NYSERDA Awards US $1.5M to UB for Renewable Energy Incubator

"One way New York is leading the nation in the clean energy revolution is through fostering successful partnerships between early-stage clean energy businesses and regional incubators that help them grow and compete in the global marketplace," said Francis Murray Jr., president and CEO of NYSERDA. "The funding we announce today represents Gov. David A. Paterson's commitment to invest in the infrastructure that will help innovators develop their products, take their ideas to the market and expand our state's clean energy industry."

UB's program, Directed Energy, is designed to utilize the technical expertise of scientists and engineers at the university with the business development skills of the university's Technology Incubator in order to foster clean energy companies and job growth in Western New York. NYSERDA funds are intended to assist companies throughout the incubation process, and to develop a financially self-sustaining program that makes Western New York a regional center for developing clean energy technologies.

The Directed Energy program also will work with the Buffalo-Niagara Enterprise to attract energy companies to Western New York by marketing the region's natural and institutional assets. In addition, Directed Energy will develop curricula to better prepare university students for the green economy and to help companies provide quality continuing education to employees. Alfred University, Buffalo's Insyte Consulting and Buffalo-Niagara Enterprise, UB's Center for Industrial Effectiveness (TCIE), Lockport's Harrison plant incubator, Niagara County's Vantage Center and Batavia's Harvester Center are partners in UB's Directed Energy program.

To hear more about the goal of the program, play the video clip below.