States Step up to Fund Innovation and the Transition to a Sustainable Future
In pursuing our mission of empowering brilliant minds to solve some of the biggest challenges in our collective history, Activate works with various entities, including the U.S. government, private funders, philanthropies, and state governments to achieve these goals. We are proud and grateful to note that all of our geographic communities in Berkeley, Boston, and New York (not including our recently announced Houston location) now receive support from state governments that provide funding for scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs at the local level to drive climate-tech innovation.
Investing in climate-tech innovation helps address the urgent and immediate challenges climate change poses. Also, it contributes to long-term economic growth, job creation, and the development of new industries. The benefits of such investments ripple through society and help to drive the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon future.
Many states, including New York, Massachusetts, and California have made significant investments in climate-tech innovation. In New York State, Activate was selected in 2021 to administer the Carbontech Entrepreneurial Fellowship program by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Together, NYSERDA and the Activate New York Community fund fellows developing carbon-tech innovations—solutions that can enable the capture, storage, and utilization of carbon. This work supports the State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) goals, including an 85 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. NYSERDA also supports fellows directly by providing nearly $800K in funding to two Activate companies.
Similarly, Massachusetts has recently invested over $1B in climate change programs. The state has funded organizations such as the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), which provides funding and support to accelerate the clean energy climate solution innovation critical to meeting the state’s climate goals. Massachusetts has also invested in research and development in clean energy technologies and has allocated funding for the development of offshore wind energy. Activate received a grant from MassCEC through its Accelerator Funding Program to help grow the Boston innovation ecosystem and support the commercialization of clean-tech innovation startups. MassCEC has also awarded nearly $700K to five Activate companies.
Barry Van Tassel and Andrew Hsieh (Cohort 2016) with an early Liminal prototype
California, meanwhile, has invested over $2B in climate solutions over the past few years. A state-wide program, the California Energy Commission (CEC), provides funding for research and development in clean energy technologies. Additionally, the state has invested in the development of electric vehicle infrastructure and the promotion of energy-efficient buildings. Activate has a multiyear partnership with CEC to support fellows in our Activate Berkeley Community, and CEC recently awarded a local fellow company, Liminal (co-founded by Andrew Hsieh and Barry Van Tassel, Cohort 2016), a $2.75M grant to advance the assembly of its EchoStat platform, which seeks to optimize EV batteries via an advanced inspection and analytics platform that provides visibility inside batteries throughout the manufacturing process. In total, CEC has awarded over $30M to ten Activate Fellow-led companies.
As the world transitions to a low-carbon economy, companies leading the way in developing and deploying new technologies will be at a significant advantage. By investing in innovation in science and engineering programs for climate tech, states like New York, Massachusetts, and California position themselves as leaders in this emerging industry. Activate is thrilled that partners in all three locations continue to support our communities, our fellows’ work, and the innovation necessary to steer the energy economy into a more sustainable future.
