Another successful CleanEquity conference

Despite the financial gloom, there was plenty to be cheerful about at last month's CleanEquity Conference.

For a second year, the invitation-only conference for emerging environmental technologies took place in Monaco. Prince Albert presented the awards to the most promising companies in 3 areas of excellence in the field of environmental technology.

The award for research went to General Fusion of Canada, a privately held development company developing commercial applications for energy production using magnetized target fusion.

Solar ETC received the award for development. The US company is based in China, developing a solar thermal power plant with long-term storage capabilities.

The award for commercialization went to Australian company Biograde, which develops, manufactures and sells biodegradable packaging for the global plastics packaging industry. Biograde was the exclusive supplier of biodegradable packaging to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and has recently been appointed supplier of shopping bags for Kmart stores in Australia, where a ban on plastic bags comes into effect in May this year.