U.S. Department of Energy’s National Laboratory Tech-to-Market Activities at the 2014 Fuel Cell Seminar and Energy Exposition
The following is from the U.S. Department of Energy and the 2014 Fuel Cell Seminar and Energy Exposition:
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announces the launch of the National Laboratory Tech-to-Market activities taking place at the 2014 Fuel Cell Seminar and Energy Exposition (FCS&EE) on November 11th. In an effort to foster increased collaboration with National Laboratories, the DOE is working to identify and develop strategies to overcome key barriers to commercialization of innovative technologies developed at National Labs by identifying mechanisms to make intellectual property widely available.
On Tuesday, November 11, 2014, the DOE's Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) will host two events at the FCS&EE. The first session, from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. PST, will demystify the process of working with National Labs and discuss the mechanisms to put Labs to work on industry problems. The second session, during the B2B (Business to Business) Product Theater, from 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. PST, will highlight the National Labs' unique capabilities, and opportunities to leverage skills and technologies.
In addition, Reuben Sarkar, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation, will key note the Tuesday Opening Plenary session from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. PST. Sarkar oversees EERE's Sustainable Transportation area, which includes the Vehicle, Fuel Cell, and Bioenergy Technologies offices. He oversees annual investments of more than $600 million with a focus on advanced transportation technologies to reduce our oil dependence and emissions. Hydrogen and fuel cells are an integral part of the Administration's "all-of-the above" energy strategy and the Climate Action Plan, and aligned with the DOE's goals. The exposition hall will also feature a DOE Lab Tech-to-Market "Collaboration Corner" instead of a traditional booth space to allow for networking and follow-up throughout the FCS&EE conference.
"FCTO's sponsorship of the Business to Business Product Theater and Lab Showcase is a signal to industry that the research in the National Laboratories is ready to move into the private sector. The DOE's Tech-to-Market effort is a significant step in market-based solutions to U.S. energy security. We are extremely pleased with this collaboration and to hear remarks from Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation, Reuben Sarkar, in California—the nucleus of the commercial launch of powerful fuel cell electric vehicles and clean hydrogen fuel," stated Mark Williams, PhD, FCS&EE Board Chair. "The fuel cell industry and DOE's program, as we know it today, can be traced back to Los Alamos National Laboratory in the 1970s and it's only fitting that Lab impact is being showcased at the FCS&EE."
The annual FCS&EE is the premier international gathering of the fuel cell and hydrogen energy industries and their customers and stakeholders. Over a four day span, the conference hosts 1,000+ attendees and features more than 200 presentations from around the world.
The 2014 FCS&EE theme, "Fuel Cells: The Power to Drive Change TODAY," expands on the mission to advance global energy, environmental, and economic benefits offered by fuel cells, hydrogen, and natural gas technologies.