CLEAN

The Collaboration for Leveraging Energy And Nanotechnology (CLEAN) project, created by E2TAC at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE), University at Albany, is funded by the National Science Foundation's Partnership for Innovation program.  This innovative, two year program began March 2010. 

CNSE, in partnership with Marist College, the businesses that form the New Energy New York coalition, those that are represented by the Center for Economic Growth and several New York State government organizations (NYSERDA, NYSTAR, NYS ESD) established the CLEAN program, which includes specific “Nanotech Innovation in Renewable Energy” (NIRE) efforts, to help grow the energy and nanotechnology industry in the Tech Valley Region of New York by providing knowledge transfer through business acceleration and market validation services to start-up, mid-size and expanding companies.

Other NIRE efforts include workforce development for energy businesses through hands-on training and internships in manufacturing, installation, and servicing of these specialized new energy technologies, outreach to the public at large, and K-12 educational workshops.

New York is home to both universities conducting cutting edge research in nanotechnology and many of the nation’s leading advanced energy technology businesses that utilize nanotechnology.  CLEAN helps organize and coordinate  these entities to share and communicate the industry’s most pressing needs to academia, as well as transfer the most appropriate technology from academia to industry.

Nanotechnology has the potential to significantly advance energy technologies.  From thin film depositions in solar cells to fuel cell structures optimized on the molecular level, nanotechnology promises higher performance for devices that can provide a cleaner, more secure energy economy.