SYRACUSE, NY--The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has announced an award of $1.5 million to the Center for Clean Tech Entrepreneurship at the Tech Garden.<!--more--> This award will establish a clean energy business incubator program, providing business support to accelerate the successful development of early-stage, clean energy technology companies in central upstate New York. 

Through this award and other ongoing efforts, NYSERDA is building the capacity to foster innovative clean energy companies, grow the clean energy industry in New York, and expand the State's "green collar" workforce.

The Clean Tech Center program offers support for entrepreneurs and early stage companies through incubation, acceleration, and retention. NYSERDA funds are intended to assist companies throughout the incubation process, and to develop a financially self-sustaining program that makes the Central Upstate New York region a national center for developing clean energy technologies.

Clean Tech Center partners in this NYERDA initiative include the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems (SyracuseCoE), The Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Development Association (MDA).  The initiative is supported by a coalition of academic research partners that include  Binghamton University, Clarkson University, Cornell University, Morrisville State College, SUNY ESF and Syracuse University, as well as various energy and environmental centers at SUNY institutions across upstate New York.

Governor David A. Paterson's Renewable Energy Task Force Report, issued in February 2008, made several recommendations calling for increased support to clean energy businesses.  NYSERDA has led efforts to establish clean energy business incubators that provide guidance, technical assistance, and consultation to young growing companies, so they contribute to New York State's economy and are well positioned to compete on national and global levels.

NYSERDA

www.nyserda.org