The Energy Advancement and Innovation Center is planned as a one-of-a-kind experiential hub for energy research and technology incubation. It’s where innovation will flourish among interdisciplinary teams of collaborators that include students, faculty, ENGIE researchers, local entrepreneurs and industry experts. Details about the center and timing for establishing it are being determined in collaboration with The Ohio State University.
Mission & Purpose
The center will be a place where collaborators work together on the next generation of smart energy systems, renewable energy and green mobility solutions.
By providing the support and resources necessary to become commercially successful, the center will help promising projects to find a route to market. The center will:
The actual size and location of the Innovation Center is being developed in collaboration with Ohio State. The details below include indicative figures.
Designing for collaboration
The Energy Advancement and Innovation Center is designed first and foremost to encourage the cross-pollination of people and ideas in spaces conducive to collaboration. Reconfigurable laboratories, networked workspaces and beautiful public spaces throughout the center will promote equal parts spontaneous collaboration and focused, intentional investigation.
Nurturing innovators.
The center will foster innovation through a collaborative environment in which scientists, engineers, inventors, designers, artists and thinkers apply diverse perspectives to shared challenges. This is a place where various groups of people with diverse educational backgrounds come together to discuss and learn, create, innovate and work together.
Making Local Connections.
Participation from various stakeholders within central Ohio is key to this project and critical for the center to be successful. To that end, the center will promote local innovators by providing space, support, collaboration and testing opportunities of new developments within the center’s laboratories and building systems.
Engaging the Community.
Engaging the community is essential to the center’s mission. Ohio State faculty, staff and students, researchers, entrepreneurs, artists and local industry leaders will make the center Columbus’ new home for public conversations around energy. We will accomplish this through public events, presentations, demonstrations, receptions and conferences focusing on energy and technology issues.
The partnership is eager to connect the center to the global energy market and bring together technology, services, data and people to tackle some of the world’s toughest energy challenges. The center will house the first laboratory in the ENGIE network to be designated a “living laboratory,” and the in-house ENGIE research group will work alongside Ohio State researchers and evaluate new technologies while sponsoring patents, inventions and creative works.
We envision a catalyst program whereby various industry leaders with experience creating and running successful businesses will volunteer to participate in incubation teams. The goal is to turn creative ideas into startups and bring new solutions to market.
The center will be developed by an advisory committee consisting of members from the university (faculty and staff), OSEP, and the Columbus community with no ties to the university or to OSEP. Committee chairmanship resides with the university.
Ohio State Energy Partners estimates a capital outlay of $50 million, including about $35 million for the new facility. Of this amount, $20 million will be needed for building construction and $15 million for building energy and communications technologies. Additionally, $7.5 million will be needed as seed money to fund the initial Ohio State ENGIE Labs projects, along with another $7.5 million in operating funds. The partners also intend to invite other industry partnerships, non-profit organizations and foundations to contribute to the center.
It will be critically important to balance the need for maximum value with the rights of investors, inventors and developers. The partnership and the center will act in accordance with the university’s Office of Responsible Research Practices, which provides administrative services to facilitate research, improve review efficiency and ensure regulatory compliance.