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Friday, November 7, 2008
Future of clean tech in New England: Q&A with Abi Barrow
By Efrain Viscarolasaga
MHT reporter Efrain Viscarolasaga on NECN: Green tech brings jobs back to Mass.
Abigail Barrow is the founding director of the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center, responsible for the overall management of the MTTC and the development of its programs. Included in those programs is the organization of the upcoming Fourth Conference on Clean Energy at the Hynes Convention Center Nov. 18 to 19.
Is New England beginning to establish itself as a significant player on the clean-tech world stage, or does it still have a ways to go before it is considered “world class”?
Massachusetts, and of course California, are recognized globally as leaders in the commercialization of new technologies and as entrepreneurial and venture capital centers. It is no different for clean tech than for life sciences. So yes, New England’s emerging clean-tech industry is certainly considered as one of the leaders in the world. I think what is interesting, and again is similar to our life sciences cluster, is the breadth and diversity of the companies being formed. Clean-energy companies being established here include solar, biofuels, wind, efficiency, storage, etc. Having this depth of technology and the broad range of markets addressed will ensure that our clean tech sector continues to be recognized globally.
What are some of the challenges (aside from the economy) facing the early-stage companies you deal with?
It’s not yet clear what the Renewable Energy Trust and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (created under the Green Jobs Act of 2008) are going to look like, so it’s a little challenging to plan ahead for some companies. In addition, the search for qualified management for the sector is ongoing, and that is always a challenge.
Are there are specific technologies that seem to be “hot” this year?
We have about five or six solar presenters this year. We also have a number of algae-based companies presenting, and that has been an area of interest.
Is the cost of oil coming back down affecting the quest for new energy sources?
It hasn’t really slowed things, because the environmental issues are still there. I think everyone understands the price of oil is down because of the
economy, and who knows what it will be when the economy turns around.
More and more companies are coming out of research labs with “clean-tech” technologies, but is there a similar bubble at the beginning of the research curve?
There is certainly more clean tech research than five years ago and I think this is the result of several trends that have a combined effect. First, a lot of researchers who have been working on new materials and other technologies are considering how their discoveries can be applied in clean tech markets. Second, federal agencies are looking at funding more research in this area so that more researchers are proposing projects for this application. Third, students at both the graduate and undergraduate level are very engaged with this issue and are actively supporting — and some might say pushing — their professors to explore clean tech applications.
Has the current economic downturn affected the approach of startup companies trying to move research from the lab to commercial environments?
It has certainly gotten more scary, because no one knows what the financial climate is going to look like as they come out of the lab and into the private sector. Based on the number of companies we have presenting at the conference, it isn’t necessarily deterring people (from trying to move technology out of the lab) but the environment is much more unstable than it has been.
Has the situation caused the venture capital community to back off?
VCs are always interested in hearing presentations, but where it goes from there is a little unknown.
What are the most effective funding vehicles for companies looking to transfer technology from research groups into the private sector?
Working relationships differ from agency to agency (with regards to public funding), but the big benefit to federal funding, such as Small Business Innovation Research grants and other vehicles, is that they are on specific timetables, so the application and award process is much easier. If you can get state or federal funding early, it also comes without giving up any equity in the company, as opposed to venture capital, which can be crucial in small, early-stage companies.
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