In the next year, the Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center hopes to pinpoint technologies that address the country’s energy challenges. The first steps took place in the past 10 days.
The center, located in Pittsburgh and founded in 2006 under the auspices of the Pittsburgh Technology Council, reviewed more than 40 applications recently at sessions at Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh. Penn State and Pitt, along with Carnegie Mellon University, are partners with the center on the project.
Applications included a number of ideas for solar and wind, new solutions for traditional fuel generation and carbon capture and sensors, and new approaches to energy storage and generation in fuel cells and batteries, to name a few. The center will provide grants as part of a $1.1 million program to new or existing industry-university partnerships to accelerate the commercialization of technologies to market through Dec. 31, 2010.
The center recently completed a study called “Pennsylvania Opportunities in Advanced Materials for Energy,” which found PA is a national leader for innovation in advanced materials for energy, has a significant industrial presence in those sectors and a significant alignment between its industry base and research assets.
“The data demonstrates that Pennsylvania is very well positioned to leverage its assets in advanced materials to support a thriving energy sector, for both non-renewable and renewable sources, along with new green solutions,” says Dr. Alan Brown, the center’s executive director.
“We are confident that our energy initiative, supported by the state, will facilitate innovation through new industry-researcher partnerships and building on our energy legacy,” Brown says.
Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority recently granted the center $500,000 to support this effort.
Source: Alan Brown, Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center
Writer: Joe Petrucci