Another 5 Years of Funding & Growth for the WET Center!
by Alisha Wilson, Communications Student Assistant and Outreach Ambassador for the Water, Energy and Technology (WET) Center.
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The California Energy Commission (Energy Commission) approved $5M in follow-on funding for the California State University, Fresno Foundation to continue building the Central Valley’s energy innovation ecosystem through the BlueTechValley (BTV) Energy Innovation Cluster programs. The Central Valley Region network provides resources and assets to create a fertile environment for clean energy, water, and ag-tech entrepreneurs to turn visions into real-world solutions to meet California’s clean electricity goals and build towards a sustainable future.
The California Energy Innovation Ecosystem is a statewide initiative of the Energy Commission that connects clean energy entrepreneurs with the funding, training, resources, and expertise needed to turn technologies and concepts into products that benefit consumers, companies, and utilities. In 2016, four energy innovation clusters were funded to provide services to California: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, and the Central Valley Region.
“I am very excited that the WET Center is leading such critical conversations around water, energy and technology, as clean energy solutions in California are paramount,” said President Jiménez-Sandoval. “The work that this grant supports will ensure Fresno State’s and our Central Valley’s leadership in finding sustainable solutions for water - our most precious resource.”
The WET Center has successfully leveraged the region’s resources to support clean energy, water, and ag-tech entrepreneurs through a variety of services including technology evaluation; incubation, acceleration and commercialization; product development and testing; education and on-demand learning; one-on-one advisory services; and pitch sessions and networking. This has resulted in the creation of a dynamic ecosystem and accelerated company growth that spurred the formation of a critical mass of technology-driven entrepreneurs operating in Central California.
“Our designated cluster hubs and an extensive network of strategic partners have been instrumental in interconnecting and expanding the wide range of services available to entrepreneurs from Bakersfield to the northern California border.” said Helle Petersen, Director of the WET Center. “This follow-on funding allows the WET Center to continue to support innovators and successfully bring new technologies to market. We are tremendously excited about what the next five years will bring.”
As of December 31, 2021, the WET Center had evaluated 474 companies and reported 583 jobs created. The 86 companies that completed the Valley Ventures Accelerator program raised a total of $205M in total private and public funding. Read the full press release here.
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| WET Center Awarded $250K Grant to Support Underserved Communities! |
The Water, Energy and Technology (WET) Center was recently granted a $250K award from the California Office of the Small Business Advocate’s (CalOSBA) iHub2 to incubate and accelerate technology and science-based firms in underserved regions and communities, including women and people of color. The WET Center will establish the Central Valley Inclusive Innovation Hub (CViiHub) to serve as a bridge between local and state innovation ecosystems, resources and networks to support the success of the program. “We are tremendously excited to have been awarded this grant, as it further aids the WET Center’s efforts to increase diversity, equity and inclusion in every aspect of our programs, services and partnerships,” said Helle Petersen, director of the WET Center. Learn more about CalOBSA.
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Department of Energy- Energy Frontier Research Center
Deadline: May 5
California Department of Food and Agriculture-Dairy Digester Research and Development Program
Deadline: May 9
Department of Energy -Chemical and Materials Sciences to Advance Clean Energy Technologies and Low-Carbon
Deadline: May 17
Department of State-Clean Technology and Trade Partnership Initiative’s Accelerating Clean Energy Transitions Technology Needs Assessment
Deadline: May 20
Environmental Protection Agency- Environmental Justice Small Grants Program
Deadline: May 20
National Science Foundation- PIRE Competition
Deadline: May 25
Check out the California State Grants Portal for
more funding opportunities!
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Biodiesel refinery celebrates expansion that makes it largest of its kind in Western U.S.
ARPA-E announced $5 million in funding to University of California, Davis to develop life cycle assessment tools.
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*Events subject to cancellation/rescheduling as professional recommendations regarding COVID-19 emerge
Join UC Davis for Davis Discovery Days is a collaborative week-long schedule of events for the innovation community, fostering the most significant advances in research and innovation for global impact. This first annual event series, happening May 9-13, 2022, will offer a cluster of tailored initiatives to engage innovators, researchers, investors, producers and manufacturers from across the globe who are committed to advancing long-term solutions for challenges at the intersection of food and health.
Join CleanStart as they we chat with Bob Weisenmiller, former chariman of the California Energy Commission and a leading voice globally on energy.
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