The government and the private sector both have important roles to play in improving the efficiency and success of clean energy research and development. While the government has realized the strategic importance of investment in clean energy R&D, entrepreneurs have found interesting ways to create public-private partnerships, and universities have found ways to commercialize energy technologies. Better coordination between the public and private sector can greatly increase the efficacy of investments. The first annual conference of the Yale Climate and Energy Institute convened leaders in science, policy, business, and international affairs to discuss the barriers that prevent clean energy from achieving full-scale deployment as well as solutions for overcoming those barriers.