Sponsors

Renewable Energy Network of Entrepreneurs in Western New York, or RENEW NY, was formed and launched in May of 2004 based upon a $150,000 3-year grant from New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The RENEW NY team led by High Tech Rochester, and supported by the Greater Rochester Enterprise, Rochester Institute of Technology, and the Ennovasion Group, contributed an additional $150,000 of cost-sharing to the project.

NYSERDA's goals include the creation of economic development opportunities in New York State around improved energy efficiency and the reduction of harmful emissions from the production of electricity. The formation of RENEW NY is consistent with these goals in that:

The focus of RENEW NY is economic development - by nurturing and helping existing early-stage (< 5 years old) renewable energy companies, and to help create a culture where new entrepreneurs in renewable energy can validate their ideas, and gain help in the steps to successful commercialization and viability.
Energy efficiency is a measure of the energy output per fuel input. Free renewable energy fuel sources such as sun, wind, and bio sources such as grains, waste products, and wood chips gain economic viability by increasing production efficiency versus existing methods. Many western NY companies are building companies based upon technology to improve energy efficiency.
Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power have the potential for zero emissions of harmful pollutants. Many of the biomass fuel stocks are emission-neutral, or redirect existing methane emissions to productive fuels.

NYSERDA

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) www.nyserda.org is a public benefit corporation created in 1975 by the New York State Legislature.

NYSERDA administers the New York Energy $martSM program, which is designed to support certain public benefit programs during the transition to a more competitive electricity market. Some 2,700 projects in 40 programs are funded by a charge on the electricity transmitted and distributed by the State's investor-owned utilities. The New York Energy $martSM program provides energy efficiency services, including those directed at the low-income sector, research and development, and environmental protection activities.

High Tech Rochester Inc. (HTR):

High Tech Rochester Inc. www.htr.org is a nonprofit organization focused on regional economic development in the technology and high growth business sector. HTR assists the development of new and emerging businesses through its business incubator, the Lennox Tech Enterprise Center. The incubator provides accelerated growth and success opportunities to entrepreneurs and start-ups. Through its Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the organization improves the competitive position of small manufacturing firms. HTR collaborates with academic and research institutions, businesses and professionals to support innovation and technology commercialization.

Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE):

Greater Rochester Enterprise www.greaterrochesterenterprise.com (GRE) is a public-private partnership established to professionally market the Rochester metropolitan region as a competitive, high-profile place for business location and growth. GRE will collaborate with business, academia, not-for-profit organizations and government to ensure a unified approach to regional economic development efforts.

Ennovasion Group

Ennovasion Group www.ennovasion.com helps its clients build new companies, business lines, and products. Its principals are serial entrepreneurs with experience in electronics, information technology, and energy industries. The company provides the Director and cost sharing to the RENEW NY project in order to facilitate and spur new company growth in the renewable energy sector.

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) www.rit.edu is internationally recognized as a leader in computing, imaging, technology, fine and applied arts, and education of the deaf. RIT enrolls 15,000 full- and part-time students in more than 300 career-oriented and professional programs. US News and World Report has consistently ranked RIT as one of the nation's leading comprehensive universities.

RIT recognizes the emerging importance of Alternative Energy Technologies and has established a number of programs in support of these fields in the College of Engineering, College of Science, College of Liberal Arts and the Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies (CIMS) including its support for the RENEW NY program.

The Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies (CIMS) at RIT was established in 1992 with the mission to increase the competitiveness of manufacturers through applied technology and training. CIMS represents a dynamic collaboration of in-house technical experts, as well as academic, industry and government resources.

CIMS' major programs include:

Center for Excellence in Lean Enterprise
Imaging Products Laboratory
Manufacturing Technologies Program
National Center for Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery
Occupational Safety and Ergonomics Excellence Program
Sustainable Systems Research Center
Systems Modernization and Sustainment Center

CIMS' 170,000 square-foot facilities, which house $45 million of contemporary equipment, on the campus of RIT support solution developments in technology bays, specialized applied technology laboratories and a state-of-the-art training center. Since its inception, CIMS has completed thousands of projects helping companies identify needs and develop solutions to address them, and provided training to tens of thousands of participants from companies around the world.

The strength of CIMS comes from the vast resource base that is comprised of CIMS' own full-time experts and RIT's collective assets. RIT's assets include world-renowned faculty, experienced and expert engineers and professional staff, up-and-coming undergraduate and graduate students and world-class, specialized laboratories.

CIMS is focused on the many areas of manufacturing excellence and product performance and reliability. We placed heavy applied R&D emphasis on life-cycle analysis, sustainable design, logistics and policy, dematerialization strategies, remanufacturing, material aging and performance, asset health management, materials testing, and numerous other areas of product and systems performance.

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