With little legacy infrastructure, inefficient markets, and a vast amount of unmet needs, the BOP represents an enormous opportunity for research and development firms looking to translate new technologies into financial returns.

Some of the best prospects today are in the energy industry, where investments in alternative or clean energy technologies has doubled in recent years. For example, venture capital firms have increased their investments in solar cell start-ups based on nanotechnology, anticipating cost breakthroughs that would enable them to tap the huge, unmet demand for energy in emerging markets, especially in rural areas. The idea is to incorporate solar cells into thin flexible sheets of plastics that could serve as roofing or building materials. The companies developing the technology estimate it will be able to provide energy for as little as $1 per watt - as low as the electricity currently provided by utilities.

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development is hosting a new online discussion on 'The business of development.' The forum follows in the footsteps of this spring’s online discussion ‘Business & Development - What is the right approach?’ and will give stakeholders a platform to voice their opinions and share their experiences on the role of business in creating wealth and opportunities in developing countries. The various contributions and questions raised during the previous discussion were taken into account in the production of the latest WBCSD report, titled Business for Development - Business solutions in support of the MDGs.

For more details, please visit the WBCSD's Web site.