 Strategic Envirotechnology Partnership
The Strategic Envirotechnology Partnership (STEP) is an innovative program to launch
Massachusetts as a national leader in promoting the growth of new environmental and
energy-efficient technologies. STEP arose out of a desire to reduce the many uncertainties
facing innovative environmental technology companies.
The STEP partners: the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, the Executive Office
of Economic Affairs, and the University of Massachusetts, have joined forces to put a
support system in place which will help developers of new technologies to reduce the
uncertainties and provide assistance at each stage of technology development.
Step Benefits
- Independent assessment of your technology's performance
- Openings into state government markets
- Contacts with public and private business and technical assistance agencies
What does STEP offer ?
STEP offers environmental and energy technology companies an integrated package of
services to assist them in moving forward with their ideas. By using the STEP resources,
envirotech companies will make themselves more attractive to both public and private
financing sources.
STEP services include:
- Technology Assessment
- Environmental and Energy technologies with insufficient cost and/or performance data are
offered a formal, independent, technology evaluation through STEP. Those companies or
technologies eligible for STEP assistance may receive an in-depth technical assessment
through modeling, computer-based examination, development of testing protocols, and/or
on-site testing in state facilities.
- Business Planning
- New environmental or energy technology companies often struggle without comprehensive
business planning and financial expertise. A sound technology will not succeed without a
sound business foundation. To address this problem, the STEP program requires all
companies seeking assistance to submit a business plan for review. STEP can then
coordinate assistance through referrals to the appropriate public and quasi-public
agencies. STEP can also help identify short and long term market goals and needs.
- Technology Demonstration and Purchasing
- STEP provides opportunities to demonsrate, evaluate, and improve a technology's
capabilities at state owned properties. These properties are ideally suited to meet the
demonstration needs of an array of innovative envirotechnologies under a range of
different operational and environmental conditions. STEP furthers its mission by helping
promising new technologies gain the demonstration track record needed for financing,
permitting, or commercialization. In addition, successful demonstration can lead to state
purchasing of the technology.
- Expedited Permitting and Guidance
- Technological risks, regulatory uncertainties, and time required for permit review can
pose barriers to the development of innovative technologies. The Department of
Environmental Protection expedites the review process for these technologies. A team of
coordinators identifies regulatory and permitting issues, facilitates the review of new
projects, and works with other DEP staff to find opportunities for the demonstration and
use of innovative technologies.
- Technology Transfer
- Once a technology is proven, widespread use in the marketplace can be slowed by a lack
of good technology transfer systems. Through existing state and federal technolgy transfer
systems, STEP can provide news of successful envirotechnologies to assist companies in
reaching domestic and international markets.
Innovative envirotechnologies represent a range of new and creative ideas which could
revolutionize the way we use energy and reduce waste, how businesses manufacture, the way
we perform environmental cleanups, and literally change waste into products.
Envirotechnologies encompass the various levels of the waste and energy use hierarchy:
pollution prevention, resource and energy conservation, renewable energy technologies,
recycling/reuse, and waste treatment and disposal.
UMASS
AMHERST TEAM
STEP at the Amherst campus is led by a dynamic team of scientists and engineers. This
team is expertly able to evaluate the technical aspects of environmental and energy
related technologies. The team is also able to gather necessary resources of the
University to fully test new technologies.
Lawrence Ambs, Ph.D. Director
and University Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. Director of CEERE.
Major research interests are in the area of applied thermodynamics and energy conversion
with particular emphasis on building systems, thermal power generation and industrial
thermal processes.
Jim Manwell,
Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering. Research Associate Professor. Primary reseach area
is in renewable energy, particularly wind energy and its integration in autonomous
electrical systems.
Tony Rogers, Ph.D. Mechanical
Engineering. Research Associate, responsible for technical reviews, follow-up
technical enhancements and demonstrations of innovative technologies. Research interests
include experimental, analytical, and practical aspects of wind and hybrid power systems.
Beka Kosanovic, Ph.D. Mechanical
Engineering. Project Engineer responsible for technical assessments, reviews and technical
demonstrations of energy related technologies.
Eric Winkler,
Ph.D. Environmental Soil Chemistry. Environmental Technology Specialist,
responsible for technical assessments, enhancements and demonstrations of non-energy
related technologies. Research interests include fate of organic and heavy metal
contaminants in soils and water, site assessment and innovative wastewater technologies.
Graduate Research Assistants:
Tom Genovese
Ian Roth
For Further Information About STEP: Please contact, David C. Lutes
Environmental Technologies Industry Specialist Massachusetts Office of Business
Development
One Ashburton Place, Room 2101
Boston, MA 02108
Phone:(617)727-3206
Out-of-State:1-800-5-CAPITAL
FAX: (617)727-8797 |
