US Department of Energy Selects the UA Tech Park and Arizona Center for Innovation as a Preferred Connector Site for the American-Made Solar Prize | Tech Parks Arizona
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US Department of Energy Selects the UA Tech Park and Arizona Center for Innovation as a Preferred Connector Site for the American-Made Solar Prize

The UA Tech Park and the Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI) were selected by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to participate in the American-Made Solar Prize as a Connector and to support its goal to accelerate and sustain American entrepreneurship and solar innovation.

The UA Tech Park and AzCI are part of the American-Made Network, a diverse and powerful network consisting of national laboratories, universities, energy incubators, facilities, industry partners and other organizations essential to the success of new innovations that will be inspired by the Solar Prize competition.  The American-Made Solar Prize is a $3 million prize competition designed to revitalize U.S. solar manufacturing through a series of contests and the development of a diverse and powerful support network that leverages national laboratories, energy incubators, and other resources across the country.

The American-Made Network will help Solar Prize competitors succeed as they compete to address the industry’s biggest challenges and opportunities through a series of three successive prize competitions. The network will provide expertise and resources each step of the way including: mentoring and business development, digital design and prototyping, access to research facilities for testing and validation, as well as support finding and connecting with private investors and other industry partners. By helping to advance the best ideas, the network will speed the time it takes to develop viable solutions capable of boosting manufacturing competitiveness in the United States.

 

The UA Tech Park fosters technology startup, emerging, and mature companies to develop and commercialize their ideas, inventions and next evolution of product. AzCI provides a structured business development program and access to facilities including office space and wet & dry labs, to support startup companies.  They also receive individual coaching from experienced mentors elevating them to the next level of business development.  


The UA Tech Park provides the ideal environment to test, evaluate and development new technologies.  The Solar Zone is one of a number of "innovation hubs" at the UA Tech Park and is one of the largest multi-technology, grid-connected solar technology proving ground in the United States.  Testing different systems side-by-side under identical operating conditions allows developers to determine which systems are most efficient and economical.  It also allows them to understand the long-term reliability and efficiencies of their technologies, thus applying this information to improve their technologies.

“We can play a catalytic role in supporting and accelerating technology at the leading edge.  Tech Parks creates interactive ground where university, business and community come together pooling resources to develop prototypes, demonstrate technology and evaluate efficiency.  The Solar Prize program fans the spark of innovation and has the potential to motivate multitudes of entrepreneurs to solve the goal of sustainable and affordable American-made solar energy,” explained Bruce Wright, Associate Vice President for Tech Parks Arizona.

The sun shines at ‘optimal radiance’ approximately 85% of the year in Tucson allowing solar technologies to be tested effectively and thoroughly year-round.  The ability for many technologies to be tested and evaluated at the Solar Zone will allow participants to access, modify, and improve the efficiency and potential impact of renewable energy. This program will spotlight the capabilities that are readily available at the UA Tech Park, through AzCI and the Solar Zone to leapfrog their technologies forward.

Two informational sessions about the American-Made Solar Prize and Connector resources will be held on September 5, 2018 at the UA Tech Park and on September 6, 2018 at the University of Arizona Student Union.  Register for the events by clicking here  or by calling (520) 382-3260.

 

Tech Parks Arizona

Tech Parks Arizona creates the interactive ground that generates, attracts and retains technology companies and talent in alignment with the research, mission and goals of the University of Arizona.  Tech Parks Arizona directs the UA Tech Park, the UA Tech Park at The Bridges and the Arizona Center for Innovation, placing the highest priority on recruiting companies desiring connectivity to the UA. Learn more

 

About the American-Made Solar Prize

The American-Made Solar Prize is a $3 million prize competition designed to accelerate and sustain American solar innovation through a series of contests and the development of a diverse and powerful support network that leverages national laboratories, energy incubators, and other resources across the country. The American-Made Solar Prize is directed and administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office. Learn more

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