Ben Franklin Technology Partners: announces special briefing on funding for small, regional clean tech companies

With eyes on a sector that could be a prime growth opportunity in Southeastern PA, Ben Franklin Technology Partners announced it is looking to fund small, regional clean tech and energy efficiency companies preparing to bring new technologies to market.

The state-funded economic development program will hold a special briefing for interested and eligible companies.

Register for the event here.

BFTP’s programs — its Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF) and its Innovation and Emerging Funds — have been funded through the Alternative Energy Development Program (AEDP), courtesy of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. BFTP will invest between $10,000 and $50,000 from its TCF. As much as $750,000 come from the Innovation and Emerging Funds, according to the press release.

The eligibility rules requires that companies be located in the five-county region BFTP focuses on that include, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties. Companies must also have fewer than 500 employees and be working on the development and commercialization of products that meet one of two criteria, according to the press release: either be a technology that improves the energy efficiency of a traditional energy source, like coal, or be a clean technology that meets specific Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards from Tiers I and II.

Examples of eligible technologies are as follows from the press release:

• Energy efficient building technologies – Advanced lighting systems compressor less cooling, combined heat and power(CHP),  advanced building envelop components,  integrated dynamic control systems for building, solar thermal cooling.
• Production technologies – Fuel cells, photovoltaic arrays, wind turbines, and integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) and other clean coal technologies, as examples.
• Storage technologies – Electrochemical systems (batteries, capacitors), electrolytic systems (reverse fuel cells), and mechanical systems such as flywheels, and thermal systems.
• Power control systems – Smart meters, HAN and LAN networks; demand response systems, sensors and analytics systems.
• Water and wastewater technologies– Advanced filtration, water treatment, sensor equipment, analytics software, distribution materials of construction.
• Alternative transportation fuels – Derived from non-petroleum sources such as non -fossil methane, non-fossil natural gas, vegetable oil, and other biomass sources.

If you lead a company that meets these eligibility rules, the special briefing registration deadline expires March 23, 2012. Meeting venue and time will be provided to registrants, according to the press release. You can register here.