Web 2.0 Summit now courting clean-tech start-ups

The Web 2.0 Summit--a conference of the Silicon Valley digiterati--seems to have changed its theme from "monetize the Web" to "save the world."

Tim O'Reilly, one of the Web 2.0 Summit organizers, on Monday posted a blog with details on the fifth edition of the conference coming up in November and its Launchpad event for start-ups.

The concept is to break out of the Web-only worldview and see if the ideals of the Web, like collective intelligence and innovation, can be applied to the world's woes.

"In an era of looming scarcities, economic disruption, and the possibility of catastrophic ecological change, it's time for us all to wake up, to take our new 'superpowers' seriously, and to use them to solve problems that really matter," O'Reilly wrote.

For its Launchpad event, the conference organizers are looking for start-ups in alternative energies, social entreprenuerialism, microfinance, developing economies, political action, and renewable technologies. Crossover with the Web is a bonus, but not a requirement, O'Reilly said.

The overall conference's theme is "The Opportunity of Limits," or finding business opportunity in social and environmental challenges.

As someone who attended the 2006 Launchpad and left somewhat underwhelmed, I applaud the shift in focus.

Some of the best entrepreneurial opportunities are in energy and environment-oriented technologies. And I agree when the organizers say that the Web can play a substantial role in addressing real social problems and divisions.

"Increasingly, the leaders of the Internet economy are turning their attention to the world outside our industry. And conversely, the best minds of our generation are turning to the Web for solutions," wrote John Battelle, president of Federated Media Publishing and a conference organizer.

So the Internet may be maturing and the nature of innovation broadening. But it's still exciting.

[rickolano]

True innovation and entrepreneurialism is just not allowed any more in the United States. At least when it threatens big oil and energy. It is these entities that run our country's leaders who do what they say (lobby). Otherwise it would not be so hard to have far more clean-tech improving our standard of living, our health, and our environment.

http://www.marketedu.com/profile.cfm?username=Future1investor&viewblog=112

[jamalystic]

I'm glad for this shift by the Web 2.0 forum. Rather than just branding the Web as a money thing, we should be focussing now on how we can integrate the Web to the general problems facing our common good like climate change. The following article shows how the Web can be a huge factor in curbing green house gases: The Internet & ICT: Cutting CO2 Emissions(http://www.internetevolution.com/author.asp?section_id=506&doc_id=157007&F_src=flftwo)

[dryicezero]

It's time that we start shifting our resources to overcoming dependence on foreign energy. We need to pioneer the next big movement for mass energy production if we want to remain a technological leader and world power. Resources are only going to become more scarce as time goes on, and warring over these resources is not the solution. There needs to be a two headed approach to this: 1) Drastically increase efficiency and reduce overall consumption, and 2) develop a new source of renewable and sustainable energy. By attacking the problem from both ends, we will arrive at a solution much faster. (http://www.smbtechadvice.com)

[Manhattan2]

Solar powers road to legitimacy will have to go through a solar transfer conversion before the efficiencies will be realized.