Four Upstate Companies Receive Awards Through
Commercialization Assistance Program
EAST SYRACUSE, NY (1/10/08)—The Syracuse Center of Excellence Office for Industry Collaboration, the Metropolitan Development Foundation (MDF) and New York Assemblyman William Magnarelli (D-120) announced January 10 that four upstate companies are the recipients of Commercialization Assistance Program (CAP) awards promoting the commercialization of new, green technologies.
Combined, the exciting projects being commercialized by these companies hold the potential for creating 94 new high-value jobs and $109 million in new revenue in Central New York and other upstate areas over the next five years.
The awards total $199,875 and leverage $623,709 in private sector and university matching support.
The four CAP award winning companies announced are:
• Double A Willow
Based in Fredonia, this company is working with the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry to produce shrub willow as a source biomass fuel for renewable energy production. This project proposes to take Double A’s biomass feedstock nursery from demonstration to large-scale commercial production within a period of 12 months.
• Isolation Sciences, LLC
Based in Williamsville, this firm is working with Clarkson University to produce products creating “greener,” more energy-efficient laboratory environments. Specifically, Isolation Sciences is developing a kit to modify fumehoods that will permit these isolation shelters to maintain a negative air pressure within a positive pressure environment while reducing wasted energy by more than 95%.
• Vento Tek, Inc.
Based in Potsdam and working with Clarkson University, this company intends to bring to market a revolutionary Smart Wind Turbine Blade incorporating active control capabilities for more efficient power generation. This is accomplished by using flow control actuators as well as twisted-coupled blades constructed from composite materials.
• Widetronix Semiconductors, Inc.
Based in Ithaca and working with Cornell University, Widetronix will use its grant proceeds to bring a patent pending wafer manufacturing process online. This company produces high quality silicon carbide expatial wafers which significantly improve the reliability, lifetime and energy efficiency of power devices (i.e. transistors and diodes) that are made from this material.
The Commercialization Assistance Program is made possible by a grant secured by
Magnarelli, administered through the Syracuse CoE Office for Industry Collaboration and the MDF, to promote commercialization of green technologies.
“The Commercialization Assistance Program has proven to create jobs. Programs like this are a great example of public-private partnership, where State funding is able to support and encourage the growth of private business,” says Magnarelli.
“These grants are extremely beneficial to upstate companies trying to gain an early foothold in rapidly growing and evolving green technologies,” says Robert M. Simpson, president-elect of the Metropolitan Development Association of Syracuse and CNY (MDA). “In partnership with Assemblyman Magnarelli and the Syracuse Center of Excellence, we are proud of the jobs and economic growth that have resulted from this important program.”
“CAP funding is a great tool for moving exciting new products and services from the thoughts and design stage to reality,” says Sandra Downey, executive vice president of the Syracuse CoE Office for Industry Collaboration (OIC). “The OIC serves as an important facilitator for new collaborative research and development and demonstration projects between industry and the 12 research institutions that comprise the Syracuse Center of Excellence.”
An early-round CAP Award recipient was featured during the announcement. Dating back to 2002, The O’Brien & Gere Companies received CAP grants totaling $87,500 to develop new processes and control systems for the abatement of indoor air pollutants. Since receiving that award, 100 new jobs have been created directly relating to this project at O’Brien & Gere.
CAP grants are awarded for projects that commercialize new products and services in the fields of indoor environmental quality, water resources, and clean and renewable energy—the three focus areas of the Syracuse Center of Excellence.
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