LTU’s Centrepolis Accelerator and NextCorps Launch MI/NY Climate ManuTech Accelerator Pilot Program
- April 18, 2024
Southfield – Lawrence Technological University’s Centrepolis Accelerator and NextCorps, headquartered in Rochester, New York, proudly announce the launch of the MI/NY Climate ManuTech Accelerator pilot program. This innovative initiative, funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Technology Transitions, aims to advance critical materials and technologies in mobility, electrification, and industrial decarbonization within Michigan and New York. Centrepolis and NextCorps will mutually support clean energy hardtech companies with innovation that addresses domestic supply chain gaps that are a national security concern. This program will leverage strategic partnerships with national labs and unique value engineering and manufacturing readiness services.
The MI/NY Climate ManuTech Accelerator pilot program addresses significant needs within the innovation ecosystem, focusing on supporting startups and established small businesses in the climate tech hardware sector. Leveraging the extensive expertise and resources of Centrepolis Accelerator and NextCorps, the program will provide direct assistance, including business and manufacturing experts, funding for product development projects, and access to state-of-the-art prototyping and testing facilities.
The DOE EPIC award will enable Centrepolis and NextCorps to pilot a Lab-to-Market and Market-to-Lab partnership with three national labs including Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The Lab-to-Market effort will have Centrepolis and NextCorps working with national lab spin offs and embedded lab innovation program companies that can benefit from Centrepolis and NextCorps clean energy hardtech program services and connections to the Michigan and New York markets. The Market-to-Lab effort will attempt to utilize the unique resources from national labs to advance commercialization of climate-tech hardware companies located in Michigan & New York.
"Centrepolis Accelerator and NextCorps are among the longest-running clean energy hardtech manufacturing accelerators, and we are excited to join forces to launch the MI/NY Climate ManuTech Accelerator pilot program," said Dan Radomski, CEO of Centrepolis Accelerator. "This initiative underscores our commitment to driving innovation that addresses critical clean energy domestic supply chain gaps."
"Partnering with national laboratories to advance climate-tech hardware companies will enable us to further speed innovation to market through unique programming and support," said James Senall, President of NextCorps. "By leveraging the expertise of NextCorps, Centrepolis Accelerator, and our national lab partners, we aim to help more critical technologies to become available, while addressing domestic supply chain constraints and national security concerns."
The MI/NY Climate ManuTech Accelerator pilot program prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, closely collaborating with organizations supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs and distressed communities. By fostering collaboration and innovation, the program aims to create lasting economic impact and drive sustainable growth in the region.
About Centrepolis Accelerator
The Centrepolis Accelerator, housed in Lawrence Technological University’s Enterprise Center in Southfield, is 6,300 square feet of business assistance for physical product developers and manufacturing companies, a unique niche among accelerators in Michigan. Clients include climate-tech, manufacturing startups, and existing companies looking to move up to the next level in product innovation. Services include product design, engineering, and prototyping, as well as business planning services, office space, co-working space, workshops, mentors and events.
About Lawrence Technological University
Lawrence Technological University is one of only 13 private, technological, comprehensive doctoral universities in the United States. Located in Southfield, Mich., LTU was founded in 1932 and offers more than 100 programs through its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business and Information Technology, Engineering, and Health Sciences, as well as Specs @ LTU as part of its growing Center for Professional Development. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 11 percent of universities for alumni salaries. Forbes and The Wall Street Journal rank LTU among the nation’s top 10 percent. U.S. News and World Report list it in the top tier of the best Midwest colleges. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 107-acre campus include more than 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.
About NextCorps
NextCorps is a non-profit helping innovative technology companies launch and grow. It supports tech startups and existing manufacturers in building their businesses through a variety of internationally and nationally recognized programs. In addition to its sector-specific startup accelerator programs in optics/photonics/imaging, climate tech, and B2B SaaS, NextCorps also operates a state-of-the-art tech incubator in Rochester, NY, in the heart of the Downtown Innovation Zone, as well as manufacturing specific programs to help grow existing small and mid-sized businesses. NextCorps is an affiliate of the University of Rochester. Visit www.NextCorps.org to learn more.
About the Department of Energy Office of Technology Transitions
The Department of Energy Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) is one of the largest supporters of technology commercialization in the federal government. Founded in 2015, OTT bolsters the technology industry's market skills and enables clean energy technologies to progress through research, development, demonstration, and to deployment into the private sector to meet our nation’s climate goals. Visit us at energy.gov/technologytransitions to learn more, and subscribe to receive our latest opportunities and accomplishments via email. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.