A speed brokering session to develop new business contacts in the energy, sustainable cities, and water sectors at Rio+20 was a success.

Representatives from NGOs, clean energy businesses, academia and government spent two hours circulating through a schedule of 12 seven-minute "speed dating" style interviews with new business contacts.

The seven minutes ticked off with a clock on the screen, and music with a heavy beat signalled time to change.

The event, hosted by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), aimed to break away from the typical side event format of speaker panels and PowerPoint slides.

Against a background of panel discussion side events, the session stood out as innovative.

"This is such a refreshing change from the usual Powerpoint-driven side event," said one participant, "it is so interesting to see what others are doing in the sustainable development space, and it was just plain fun."

Participants rated the event very highly. Verbatim comments on feedback forms included "the concept was amazing" and "had some very useful discussions," and "I've made some great new business contacts, and two or three of them have serious potential."

The event, which marked REEEP's tenth anniversary, was moderated by Director General Martin Hiller.

"This was REEEP's first Speed Brokering," said Hiller, "but it certainly won't be our last. This is exactly the type of session we intend to hold alongside other major clean energy-related events. It plays to the REEEP strength in bringing diverse players together."

Participants were also honoured with an opening address by Thomas Stelzer, UN Assistant Secretary General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs.

In his statement, Stelzer underlined the importance of Partnerships and praised REEEP as an effective example of the collaborative approach that sustainable development requires.