Illinois Smart Grid Regional Innovation Cluster Announces Selection of Companies for Innovation Acceleration Platform

CHICAGO, Jan. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Illinois Smart Grid Regional Innovation Cluster (ISGRIC) today announced the selection of 10 companies to participate in its multi-tiered Innovation Acceleration Platform.  ISGRIC is an advanced collaborative ecosystem that seeks to attract and support smart grid innovators in order to enhance market opportunities, accelerate business and product development, create jobs and advance development of a smarter grid.  

ISGRIC partner organizations include the U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), Clean Energy Trust, the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition and O-H Community Partners.

The following smart grid companies will receive business, technical and commercialization assistance through ISGRIC:

• Adica, LLC – A global energy software and consulting company that provides advanced analytics for evaluating the impact of smart grid technology (www.adica.com).
• Agentis Inc. – Develops and delivers an energy engagement platform to electricity consumers to help them take control of their consumption (www.agentisenergy.com).
• Artelys Corp – Develops optimization and accompanying services for the US power industry (www.artelys.com).
• Potential Difference Illinois, Inc. – Developing and manufacturing rapid battery charging stations for both industrial electric vehicles and passenger vehicles (www.potentialdifference.com).
• Power2Switch LLC – Connects small businesses to Retail Electric Suppliers (RES) for the purpose of reducing their electricity costs while helping them monitor and manage their energy usage through a web portal (www.power2switch.com).
• Intelligent Generation, LLC – Develops software and networking technologies to manage distributed generation and storage of renewable energy (www.intelgen.com).
• Intelligent Power Partners – Develops microgrid master controller software for coordinating energy systems (www.ippconnect.com).
• Intelligent Power Solutions – Develops advanced intelligent home automation software agents and applications.
• Sun Phocus Technologies – Developing a transparent solar concentrating film for building integrated photovoltaic windows (www.sunphocus.com).
• TransLumen Technologies, LLC – Creates proprietary and patented visualization technology and tools (www.translumen.net).

Companies will have the opportunity to utilize space at Illinois Institute of Technology's University Technology Park, receive business development support though IIT's Stuart School of Business, technical support through IIT's Center for Electricity Innovation and commercialization support through project partners Clean Energy Trust and O-H Community Partners.  

ISGRIC helps advance development of a smarter grid, a critical first step in being able to manage, store and exchange power, by pooling the Chicago regions extensive brainpower and experience to foster technology and smart grid innovation.  ISGRIC fashions smart grid into an economic development tool that can be used to create new jobs and opportunity for Illinois-based institutions and companies.

Intelligent Generation, one of the companies selected to participate in the Platform, recently celebrated the launch of its new test site at Illinois Institute of Technology's University Technology Park.  "We are delighted to set up operations in the IIT-led Illinois Smart Grid Innovation Cluster where we have a fully equipped lab to put our technology to the test under simulated ecological and environmental conditions," said Jay Marhoefer, founder of Intelligent Generation.

"We are excited to offer these services through IIT and our partners," said David Baker, Vice President for External Affairs at IIT.  "There is a strong appetite for smart grid technology development in the Chicago region and this sector must be fueled by a comprehensive support network to thrive.  ISGRIC builds upon the natural strengths of the Chicago region, pooling extensive brainpower and experience."

For more information on the Illinois Smart Grid Regional Innovation Cluster, visit www.smartgridcluster.com.

SOURCE Illinois Smart Grid Regional Innovation Cluster