New research released recently by auditing firm Deloitte and the Cleantech Group, which CIG is aware of, indicates that clean tech venture capital investment deals across the globes largest markets saw unprecedented growth in the first quarter.
The report announced that venture investment in the sector rose 83% from the recession strained first quarter of 2008, reaching $1.9 billion, while the surprising 180 new venture capital deals concluded in the first quarter of this year broke the previous record set in the last quarter of 2009.
"The bounce-back in venture investment from lows in early 2009 has continued, with the first three months of 2010 representing the strongest start to a year we have ever recorded," CIG understands the president of the Cleantech Group was recently quoted as saying. “Key to the growth has been increasing interest in a broader range of clean tech themes, such as smart mobility and resource efficiency, which are now taking over from the historically dominant renewable energy sector."
According to the firm the increase in investment has been partly fuelled by a wide range of government incentives in the energy sector, predominantly in Europe, as well as direct funding for some smart grid and energy efficiency schemes.
CIG sources say that transportation reportedly led the cleantech investment sector in the first quarter followed by solar and LED lighting technology.
Regardless of the fact that China may now lead the U.S. as the overall top investor into clean tech, the U.S. still dominates venture capital investments.
