Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems Announces Sustainable Energy Research and Building Innovation Center in Boston's Innovation District

BOSTON, May 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (CSE) today announced that it will develop a sustainable energy research and building innovation center at 5 Channel Center in Boston's Innovation District. The 50,000-square-foot applied research facility and building technology showcase will serve as a unique factory of innovation in support of established and start-up companies that are developing and demonstrating the next generation of energy efficiency technologies. It will also house Fraunhofer's technical R&D labs and the TechBridge start-up accelerator group to support clean energy businesses in the Innovation District.

"The new building for the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) will literally be a living laboratory, attracting building technology pace-setters from around the nation and the international business community to demonstrate the future of sustainable buildings," said Dr. Roland Schindler, executive director of the Fraunhofer CSE. "The CSE facility will help develop the City of Boston's Innovation District and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a hub of sustainable energy technology and research."

"We have secured our first anchor partner and are currently in the process of identifying additional companies who may be interested in joining our effort," explained Nolan Browne, the center's managing director.

Fraunhofer CSE, a division of the non-profit Fraunhofer USA, creates jobs through translational R&D work that takes place at the facility. The center will continue to focus on development of low-cost, high-efficiency systems, products and best practices. This work, which is done on behalf of industry partners, will generate jobs by supporting client company growth and profitability.

"Boston continues to support and attract cutting-edge research, and I'm proud that Fraunhofer is joining this exciting mix," said Mayor Thomas M. Menino. "Their clean energy center is a great addition to the growing cluster of clean-tech workers in the Innovation District. Our leading universities and research community are unmatched sources of talent, and Fraunhofer's expertise and international reputation will help budding entrepreneurs grow their ideas in Boston. The center is a win for our economy, our environment, and the growth of the Innovation District."

"The U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration is pleased to work with Mayor Thomas Menino, Fraunhofer USA and local leaders to help build the $20 million Center for Sustainable Energy Systems, which will serve as a catalyst for job and economic growth in the region," said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John R. Fernandez. "This smart investment to advance the development of the 5 Channel Center and commercialize sustainable energy technologies and next-generation building efficiency systems will provide a much needed boost to the local economic ecosystem as new businesses are attracted to the community."

"Part of Governor Deval Patrick's economic development strategy is making Massachusetts a place where inventive, talented people from around the world want to be, strengthening our connection to global centers of innovation," said Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Gregory Bialecki. "The Fraunhofer Center's decision to grow in Boston bolsters our state's already strong innovation ecosystem and cements our ties to the pioneering work they are doing in Germany."

Additionally, the Fraunhofer TechBridge Program, a lead recipient of a United States Department of Energy Innovation Ecosystem Award, helps entrepreneurs commercialize their technologies and develop their companies to obtain follow-on funding, further contributing to job growth in the region. Construction of the Fraunhofer CSE facility, which will leverage public funds to catalyze private investment, is also expected to result in at least 150 construction jobs.

To promote the success of 5 Channel Center building concept, Fraunhofer is leveraging its experience and industrial partnerships from a similar pre-existing successful project called Fraunhofer inHaus, a unique innovation research collaboration between the German building material industry, its practitioners and its construction companies. With over 100 partners and many more technical collaborators, the innovation laboratory is dedicated to the development, demonstration and deployment of technologies that focus on new, efficient ways to live.

About Fraunhofer

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is the leading organization for applied research in Europe. Its research activities are conducted by 60 Fraunhofer Institutes located throughout Germany. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft employs a staff of about 18,000 who work with an annual research budget of 1.65 billion euros.  

Fraunhofer USA, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fraunhofer with its headquarters in Plymouth, Michigan. Fraunhofer USA, a 501(c)3 non-profit research organization, operates labs in sustainable energy, biotechnology, computer security, manufacturing innovation, laser technology, and industrial coatings. Fraunhofer USA's research centers collaborate with major research universities in the United States to bring innovative technologies to the marketplace.

Fraunhofer CSE is an applied research laboratory engaged in collaborative research and development with privately held companies, government entities, academic institutions and researchers to promote new clean energy technologies, including photovoltaic and building energy efficiency. http://cse.fraunhofer.org/5channel/

Media contacts:
Nolan Browne, Managing Director, 617-575 7251, [email protected]
Frances Roland-Lee, Corporate Communications Manager, 734-354-4333, [email protected]
Diana Pisciotta, Denterlein, (617) 482-0042, [email protected]  

SOURCE Fraunhofer USA, Inc.