Great innovations, partnerships and progress begin with ideas and evolve through discussion, experimentation and collaboration.

West Virginia University’s Linking Innovation, Industry and Commercialization (LIINC) program will be jumpstarting another example of that process with an event dedicated to energy and environmental research on Thursday, Sept. 6 at the Erickson Alumni Center.

The Energy and Environmental Research Showcase is the next in a series of LIINC events designed to offer private company representatives and WVU researchers an informal and productive opportunity to talk about industry needs and research ideas.

The showcase begins at 4 p.m. followed by a reception at 5:30 p.m. WVU Director of Economic Development Russ Lorince said the LIINC events, made possible by a grant from the Benedum Foundation, have successfully encouraged industry/researcher interactions dedicated to focusing research on industry needs.

“This time, the showcase will zero in on energy and environmental needs and potential research,” he said. “To facilitate that discussion, some major private sector players will be presenting their research and development goals, current projects and opportunities to collaborate with our faculty.”

Companies set to participate in the showcase include Hopewell Ventures, KeyLogic, CONSOL Energy, American Electric Power, Chesapeake Energy, First Energy, the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and Aither Chemicals.

A range of WVU faculty researchers will share their research interests and potential with the company representatives through poster displays.

The purpose of the WVU LIINC project is to grow the innovative culture on campus with private sector interaction. The activity supports WVU’s 2020 Strategic Plan for the Future, which calls for new cooperative engagements that benefit the people of West Virginia and the nation.

LIINC Manager Lindsay Emery said the showcase will increase opportunities for WVU/private sector partnerships to pursue research funding like Small Business Innovative Research grants and licensing possibilities.

“The showcases are not designed to be a place for lectures or detailed presentations,” she explained. “They are designed to give company representatives and WVU researchers a social forum for informal discussions. Previous events sparked new relationships and interactions in other research fields that are continuing to mature. We expect a similar outcome with our Energy and Environmental Research Showcase.”

-WVU-

gg/08/22/12

CONTACT: Lindsay Emery, WVU Research Corp.
304.293.0391, Lindsay.Emery@mail.wvu.edu

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