The grand prize of $35,000 will be awarded to either an entrepreneur or one early-stage, pre-revenue company in the process of developing a new energy or alternative energy related product/process improvement.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP) and Ben Franklin Technology PArtners of Central and Northern PA (BFTP) announce their sponsorship of the NEW Energy Idea Contest. The grand prize of $35,000 will be awarded to either an entrepreneur or one early-stage, pre-revenue company in the process of developing a new energy or alternative energy related product/process improvement.
“Saving energy and alternative energy is on everyone’s mind”
Prize money for the contest is being provided by Ben Franklin as well as PennTAP utilizing a donation made by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Interested entrepreneurs can visit http://newenergyplan.benfranklin.org for rules, entry forms, and FAQs. The deadline for applications is April 15, 2010.
To qualify, contestants must have a viable, new energy/alternative energy related product or process improvement idea and cannot have received BFTP funding in the past. Additionally, applicants must be located in any one of the 32 counties in the Central and Northern Pennsylvania region. These include: Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Elk, Erie, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Perry, Potter, Somerset, Venango, Warren and York.
“Saving energy and alternative energy is on everyone’s mind,” remarked Stephen Brawley, President/CEO of Ben Franklin. “Improvements to existing technologies, new hardware or software products that increase efficiency, new battery or fuel cell applications, engine and turbine technologies, and agricultural based alternatives are all examples of the kinds of proposals we’re hoping to get from this competition. Ben Franklin is very proud to partner with the PennTAP program, as the technical assistance they provide their clients in energy related initiatives makes a huge contribution in the state.”
About Ben Franklin Technology PArtners
Ben Franklin Technology PArtners CNP, an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, provides operational assistance, entrepreneurial support, and investment capital to emerging tech-based companies and small, existing manufacturers for the purpose of creating and retaining jobs in Pennsylvania. Contact the main office of Ben Franklin in University Park at (814) 863-4559 or see our website at www.cnp.benfranklin.org
About the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP)
An outreach program of Penn State University, PennTAP is a federal-state-university partnership, and since 1965 has been one of the nations’ leading technical assistance initiatives. The program is a valuable resource for helping Pennsylvania companies compete and grow in fields such as emerging energy technology and energy efficient industry practices. For more information, see the website at www.penntap.psu.edu.
