LANSING, Mich. - Governor Whitmer today announced that the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) will grant $1.55 million to the Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University (LTU) to support the development and scaling of Cleantech, Climatech and Circular Economy technologies in Michigan.
LTU’s C3 Accelerator program is a key element in the state’s goal to foster a more energy efficient and sustainable circular economy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and move industry toward a low-carbon future.
“The transition to alternative energy and a carbon-neutral economy by 2050 will open new opportunities for Michiganders seeking jobs in the clean energy sector and for expanded business investments,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Under the MI Healthy Climate Plan, in conjunction with initiatives such as the C3 Accelerator, Michigan will become an incubator for economic innovation that will create good-paying jobs for hard-working Michiganders across the state in the clean energy, climate technology, and recycling sectors.”
The C3 Accelerator identifies best-in-class proven global technologies and connects them to Michigan partners that can benefit by deploying innovations and supporting the scaling of businesses in Michigan. The C3 Accelerator funds the commercialization and demonstration of renewable energy, energy efficiency, emission reduction, clean air and water, recycling, and upcycling technologies.
“EGLE is supporting the C3 Accelerator with a substantial seed fund as it supports our mission on a number of fronts,” said Robert Jackson, assistant division director, and energy ombudsman in EGLE’s Materials Management Division. “One, the C3 Accelerator nurtures new cleantech product launches and manufacturing companies here in the Michigan. Second, it drives the demonstration and adoption of cleantech and circular economy products that provide impact to our state’s improved energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives. This is of critical importance to our goals of reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions by 28 percent below 1999 levels by 2025 as well as tripling our recycling rate to 45 percent.”
Accelerator services include product design, engineering, prototyping, testing, and validation, along with pilot and demonstration project cost-sharing; assistance from experts-in-residence; design for manufacturability assessments; supply chain development support; and go-to-market support services. The program offers equity-free, zero-interest $50,000 investments to support commercialization efforts.
“The C3 Accelerator is focused on identifying the best-in-class Cleantech, Climatech and Circular Economy technologies, no matter where they reside in the world, and finding pathways for these promising innovations into Michigan to support our state’s goals of reducing emissions, and improving energy efficiency and recycling rates,” said Dan Radomski, executive director of the Centrepolis Accelerator. “We want these companies to come here to Michigan to manufacture their products, as well as demonstrate and scale their technologies with local partners. We are grateful to have the support of EGLE, Wells Fargo, New Economy Initiative, and others to support cleantech ventures led by women, people of color, veterans, and other underrepresented entrepreneurs.”
Funding partners in the C3 Accelerator include EGLE, Lawrence Technological University, the city of Southfield, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, New Economy Initiative, and the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2). The program also has dedicated funding to support underrepresented entrepreneurs including companies led by women, people of color, veterans, people with disabilities, and firms located in distressed communities.
Centrepolis Accelerator was recently named an Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) Prize winner by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Under this initiative, Centrepolis is partnering with Clean Energy Trust, a Midwest cleantech investment fund, mHub, TN Spark, Oakridge National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and others to advance cleantech hardware technology.
You can register to attend the C3 Accelerator Showcase, from 12-2 p.m. Aug. 26 on LTU’s campus in Southfield, to learn more about the companies C3 Accelerator is investing in along with details on the changing landscape of cleantech innovation and funding opportunities.
Sign up to receive updates about EGLE’s climate, recycling, and clean energy programs and Catalyst Communities Initiative at Michigan.gov/EGLEConnect.
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