Building new coalitions for economic growth (rough draft)

1Kettering UniversityKettering University

Michael Harris, PhD

Kettering University Provost

The “Center of Energy Excellence”

at Kettering University

“Building New Coalitions for Economic Growth”


Section Slide (1)

(section slide 1)How Flint and KU Became a COEE


“The Flint Fairy Tale”

• If someone had told me that a King from a faraway land…


In the Real World…

• People Who Cared Passionately– Lennart– Al Sobey– MEDC– Ambassador Wood (Flint Native)– Michael Harris– And?

• Planned effectively– What? Clear set of planning objectives– Who? The right partners and supporters– Where? Site Visits– When? An aggressive but achievable timeline– How? The Master and Sub-Agreements


Impact of SBI today

• Flood of interest in Flint• Generated public and private investments• Attracted high-quality candidates for

President/Project Managers• A practical demonstration project for Flint• Research and manufacturing jobs for Genesee

County• Applied research opportunities and grants for

Kettering, its faculty and students


(Section 2)How You can Create Your Own Ideal Green Jobs Opportunities


Assets Inventory

• People• Facilities• Instituions and Associations• Logistical and Technical

Infrastructure• Strong, Progressive Community

Governments


• Think Creatively• Involve the Community Members• Ask for Financial and Technical Help


• Invest in Networking–State of the technology–Who will work for you for “free”–Who knows people who know people–Who might be interested in your

Region/Community• Float Your Ideas


Section Slide 3How Local Universitied Can Partner

with Communities for Growth


Universities

• Workforce Retraining– Specialized manufacturing skills– Technology management– Professional development

• Business experts• Land Use and Economic Planning experts• Scientific and Engineering talent and labs• Great Rolodexes• Grant writing expertise


Communities

• Skilled Workforce• Historical industrial strengths• Transferable skills and reusable

infrastructure (brownfield properties)

• Identify and support local tech ventures


Homayun NavazSection Slide 1


The Need

• Quickie Science Review: When warm air flows in because of bad design , the refrigeration system has to work harder

• Reduce power consumption, load on electricity infrastructure, and greenhouse gasses generation

• Get ready for stricter future energy standards


Section Slide 2


Solution

• Successfully conducted advanced R & D on warm air infiltration in refrigerated/ air-conditioned space

• Easily model the impact of design changes on configuration options

• Can now measure the actual performance specifications under real-world operating conditions


Section Slide 3


Approach and Results

• A software that calculates the infiltration rate of warm air into the refrigerated space

• Equipment to measure actual infiltration in either labs or in the field (supermarkets)

• In Fact: Can be used to measure warm air infiltrating this conference hall

• Impacts– Facilitate faster re-design of refrigerated cases

• Already in use – Make significant gains in energy efficiency now

• Statistics from CA


Section Slide 4


Strategy

• Discovery of the science• Create the IT and hardware technology• Develop industry and peer acknowledgement of its

validity • Find Partners

– Southern California Edison Company– University of Washington (Seattle)– University of Texas (Dallas)– Measurement of Sciences, Inc.– Display Case Manufacturers

• Hill Phoenix, Inc• Hussmann, Inc.


Strategy Cont’d.

• Gauge commercial and environmental benefits• Obtain research funding

– $100K from the Department of Energy– $250 K from California Energy Commission– $150K from Southern California Edison

• Spin-Off a new company– Cooificient, Inc.– Co-owned with graduate assistants and students– Encourage manufacturers to join a long-term partnership

• Create job opportunities– Goal is to provide entrepreneurial experience while creating energy efficiency– Market our new product and services– Plan the development of future products and services dealing with the

infiltration problem– Drive improved products and energy savings


Joel BerrySection Slide 1


Problem

• Shrinking automotive market and declining jobs in Flint

• How could we create high-paying jobs for Flint

• How could Kettering help provide a solution for Flint and Mid-Michigan?


Section Slide 2


Solution

• Approached the federal Economic Development Administration

• Worked with the MEDC• Collaborated with the Mid-Michigan

Innovation Team


Section Slide 3


Approach & Results

• Foundation and Mission of FC Center– Creation if cimmIzn of tech leading to eco development &

job creation in Flint– WIRED support

• World class FC research and education center• A business incubator for FC and other advanced

technology companies• Expanded Kettering’s Research and Development

Staff• Building a state-of-the-art wet lab complex for start-

up and growth companies


Section slide 4


Strategy

• Educate STEM teachers (high school)-future worker– Being expanded across Michigan

• Create New Technology– Development of Tech that would be

commercialized and create jobs• Applied to FC to a specific need• Power management electronics

– Provided research and learning opportunities for Kettering faculty and students


Strategy Cont’d

• Spin-off into a new company– GEI “Global Energy Innovations”– 6 Full and part-time employees– Major corporate partner– Send robust prototypes to major buyer for testing

• Next Steps in Job Creation/Growth– Find investment capital– Scale it up– Begin small-scale manufacturing– Plan for manufacturing and developing local suppliers and workers

• Next, make a national contribution– NSF Research Center of Excellence in FC Education– Develop a national educational model to disseminate knowledge– “Coalition of Great Lakes Fuel Cell Education…”

31Kettering University

31Kettering University

Michael Harris, Ph. D

Provost of Kettering University

K. Joel Berry, Ph. D

Mechanical Engineering Department Head

Homayun Navaz, Ph. D

Professor of Mechanical Engineering Department

Neil Sheridan, Ph. D

Director of TechWorks Incubator