NextEnergy Celebrates Ten Years of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

DETROIT, Nov. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- NextEnergy is celebrating 10 years of success in driving innovation and the economy forward with an exclusive event honoring companies and innovators in advanced energy technologies. The festivities will take place Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 at NextEnergy Center in Detroit and features a presentation on the future of Michigan innovation by U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich; Mike Finney, CEO, Michigan Economic Development Corporation and other dignitaries.

Business leaders and dignitaries from across the state will come together to network and gain valuable insight into the future of energy and advanced manufacturing in our region and across the country. They will also hear the many success stories that have come from NextEnergy as well as the innovators they have supported over the past decade.

"We are excited to have reached this important milestone with such wonderful achievements from the entrepreneurs and companies we have been privileged to support," said Jean Redfield, president and CEO of NextEnergy. "We look forward to another incredible decade of innovation and advancement."

NextEnergy is playing a vital role in the acceleration of a number of key business sectors, including: electric vehicle infrastructure, energy storage, advanced lighting, microgrids and many more. They have been an integral player in the development and advancement of companies such as Titan Energy, Coritech, Nextek, Zerobase and many others.

Attendees at the Michigan-made themed event, which runs from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., will enjoy Michigan-brewed beer from Corner Brewery, Michigan wine from Sandhill Crane Vineyards, catering from Root (2012 Detroit Free Press Restaurant of the Year) featuring regional cuisine and a jazz duo from Wayne State University's School of Music. 

The concept of NextEnergy was born out of former Michigan Governor John Engler's office.  Doug Rothwell, CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan and former President and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, played a key role in the birth of the organization. As he reflects on the past 10 years, Rothwell says, "The advanced energy sector is growing wildly and there is so much more to do. It's great to be able to go back and see the brick and mortar. It's a legacy I feel good about."

NextEnergy has forged partnerships with economic development, philanthropic, government, university and industry partners, furthering its position as a critical contributor to advanced energy technology growth and sustainability. Recent research projects include power conditioning and controls technologies, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and grid interface, and energy efficiency and advanced lighting demonstrations with the City of Detroit,  the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan Solid State Lighting Association.

Founded in 2002 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, NextEnergy is headquartered in Midtown Detroit's innovation corridor and serves to accelerate energy security, economic competitiveness and environmental responsibility through the growth of advanced-energy technologies, businesses and industries. Since its inception, NextEnergy has helped attract more than $1 billion of new investment in the state of Michigan, including programs in excess of $150 million in which NextEnergy has directly participated. For more information, visit nextenergy.org.

SOURCE NextEnergy