Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology selects 14 companies for pilot program
The Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) announced July 11 the awarding more than $3.6 million to 14 clean tech startups here in New Jersey via its Pilot Clean Tech Demonstration Grant Program.
The initiative, which is funded through the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), provides grants of up to $250,000 to help startups develop technologies focused on clean energy, supporting businesses that have existing prototypes of their technologies and that are ready to validate them in a real-world setting.
The funding can be used for testing and validating technological performance at demonstration and/or customer sites.
As part of an effort to support the Garden State’s smallest companies, CSIT says that each of the awardees had fewer than 25 employees at the time of the application, with all but three having fewer than 10 employees.
“Fostering opportunities for startups to succeed and impact the marketplace has been our top priority from Day 1,” said CSIT Executive Director Judith Sheft. “Through the awards announced today, we are getting funding into the hands of entrepreneurs and innovators to further their important work in the clean technology space.”
The recipients are developing a wide range of innovative technologies, such as a power source that doesn’t require connection to the grid; an indoor farm that uses 80% to 90% less water than traditional farming; next-generation, low-cost and high-performance lithium ion battery materials and energy storage systems; and much more.
“The broad array of technologies being created by our grantees showcases New Jersey’s growing role as a leader in innovation,” said CSIT Chair Debbie Hart. “We knew that there was a significant need for this funding by startups statewide, given the vast number of our portfolio companies that have some form of prototype. We are pleased to support more than a dozen startups through this program.”
The Clean Tech Demonstration Grant awardees include:
- 4.0 Analytics Inc. – Newark, Essex County
Energy efficiency/transportation - BRISEA Group Inc. – Parsippany, Morris County
Energy efficiency, advanced materials - Consolidated Energy Design Inc. – Eatontown, Monmouth County
Energy efficiency/green buildings - Energy Research Co. – Plainfield, Union County
Energy efficiency, energy generation waste processing - Farm to Flame Energy Inc. – West Orange, Essex County
Energy distribution/storage - Gridless Power Corp. – Pennsauken, Camden County
Energy distribution/storage - HiT Nano Inc. – Bordentown, Burlington County
Energy distribution/storage - Neutroelectric LLC dba BECQ – Camden, Camden County
Energy distribution/storage - Wahaj Solar USA Inc. dba WeSolar CSP – Princeton, Mercer County
Energy distribution/storage - Swind Power LLC – Princeton, Mercer County
Energy generation - PolyGone Systems Inc. – Princeton, Mercer County
Chemicals/advanced materials - Princeton NuEnergy Inc. – Bordentown, Burlington County
Chemicals/advanced materials - SunRay Scientific – Eatontown, Monmouth County
Chemicals/advanced materials - GeoGreens – Chesilhurst, Camden County
Water, agriculture
In a press release announcing the awards, New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan said that the clean energy transition is inevitable, and especially here in New Jersey.
“It is exciting to see the continued momentum for clean energy technologies and companies that in turn will grow the industry while helping create a greener future in the Garden State,” said Sullivan. “In addition to providing critically necessary funding to startups as they advance their technologies, the Pilot Clean Tech Demonstration Grant Program will also help progress Gov. Phil Murphy’s clean energy goal of achieving 100 percent clean energy by 2035.”
“Connecting clean tech startups with funding needed to validate their technologies is an important step toward creating the green economy that Gov. Murphy champions,” said NJBPU President Joseph Fiordaliso. “We look forward to hearing about grantees’ successful testing and validation in the future.”
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