Investor confidence in clean technologies is on the rise, according to the latest quarterly venture capital investment report from the Ann Arbor-based Cleantech Network.

Investment in cleantech reached an all-time high as venture capitalists in North America and Europe invested a record $1.74 billion in the third quarter.

This brings the year-to-date level of investment in cleantech to $3.64 billion, a 13 percent increase over the same period in 2006. Cleantech Network will discuss more details at Cleantech Forum XIV now under way in Toronto.

North American VCs invested close to $1.3 billion, representing a 50 percent increase over the second quarter of 2007 and a 36 percent increase over the third quarter of 2006.

Venture capitalists in Europe invested $472 million, up 206 percent from the second quarter of 2007 and a 13 percent increase from the third quarter of 2006.

The Energy Generation segment continues to lead other segments within the cleantech category with $1.2 billion invested in the third quarter, $901 million in North America, up 106 percent from the second quarter and 52 percent up from a year earlier.

The two leading segments within Energy Generation, solar and biofuels, continue to climb. Solar investment reached $410 million in North America, a 16 percent increase over the second quarter. Biofuels companies raised $215 million in North America and $16 million in Europe.

Great Lakes IT Report
Posted on 10/25/2007 7:27:13 AM
http://www.glitr.com/Article.asp?id=500436&spid=