Earlier this month we gathered at the London offices of US-based law firm Baker Botts with assorted experts in the oil and gas and water industries to discuss our recently published special report into water innovation in the oil and gas industry by the London Environmental Investment Forum (LEIF), in association with Global Corporate Venturing.
That day we secured video interviews with executives from our sponsors Veolia, the France-based water company, and Baker Botts, as well as the report’s authors.
Given the success of fracking in raising the production of gas, which in turn as helped bring down the price of oil and gas, assorted experts suggested water innovation in the oil and gas sector had to some extent been delayed. However, those in the room concurred that over time there would be significant investment in water innovation in oil and gas, which would likely be driven by future regulation, due to concerns about the environmental friendliness of fracking.
Wayne Evans, of Veolia, outlined the open innovation strategy Veolia is taking to work with start-ups in the water sector.
Hamish McArdle, of Baker Botts, tackled the legal needs of executives in the oil and gas sector.
Neil Foster, of Baker Botts, talked about the important legal and transactional points executives needed to bear in mind when doing corporate venturing deals.
Tom Whitehouse, LEIF chairman, detailed some of the main points discussed on the day, and the reports findings.
While I pointed out that the oil and gas, chemicals and water corporations in attendance managed some of the biggest pools of capital overall directed towards corporate venturing.