Last year, I joined a group of fellow Texans and Israelis in Austin for the Texas-Israel Chamber's first ever Cleanovation conference.

We're now doing another event on September 14 in Houston.  Details are below and at this link.  

Information on the September 14, 2011 event follows below.  Join us on Plancast too!

Dr. Eli Offer, Israel's Chief Scientist Who I Interviewed at Last Year's Cleanovation Conference.  Other related video interviews I did may be viewed here.

Israel and Texas Working Together for Cleantech A special conference featuring the best Israeli, Texan and Global cleantech, energy and water companies.  Designed for building business opportunities, access to innovation and helping companies gain a competitive edge.     Cleanovation has emerged as one of the most important clean technology events (including energy efficiency, water, smart-grid and more) for decision makers and thought leaders from around the globe. The Texas-Israel Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Government of Israel's Economic Mission to the Southern Region will host Cleanovation in Houston on Sep 14, 2011.   More than 300 participants are anticipated to attend, along with leaders from Fortune 100, select emerging growth companies and the public sector with many having headquarters in Texas or Israel. Early registration discounts conclude on May 1, 2011. Last year's success may be viewed at: www.texasisrael-cleantech.org    Also of Interest Subdequent to our Cleanovation event will be the  Rice Alliance Annual Energy & Clean Technology Venture Forum, on Thursday September 15th, 2011. It will showcase numerous promising emerging energy technology companies.  Note:  Numerous Venture Capitalists will attend & participate.      Featured Highlights Early committed attendees: GE Energy, Nokia Siemens Networks, Waste Management, Shell GameChanger, Silicon Valley Bank, IDE, Miya Water, Israel Cleantech Ventures, Elbit Systems, Texas Institute, and more... One-on-one meetings to build and fund your business Presentations by featured Israeli & US companies More than 300 industry professionals expected New industry technology Break-out sessions and private meetings will be arranged Quick Facts    Due to Israel's scarce natural resources, it is leading the world in water and alternative energy innovations. Israel is the Silicon Valley of water. Relative to its small size, Israel has devoted more resources to the development of wastewater treatment and reclamation than any other country in the world. Home grown Israeli VC community.  Israel has a vibrant local VC community which includes Israel Cleantech Ventures, AquaAgro and Terra Ventures - three firms dedicated to investing in Israel's cleantech sector.     The sun shines brightly over Israel.  The solar radiation Israel receives is a driver of solar thermal companies. Leveragability of tech expertise to cleantech. Israel's tech sector has flourished through the creation of core technology competencies that are world leading. The Bird Energy Fund, a joint U.S & Israeli government fund targeted to fund R&D partnerships between Israeli and U.S companies has been making grants on a regular basis.  The Texas-Israel Chamber can help you find the right partner. Israeli & US Venture Capital Firms firms have already committed to participate in this event representing over $1B in investment potential.

Today in Tel Aviv, I had a chance to catch up with Israel Cleantech Ventures' Jack Levy.  Here's his take on the Cleanovation Conference that is taking place on September 14 in Houston.  If you're an Israeli company looking to partner with American companies, we hope you'll consider Texas - and the Texas Israel Chamber as your gateway and partner into new business and deal flow opportunities.

Today in Tel Aviv at the Landmark Ventures' Israel Dealmakers Summit, I visited with Tamar Guy, Executive Director of the Israel America Chamber of Commerce.  Hear what Tamar has to say about the Texas Israel Chamber of Commerce's Cleanovation Conference, taking place on September 14, 2011 in Houston.

Thank you Tamar for your friendship and support!

I have a biblical theory that I can't prove, but here goes:  God created two very special and holy places on the same day- Texas and Israel.   There's even a Facebook group for those who believe that on the 8th day, God created Texas.

That aside, there is something special about Texas and Israel.

Both states are doing very cool things in alternative energy and here is why I think Israeli alternative energy and water technologies should be looking to Texas as a place for their beta sites.  Texas has lots of land and water to experiment on.  And Texas is easier than other States to do business in.  Just  listen to what Jerry Patterson, Commissioner, Texas General Land Office has to say during the Texas Israel Chamber of Commerce’s Cleanovation conference in Austin.  

Follow Gerry's lead where he talks about Texas being in the energy business.  It's not a metaphor or a cute tag line. It's very real.  Hop over to Israel and you'll find an emerging energy industry there as well.  Both States (yup, the State of Israel and the State of Texas) have a very unique entrepreneurial culture and energy.

Merge the energy of the two States, and you have some very compelling intellectual and monetary combustion in the works.

Jerry’s office helps manage the state lands and mineral-right properties totaling 20.3 million acres in Texas. Included in that portfolio are the beaches, bays, estuaries and other “submerged lands” out to 10.3 miles in the Gulf of Mexico, institutional acreage, grazing lands in West Texas, and timberlands in East Texas.

In managing that property, the GLO issues oil and gas leases and surface leases and sells state land.  Sale and lease proceeds from Permanent School Fund lands go into the Permanent School Fund. The dividends and interest from the Permanent School fund investments go into the Available School Fund, and from there money is distributed to school districts on a per-pupil basis, helping to offset local property taxes. Since the Permanent School Fund was established in 1854, the GLO has deposited into it more than $6.8 billion, mostly from oil and gas leases and real estate sales and trades.

If you wanna figure out how to do business with Texas and Israel, mosey on over to the Chamber's site, where their awesome team in Dallas can help you get your brain in gear and the ball rolling.

And yes, Israel's got lots of cool things going on in energy where you can learn from here, here, or here.

 Gilad Peled was in Austin to help connect Israeli and Texas companies involved in the water and environment sectors of the economy.  He was a speaker at the recent Texas Israel Chamber of Commerce’s Cleanovation event in Austin on February 22.

For a list of contacts at the Israel Export Institute by vertical markets such as high tech, medical devices & healthcare, new media, security, etc., click here.