With the recent launch of the Maryland Energy Innovation Accelerator (MEIA), the Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC) is poised to deliver on its mission of assisting energy related research and technology efforts to commercialize and move to market. MEIA plans to take clean tech from bench to business.
MEIA aims to facilitate early-stage technology commercialization in partnership with Maryland-based Universities and Labs to support Maryland’s Clean Energy and Climate Goals. MEIA can support solar, wind, batteries, energy efficiency, grid modernization, carbon capture use and storage (CCUS), and any other technology that reduces greenhouse gas emissions or provides negative emissions benefits in the electric, oil and gas, residential, commercial or industrial sectors.
MEIA has been designed to combine the expertise of Maryland inventors, researchers, founders, and entrepreneurs with strategic partners, local business executives, and service providers to further advance their technology and create new, investible clean energy businesses.
“Maryland universities have become internationally recognized for their leadership in federally funded energy research,” said Dr. Eric D. Wachsman, Director of the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute and William L. Crentz Centennial Chair in Energy Research at the University of Maryland. “And it is thus critical that Maryland invest in innovation programs such as this if it is to economically benefit from the tremendous commercial potential of this research.”
MEIA has been designed to combine the expertise of Maryland inventors, researchers, founders, and entrepreneurs with strategic partners, local business executives, and service providers to further advance their technology and create new, investible clean energy businesses.
Where most early stage commercialization programs place inventors squarely in the leadership role, MEIA enables inventors to decide how involved they want to be, and what role they want to take. MEIA facilitates the creation of new businesses by bringing in lots of help to spread the workload and accelerate the customer development process.
With assistance from a team of MEIA mentors and advisors, an investible company will gain the momentum and credibility to obtain third party support to expand operations and build a market for evolving products, services, and technologies.
“MEIA is calling on the clean energy community in Maryland to get involved with commercializing the amazing breakthrough technologies created in Maryland’s Universities and Labs,” said Brian Toll, Director for the Maryland Energy Innovation Accelerator. “We’re building multi-disciplinary teams around technologies through our unique Energy-Executives-in-Residence program that allows time-strapped professionals an opportunity to experience the Lean Startup process. Additionally, Strategic Partners and Sponsors are critical for providing financial, in-kind and mentoring support.
MEIA applications are now available for individuals interested in Energy-Executive-in-Residence, Entrepreneur or Mentor opportunities. Information is also available for prospective Strategic Partners and Sponsors. Applications for Cohort 1 of the Accelerator will open in the Fall of 2019.
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