Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

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August 16, 2023 | Tom Ballard

U News | University of North Georgia secures $200,000 grant from Google

Yale University and University of Connecticut join forces to leverage quantum computing assets, while two other universities advance their battery initiatives.

From the University of North Georgia:

The university with five campuses across North Georgia has received a $200,000 grant from Google.org, Google’s philanthropy, for the development of entrepreneurial resources in rural communities.

In partnership with Dahlonega-Lumpkin Chamber of Commerce, the Lumpkin County School District, and the Development Authority of Lumpkin County, the grant funding will commission a study to map the existing resources that support innovation and entrepreneurship in Dahlonega and Lumpkin County and identify needed resources that don’t currently exist in order to create a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The epicenter of the effort will be in the University’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation which is developing a broader footprint to include community programming. Computer science and cybersecurity are STEM programs and an area of growing interest for entrepreneurial activity, along with health care and other STEM programs at the school.

From the University of Central Florida:

Researchers at the Orlando institution have developed new methods to produce energy and materials from methane, the harmful greenhouse gas whose pound-for-pound impact on the Earth’s atmosphere is described as 28 times greater than carbon dioxide. The new University of Central Florida innovations enable methane to be used in green energy production and to create high-performance materials for smart devices, biotechnology, solar cells and more. Click here to learn more.

From Yale University and the University of Connecticut:

Yale University and the University of Connecticut (UConn) are leading the state’s charge to become a leader in quantum technologies through a coalition known as Quantum-CT that recently received a $1 million “Engines Development Award” from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Their goal is to position Connecticut as the nation’s accelerator for quantum technologies and compete for an “NSF Regional Innovation Engines” award of up to $160 million over 10 years.

Quantum technology is a field that is developed based on principles of quantum mechanics, which govern the atomic and subatomic world. It has the potential to impact various industries, including manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure. Applications of quantum technologies range from smartphones and navigation systems to advanced computers.

The UConn-Yale partnership formed a diverse coalition of public, private, and state officials to drive innovation in Connecticut through quantum technologies. Collaborators include the Governor’s Office; cities such as Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, and Waterbury; and educational institutions such as the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities and the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges. Additionally, innovation and venture partners – Connecticut Innovations, CT Next, Advance CT, Yale Ventures, and UConn’s Technology Innovation Program – will work together to ensure the quick transfer of emerging quantum technologies to real-world applications.

From Binghamton University:

While Connecticut hopes to position itself to win one of the big NSF awards, Binghamton University is one step closer to that goal of winning up to $160 million to further advance a growing battery economy. That positioning follows the institution being named one of 16 finalists in NSF’s Regional “Innovation Engines” competition.

Binghamton University has experience landing major awards to create a battery manufacturing hub. Last fall, its “New Energy New York” project secured around $114 million in federal and state funding through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s “Build Back Better Regional Challenge.”

From The Ohio State University:

Thanks to what is termed “Congressionally directed spending,” the university has been awarded $4,455,000 by the National Institute of Standards and Technology to construct a battery innovation laboratory and education center. The lab will include a 4,000-square-foot dry room, which is necessary for the assembly of battery cells due to the extreme moisture sensitivity of cell components. The dry room and new battery cell assembly equipment will facilitate the accelerated development and translation of batteries from the lab to practical scales, including the electric vehicle market.

From Wright State University:

$3 million gift from the Reynolds and Reynolds Company created an endowment to permanently underwrite the costs of Wright State’s “Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans” (EBV). Hosted by Wright State’s Raj Soin College of Business, the inaugural offering welcomed 13 aspiring entrepreneurs for an intense eight-day training program to help them launch their businesses. The program is geared toward veterans who have an idea for a business and those whose business is in its early stages and needs help finding success.

From the University of Oregon:

The Lundquist College of Business is offering B.S. and B.A. degrees in accounting that also offer several concentrations including entrepreneurship. According to the announcement, the concentration provides students with the ability to “identify and implement new business opportunities.”



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