CI lures Greek energy tech company

A Greek energy technology company will be relocating its Athens, Greece headquarters to East Hartford due to a $1 million investment from Connecticut Innovations, a quasi-public funding entity designed to help start and grow businesses in the state.

Advent Technologies develops materials and systems for renewable energy technology with a focus on high-temperature fuel cell membranes and components.

“Advent is a wonderful addition to Connecticut”™s growing fuel cell community, a sector that Governor Malloy is eager to strengthen through strategic investments such as this one,” said Claire Leonardi, CI CEO, in a press release. “The company brings innovative technology to Connecticut, and we look forward to providing strategic guidance and introductions as it establishes itself here.”

The round of CI funding will help the company commercialize its technology and move to the United States while keeping a research and development presense in Greece, said Vasilis Gregoriou, Advent CEO, in a press release. The large concentration of talent related to the fuel cell industry in Connecticut made it an easy decision to move, he said.