Hessen, Germany's Center for International Business, at Intersolar North America 2009, San Francisco, CA

July 24, 2009

Opportunities for U.S. solar companies in Hessen – an innovative state dedicated to finding solutions to meet global challenges. NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The German State of Hessen U.S. Office for Economic Development participated for the first time in the Intersolar North America in San Francisco, CA; July 14-15, 2009 to meet with U.S. executives who are interested in establishing a European presence. Intersolar is one of the largest solar tradeshows in North America dedicated to bringing together companies across the global solar supply chain to improve the industry's global supply, distribution, training, regulation and business issues to advance solar as a significant part of the global energy supply. Hessen, with its largest city being Frankfurt am Main, is a leader in Germany's environmental technology industry. In Hessen, U.S. companies can fully cover global markets and optimize their cost structure as the industry becomes continuously more competitive. Hessen's environmental technology industry encompasses approximately 2,400 companies 77,000 employees with €12.5 billion sales and an export rate of 25%. Hessen's solar industry, comprised of 250 companies, includes players such as SMA Solar Technology AG, Wagner & Co Solar Technology, Concentrator Optics, ralos, and BlueTec. Germany's solar industry is second in Europe after Spain. Over 900 U.S. companies have successfully located to Hessen including SunPower Corporation, San Jose, CA; Ceilcote Air Pollution Control, Strongsville, IL; 3Tier, Seattle, WA; Golder Associates, Atlanta, GA; CAT PUMPS International Group, Minneapolis, MN and Hollingsworth & Vose, East Walpole, MA. Located in one of the "TOP 10" innovation regions in Europe, they find ample labor availability and with the completion of Kassel University's IWES (Frauenhofer -Institution for Wind Energy and Energy System Technologies) this year, it will have an additional institute to support future-oriented technologies. Other knowledge-based clusters in Hessen include Finance Center and Logistics Center Frankfurt, Software, Medical Technology and Biotechnology located throughout the state. Hessen offers customer services to U.S. companies at no cost – inquiries are handled confidentially and without obligation. To meet with industry experts from Hessen at the Solar Power 2009; Anaheim, CA October 26-29, 2009 Booth # 393 please contact Kristina.Garcia@hessen-agentur.de.

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