In further support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s vision for expanding the state’s high-tech corridor and creating ‘green’ jobs, the Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) at SUNY Polytechnic Institute announced today the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) award for CNSE’s clean energy-focused incubator has been officially renewed, with $1.2 million further supporting the entrepreneurial and commercialization-based opportunities for energy-centered enterprises that are enabled by Incubators for Collaborating & Leveraging Energy and Nanotechnology (iCLEAN).
SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher said, “The renewal of this award is a resounding endorsement of New York’s commitment to develop next generation energy technologies and provides CNSE and E2TAC with critical resources for continuing their cutting edge research. SUNY is proud to advance Governor Cuomo’s clean energy initiatives and will continue to encourage collaboration between industry and SUNY faculty and students. I want to thank NYSERDA for its support and applaud Governor Cuomo for his continued leadership and enabling this tremendous partnership of innovation and education.”
“Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s commitment to maintaining New York’s global leadership in clean energy development is significantly bolstered by this important award, which provides critical support to the Governor’s vision to create green jobs throughout the state,” said SUNY Poly Vice President of Entrepreneurship Innovation and Clean Energy Programs Dr. Pradeep Haldar. “We are grateful for NYSERDA’s steadfast support of this consortium which is building upon and enabling an even more entrepreneurial, opportunity-oriented, clean energy-focused economy in New York State.”
As a result of the initial NYSERDA award, iCLEAN was established in 2010 by SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s (SUNY Poly) Energy & Environmental Technology Applications Center (E2TAC), which offers a critical platform for SUNY Poly to leverage its intellectual power base and state-of-the-art infrastructure to provide an applications-targeted resource supporting technology development; and by the Hudson Valley Center for Innovation (HVCFI), the Hudson Valley’s premiere technology accelerator. To date, iCLEAN has been a tremendous success by working with over 27 client companies, and it has graduated 4 start-ups from its incubation efforts, supported the creation and retention of over 120 jobs, assisted client companies in raising over $74 million in private and public funding and created spin-offs from SUNY Poly that include Bess-Tech, Eonix, and Goodlight amongst others.
iCLEAN boasts a growing list of partners that are able to gain access to SUNY Poly’s state-of-the-art laboratories and cleanroom facilities, as well as HVCF’s business network and expertise, to receive a number of professional services, connect with high-tech leaders, and leverage the know-how of globally recognized clean energy companies which are increasingly calling New York State home. iCLEAN supports NYSERDA’s mission to advance innovative energy solutions that improve New York's economy and environment as it serves to advance energy innovation and technology, transforming New York's economy and empowering people to choose clean and efficient energy as part of their everyday lives.
iCLEAN was established by NYSERDA as one of six incubators specializing in accelerating and commercializing emerging New York State clean energy enterprises and technologies. The original award sought to expand existing incubator programs and formally link SUNY Poly’s academic and research strengths with the Hudson Valley’s expertise in business development and commercialization. Since then, iCLEAN has assisted numerous clean energy companies with the development of business plans, go-to-market strategies, commercialization roadmaps, and prototype development and deployment.
This three-year partnership renewal will continue to power the iCLEAN consortium, based at SUNY Poly’s $20 billion Albany campus and at the HVCFI’s Kingston location, to foster clean energy-based economic development and a sustainable economic landscape driven by entrepreneurship, innovation, and the commercialization of disruptive technologies throughout Tech Valley, a 19-county region that includes the Capital Region, Hudson Valley, Mohawk Valley, and parts of the North Country.
iCLEAN offers budding and seasoned entrepreneurs, scientists, engineers, inventors, and innovators the highest levels of incubation and commercialization assistance, including access to world-class facilities and equipment, prototyping and advanced development capabilities, manufacturing and training expertise, along with executive mentoring, entrepreneurship education, and outreach programs to grow a world-class innovation ecosystem for start-up and established clean energy companies in New York. iCLEAN enables its partner companies and other ventures that benefit from iCLEAN’s various programs to develop rapidly and organically, keeping the public and private investments—and jobs that these companies create—right here in New York.