Brite Energy Receives $150K to Work with Students
WARREN, Ohio – Brite Energy Innovators has received a $150,000 Energy Program of Innovation Clusters Round 3 Phase 1 award through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Technology Transitions.
With the funding, Brite will work to bridge a gap, helping college student researchers in Ohio move their ideas and innovations from the research phase to the marketplace, a news release states.
“This isn’t just a win for Brite – this is a win for Ohio universities and their students who want to be on the forefront of solving the biggest problems of our generation, creating good paying jobs and mitigating climate change,” said Rick Stockburger, Brite president and CEO. “We’re excited for the partners we already have for this project, and even more excited for the fellow travelers we’re yet to meet to be a part of a very Brite future for our talented young people in Ohio.”
While Brite currently helps hundreds of scientists, engineers and innovators navigate the journey from bench-to-market by understanding industry needs and training founders on building sustainable businesses, the EPIC funding will help “unlock the talent and innovations” on university campuses, the release states.
“This program is about coming alongside university entrepreneurship and research programming and building a pathway for all of the great talent and ideas to break out of the university ecosystem and into the market,” said Jing Lyon, Brite’s program director.
“Our ultimate objective is to empower every student with the necessary support to materialize their concepts into commercially viable ventures,” Lyon said. “This journey starts with engagement and outreach, underscoring that entrepreneurship is a viable avenue for all. Then, we offer guidance to aspiring founders on the intricacies of launching a startup, followed by facilitating connections with industry partners and securing funding to expedite the journey from concept to market.”
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
