EPFL

EPFL is one of the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology. Located on the shores of Lake Geneva, EPFL has three missions: education, research and technology transfer at the highest international level. Professor Michael Graetzel’ laboratory, where he developed the dye-sensitised solar cell (‘DSSC’), is just one of the more than 250 laboratories and research groups on campus, and EPFL is one of Europe’s most innovative and productive technology institutes. Since 1994, EPFL has had an active and broad licensing programme to promote the industrial development of the DSSC technology

2041

2041 was founded by polar explorer, environmental leader and public speaker Robert Swan, OBE; the first person in history to walk to both the North and South poles. Swan has dedicated his life to the preservation of Antarctica by the promotion of recycling, renewable energy and sustainability to combat the effects of climate change. With four years to go until the third ‘World Summit for Sustainable Development’ in 2012, where the existing Kyoto Protocol for the Environment will expire, the threats of climate change has become apparent to us all, nevermore so than after Al Gore’s eye-opening ‘Inconvenient Truth’ helped clarify and focus the issue of climate change to a global audience. It is the mission of 2041 to build on this by informing, engaging and inspiring the next generation of leaders to take responsibility, to be sustainable, and to know that now is the time for action in policy development, business generation and future technologies. 2041 is the year of the review of the Environmental Protocol of thea Antarctic Treaty. The organization’s aim is to work towards the protection of this treaty, so there is never a need to exploit the last great continent on Earth for minerals and fossil fuel.

BASF

With business partners in over 200 countries, BASF is the world’s leading chemical company with more than 150 production sites worldwide and over 95,000 employees. Headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany, where the company operates the world’s largest integrated chemical complex, the BASF Group comprises more than 160 subsidiaries and affiliates. In 2006, BASF posted sales of Euro 52.6 billion and income before special items of approximately Euro 7.3 billion. BASF helps their customers to be more successful through intelligent system solutions and high-quality products, conducting business in accordance with the principles of sustainable development.

ConQuip, Inc.

ConQuip, Inc.’s mission is to supply service, systems integration, products and custom manufactured machines that provide innovative value solutions. Founded in 1994, ConQuip, Inc. has established itself as premier manufacturer of high precision, quality converting equipment.