Funding Helps Scientists Bring Clean Energy Solutions to Market
SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- San Jose State University
(SJSU) Foundation announced today that its Environmental Business Cluster
(EBC) was awarded a contract that will be worth $330,000 over the next year
in new funding by the California Energy Commission to continue working with
startup companies who focus on research and development for clean and
renewable energy and energy efficiency.
This is the fourth consecutive year that the California Energy
Commission has relied on the EBC to help its grant recipients commercialize
their technologies and bring new products to market.
"There's an incredible amount of attention and enthusiasm for clean and
renewable energy from both the public and private sectors," said Jim
Robbins, EBC executive director. "We work with entrepreneurs who start
companies and have proven technology, but lack customers or financing.
"Our program is designed to assist in the creation of a
commercialization plan while guiding the entrepreneur to remove the
barriers to bringing their technology to market."
The EBC management team provides entrepreneurs with top-tier business
development services and access to networks of industry specialists and
investors. Staff and consultants work directly with each entrepreneur for
up to one year providing help with market research, business and marketing
plans, as well as preparation with investor and customer presentations.
"When the California Energy Commission initially funded this program in
2003 the goal was to take one or two companies to the marketplace," said
Mary Sidney, chief operating officer at SJSU Foundation. "Within two years
the EBC successfully brought 13 new companies to market."
The EBC was the first incubator for businesses that focuses on
environmental products or services and is now the largest private incubator
focused on clean and renewable energy. Since 1995 the EBC has graduated 90
companies whose technologies solve serious environmental problems including
reliance on foreign oil.
Through a partnership with the City of San Jose Redevelopment Agency
and SJSU Foundation, the downtown San Jose incubator typically works with
30 startup companies who are working on technologies to provide solutions
including solar, wind, hydrogen, wave energy, energy efficiency and hybrid
fuels.
"We have successfully created a collaborative and creative environment
where entrepreneurs and innovators thrive, which has kept San Jose as a
global center of innovation," said San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales. "San Jose
and EBC are taking the lead in development in the emerging area of clean
technology that will save energy and enhance the way we live, while
strengthening our economic foundations."
About San Jose State University (SJSU) Foundation
The SJSU Foundation operates and manages four business incubators in
partnership with the San Jose Redevelopment Agency. The SJSU Foundation
manages the incubator facilities, provides world-class business development
services, and access to faculty experts and student interns for high-
potential, early-stage companies through the Environmental Business
Cluster, Software Business Cluster and San Jose BioCenter. San Jose's
incubator program also includes business development services for
international companies planning to establish and grow their business in
the United States through the fourth incubator, the U.S. Market Access
Center. The Redevelopment Agency provides state-of-the-art facilities to
house the incubators.
For nearly 75 years, the SJSU Foundation has provided the expertise and
business infrastructure enabling University faculty to partner successfully
with government agencies, corporations, and foundations to perform cutting-
edge research, public service, and other specialized projects that are
vital to a community of scholars and to society as a whole. As a private
non-profit corporation, the Foundation manages approximately $69 million
per year in research and public service programs directed by SJSU faculty
and SJSU- affiliated experts such as the directors of the four business
incubators.
About the Environmental Business Cluster
The Environmental Business Cluster was created to help bring
environmental technology and products to the market, improve the chances
for business success and increase the linkages between emerging companies
and established businesses, universities and professionals in the field.
The primary focus of the Environmental Business Cluster is on emerging
clean energy products and technologies. Located in San Jose, CA, it offers
both resident and non- resident programs. More information is available at
http://www.environmentalcluster.org .
SOURCE San Jose State University Foundation
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.sjsufoundation.org
http://www.environmentalcluster.org/
CONTACT:
Catherine Edwards, +1-408-406-9257, or
Catherine@csemarketingconsulting.com, for SJSU Foundation
|
