NEW YORK CITY–Polytechnic Institute of New York University and the New York City Economic Development Corp. on Tuesday announced plans to develop and operate the Clean Technology Entrepreneur Center, an incubator and multi-use space to support innovators focused on solving urban challenges of sustainability, energy and resilience. The latest in a series of entrepreneurship programs launched by the Bloomberg Administration to nurture the growth of New York City's innovation economy, NYC CTEC will be based at 15 MetroTech in Downtown Brooklyn, combining a business incubator, a product demonstration showcase and educational programs. NYC CTEC will serve as a key anchor of the budding Brooklyn Tech Triangle, for which ambitious improvement plans were also announced Tuesday.

“Successful 21^st century cities will utilize smart technology everywhere and greater emphasis needs to be placed on developing those technologies now,” says NYU-Poly president Katepalli Sreenivasan in the announcement. “Public-private-academic collaboration has a proven track record of assisting entrepreneurs in starting new energy-related business ventures, launching new products, and creating new jobs.” Sreenivasan was alluding to other partnerships NYU has with the city to create business incubators.

“New York City is committed to addressing the global challenges associated with climate change, and the Bloomberg Administration has taken a number of important steps to ensure that we are a world leader in sustainability and resiliency in the 21st century,” says NYCEDC president Seth Pinsky in the announcement. “Our city's entrepreneurs also are rising to address these challenges. By providing the resources that startups need to thrive, the NYC Clean Technology Entrepreneur Center will help strengthen our economy while creating critical solutions for our future.”

Scheduled to open this fall, the approximately 10,000 square feet occupied by NYC CTEC will be located on the 19th floor of 15 MetroTech, a property owned by Forest City Ratner, the announcement notes. When fully operational, the incubator will host up to 20 startup companies focused on energy efficiency, resilience, climate adaptation and other technologies that are making cities smarter and more sustainable. In addition to offices and co-working space, the incubator will feature a 2,000 square foot demonstration center to showcase new products and technologies.

The Center will incorporate and expand upon existing programs supporting innovation, including the new PowerBridgeNY Proof of Concept Center and the New York City Accelerator for a Clean and Resilient Economy. NYC CTEC will also leverage university intellectual resources and the management experience of NYU-Poly, with the support of partner organizations including the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, New York Power Authority, Con Edison, National Grid and the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority, the announcement states.

The NYU-Poly proposal, which includes programmatic participation from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, was selected through a competitive process that began when NYCEDC issued a request for proposals in January, according to the announcement. NYCEDC will provide up to $750,000 in seed funding over two years.

Instant Insights /

NYU and NYCEDC Creating Clean Tech Incubator

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