Silicon Valley is increasingly invested in clean technologies and is already looked upon as a global leader in new technological development. As happens with most new technologies in their infancy, Silicon Valley's focus is currently on component manufacturing. However, a difference from earlier technology cycles is the upfront impact of globalization, especially the emergence of China and India as providers of skilled labor and large markets.  Accordingly, the globalization of cleantech could follow some well-trodden paths and some new ones:

1. As manufacturing gets modularized, firms such as Applied Materials might shift component work to East Asia. Some of this is already happening.
2. System integration and other service provision might increasingly be provided by the large Indian system integrators. As of 2009, however, there is little evidence of this happening.
3. Firms in Europe and East Asia have been investing in cleantech for some time now, and might participate in technological leadership. 

In each case, we are interested in exploring the time-frame and the driving forces.   These will typically be outcomes of a mix of regulatory, domestic market and skills issues.

The conference, the fifth in the annual series on the Globalization of Services, will likely host about 20 academics and 40 corporates, as with past events. 

Presentations are planned by firms in Silicon Valley in the fields of component manufacturing, systems integration and service provision; by overseas service providers on how outsourcing in these areas improves outcomes in terms of strategic direction, efficiency, cost-savings and accountability; by OEMs on supply-chain linkages with service outsourcers; and by venture capitalists and consultants on how their work helps the process of outsourcing cleantech services.

Registration is required for this event ($30 by Dec. 4, $45 late) and includes continental breakfast, lunch and free parking. Use the RSVP link at the top of the page to register.

Information on the previous Globalization of Services conference, including presentations, is available here.

This conference is the 5th annual "Globalization of Services" conference, made possible through the generosity and efforts of ETLA, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy, the University of Colorado, Denver and Wipro.

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