At a time when lawmakers in Washington D.C. just passed a $370 billion clean energy and climate bill, the largest climate investment in US history – Michigan’s cleantech leaders will gather Aug. 25 for a C3 Summit, focused on climate technology.
The C3 Summit represents cleantech, climatech and circular economy businesses involved in products or services that improve operational performance, productivity, or efficiency, while reducing costs, inputs, energy consumption, waste, and pollution.
The C3 Summit, powered by the Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University, showcases industry leaders and delivers details on the changing landscape of cleantech innovation and funding opportunities. It will take place from 1 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25 at The Mint Conference Center, 27000 Evergreen Road in Lathrup Village.
David Howell, Acting Director and Principal Deputy Director, Office of Manufacturing and Supply Chain, and the Office of Vehicle Technologies at the Department of Energy will participate in a keynote discussion with Ashley Grosh, Vice President, Breakthrough Energy Fellows, moderated by Dan Radomski, executive director of the Centrepolis Accelerator.
Howell heads the DOE’s $340 million advanced vehicle R&D portfolio and has more than 30 years of experience in research and development including hybrid and electric vehicle R&D, advanced battery research and manufacturing, and advanced structural materials research.
Grosh helps to lead the Breakthrough Energy Fellows, a group of entrepreneurs and scientists working in a program established by Bill Gates to help the world get to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“More money is being invested in cleantech than ever before,” Radomski said. “We’re electrifying our communities and it’s not just electric vehicles. It’s transportation, buildings, and the manufacturing sector. As we add more renewable energy such as wind and solar power and we simultaneously electrify vehicles, buildings, and manufacturing equipment, this enables net-zero emissions.”
Other event highlights include:
- A pitch competition for $75,000 in cash. Prizes will be awarded for best early stage and growth stage companies, runners up, and a people’s choice award.
- Additional speakers, including:
- Liesl Clark,director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE)
- David Terry, executive director, National Association of State Energy Officials
- Zach Kolodin, chief infrastructure officer, Office of the Governor
- Richard Ramirez, head of innovation and technology corporate social responsibility, DTE Energy
- Brandon Hofmeister, senior vice president of governmental, regulatory, and public affairs, Consumers Energy
- More than 30 exhibitors, including this year’s pitching companies, ventures who pitched in our inaugural C3 Showcase last year, and other prominent Michigan-based cleantech, climatech, and circular economy companies making a positive impact on climate.
Launched in 2019 by Lawrence Technological University and the City of Southfield, the Centrepolis Accelerator provides funding, mentoring, expertise, and services to Michigan’s small manufacturers and hardware entrepreneurs. It is one of the nation’s few business accelerators concentrating on physical products rather than software or services. In the past four years, the accelerator has helped to create 58 Michigan companies, commercialize more than 200 products, create nearly 400 jobs, and generate $89 million in new capital.
The C3 Accelerator is a growth stage accelerator managed by Centrepolis, with a $2.6 million seed fund that provides investments and services to support the product development and scaling of advanced manufacturing.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) recently published the MI Healthy Climate Plan, and has made several commitments to a cleaner and more sustainable environment including funding the C3 Accelerator and NextCycle Michigan programs.
About the Centrepolis Accelerator
The Centrepolis Accelerator’s mission is to accelerate the growth of small manufacturers and hardware entrepreneurs by providing access to key resources. Founded by LTU and the city of Southfield, with financial support from the New Economy Initiative and the Michigan Energy Office, the Accelerator later this year will open a 6,300-square-foot center that will include office and co-working space, technical and business services, a digital design lab, a mixed-reality lab, a product prototyping lab, and other resources. More at www.centrepolisaccelerator.com.
Original source can be found here.
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