah International Clean Energy Conference and GCCA Later Stage Awards Celebration and Dinner.  The 2012 Later Stage Award is sponsored by Deloitte.

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"Choosing 30 companies out of this year's 200 nominations was an extremely competitive process," said Ben Taube, Chairman of the GCCA.  "The Global Top 30 represent a premier group of rising stars in the clean technology industry."

The Global Top 30 were selected out of the over 4000 companies represented by the GCCA's 45 member clusters.  Each cluster conducted internal evaluations to nominate up to 10 companies in 10 categories, including solar, wind, energy storage, green buildings, and water. In total, these member clusters nominated 200 companies for the 2012 Later Stage Award.  

"The Global Top 30 companies have a proven track record of promoting and increasing the use of green technology in their home markets," adds Shawn Lesser, Co-Founder of the GCCA.  "With a goal to advance the global use of clean energy and products, we are committed to spotlighting these innovative companies on a world stage."

The Global Top 30 were selected using a Keystone Method™, a business and venture development tool that has been reliably used since 2006 to evaluate and scrutinize over 400 early and later stage companies for investment or strategic repositioning.  It was developed by GCCA Head Judge Dr. Peter Adriaens and CleanTech Acceleration Partners at the University of Michigan.

"The Global Top 30 proved strong product differentiation and viable business models. They also secured solid market traction in their various clean technology sectors," said Dr. Adriaens.  "The 2012 Global Top 30 truly are the world's top-tier cleantech companies."

The winning companies in 10 categories will be announced at the Savannah International Clean Energy Conference.  The three-day conference, beginning November 11, will be a global gathering of the top cleantech and energy professionals from across the globe. The event is set to explore the significance and worldwide impact energy independence will have on clean energy, clean technologies and economic growth. The SICEC is presented in collaboration with CleanTech Connections, The Pendleton Consulting Group, Stephen Green, incoming chair of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and Watershed Capital Group.

A full list of all the GCCA Later Stage Award 2012 Global Top 30 Finalists can be found at: http://www.globalcleantech.org/awards/2012-global-top-30/

About the Global Cleantech Cluster Association

Global Cleantech is a non-profit association, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.  that creates conduits for companies to harness the tremendous benefits of international cleantech cluster collaboration in an efficient, affordable, and structured way.  Global Cleantech provides a gateway for established and emerging cleantech companies to gain exposure to potential investors, new markets, influential networks, innovative technologies and best practices.  GCCA was founded by the Finnish Cleantech Cluster, Skipso, swisscleantech, Technica Communications and Watershed Capital Group. For more information about Global Cleantech, please visit www.globalcleantech.org.

Technica CommunicationsLisa Ann Pinkerton, 408-806-9626, Lisaann@technicacommunications.com    

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SOURCE Technica Communications