CHICAGO–The Heartland Climate Tech Partnership announced that it has officially launched a new resource database for innovative climate tech and clean energy businesses across the Greater Midwest Region.
The database provides entrepreneurs with the tools they need to identify relevant programming and educational resources, attend networking and educational events, and access critical design and prototyping resources.
Using the resource guide, entrepreneurs can find what’s most relevant to them by searching, sorting, grouping, and filtering to customize the databases. The resources available include:
- Accelerators,
- Incubators and coworking spaces,
- Physical lab spaces,
- Educational resources,
- Nationwide innovation ecosystem partners, and
- Fellowships, innovation challenges, and other resources.
Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Technology Transitions’ Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC), the Heartland Climate Tech Partnership advances the commercialization of innovative climate tech and clean energy businesses across the Greater Midwest Region.
The partnership, which was founded in 2021, is comprised of: the Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University; Evergreen Climate Innovations; mHUB; and Spark Innovation Center, with project affiliates that include the Chain Reaction Innovations based at Argonne National Laboratory, the Innovation Crossroads program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The partners support startups and small businesses via tailored accelerator programs, virtual and in-person events, sector-specific curriculum, mentorship, prototyping resources, and connections with industry experts.
EPIC was created by the Department of Energy’s Office of Technology Transitions to underscore the importance of regional clusters, which increase productivity of area companies, drive the direction and pace of innovation, and stimulate the formation of new businesses, further reinforcing the cluster itself.
Entrepreneurs are encouraged to visit www.heartland-climate.org to access these valuable resources and submit additional items.
About Evergreen Climate Innovations – Chicago
Evergreen Climate Innovations, formerly Clean Energy Trust, provides catalytic capital and support to entrepreneurs and startups that bring impactful climate technologies to market. The nonprofit pioneered its 501vc® Investment Fund to align philanthropic and corporate contributions to deliver environmental, economic, and social impact. Evergreen advances and expands access to innovation across the Greater Midwest and cultivates an ecosystem of investors, donors, and collaborators. For over a decade, Evergreen Climate Innovations has invested in startups that have raised $37 for every $1 invested. Learn more at evergreeninno.org
About the Centrepolis Accelerator – Southfield
The Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University is accelerating the growth of Michigan’s cleantech industry, advanced manufacturing, innovative hardware entrepreneurs and small manufacturers by providing access to funding, experts and key business and product development resources. The C3 Accelerator offers grants, investments, and services that support the development and scaling of Cleantech, Climatech, and Circular Economy technologies. Visit centrepolisaccelerator.com.
About mHUB – Chicago
mHUB is a leading independent hardtech and manufacturing innovation center that exists to convene the entrepreneurial ecosystem around physical product innovation to ensure that the manufacturing industry continues to accelerate, grow and thrive. The mHUB community includes over 428 active and alumni startups and small businesses supported by a deep talent pool of product designers and developers, entrepreneurs, engineers and manufacturers, corporate leaders, industry experts, mentors and investors. mHUB provides a hyper-resourced environment to entrepreneurs with the goal of commercializing new hardtech innovation that will lead to new businesses, intellectual property, investment, revenue and job creation. Since launching in 2017, the mHUB community has generated more than $721M in revenue, launched more than 1,398 products, hired more than 3,987 employees, and raised over $1B in capital. For more information visit mhubchicago.com.
About Spark Innovation Center – Knoxville, Tenn.
The Spark Innovation Center is an initiative of the University of Tennessee Research Park, and builds on the facilities and expertise at the university, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Spark focuses on helping promising energy technology companies grow, offering access to top quality lab space, expert mentoring, and coordinating support services from nine partner organizations in the region
Lawrence Technological University is one of only 13 private, technological, doctoral universities in the United States. Located in Southfield, Mich., LTU was founded in 1932, and offers more than 100 programs through its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business and Information Technology, and Engineering. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 11 percent of universities for alumni salaries. The Wall Street Journal ranks LTU among the nation’s top 10 percent. U.S. News and World Report lists it in the top tier of best in the Midwest colleges. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 107-acre campus include more than 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.
