2008 Woodie Awards
Grant of $18.6 million awarded
UT beats OU in race for big money to start energy research
Nick Turner
Issue date: 7/9/07 Section: News
A portion of the grant will be used to renovate and buy equipment for the Clean and Renewable Energy Incubator, Reichert said.
The incubator and research in this area are already creating jobs in the Toledo area, according to Reichert.
Two businesses grew out of the photovoltaics program at UT, already. One business, Midwest Optoelectronics, is a startup company run by Toledo professor of physics, Xunming Deng. MWOE uses patents licensed through UT and will pay royalties when it achieves commercial success, according to Compaan.
Reichert said MWOE has been in the incubator for several years. When it started, the business had two or three employees; now, MWOE has 17 employees.
Compaan said work in photovoltaics is not a new venture. Research involving PV has occurred since 1989 when Toledo received its first grant in the research area, Compaan said. There is a long-term research relationship between UT and businesses who want to be involved in natural renewable energy.
First Solar is another business that has a base in Toledo. It began in the North Engineering Building at the University of Toledo.
Reichert said that First Solar is the largest producer of solar cells in the country. First Solar has more than 500 employees with its largest manufacturing facility in Perrysburg, Ohio.
According to Compaan, a group of investors started here because they knew about the research culture at UT. Companies realize this is beneficial for them to partner with the university.
According to Reichert, UT has the third-largest amount of research in PV in the country, and the Wright Center Award shows that commitment as well as continued growth in this area.
Reichert said that as technology continues to improve to require less direct sunlight, Toledo will continue to play a larger role in solar technology.
Compaan said a large part of the capital funds would be used to buy equipment and renovate buildings for companies to use for research.
"PV has the possibility to become a major job market in the Toledo area," Reichert said. "We feel we have a lot of opportunities with the small businesses that we have in the incubator."
According to Compaan, we have a national and international reputation in PV because of the research commitment at the University of Toledo.
Recently, Toledo was mentioned in "The Economist," a news magazine, as an unusual place where there is an increased focus on clean and renewable energy, according to Compaan.
Because of this reputation, the university can have better standards, better students and ultimately bring technology jobs to the Toledo area.
According to Compaan, the Wright Center Award shows that Toledo is on the cutting edge in this area. Compaan believes that Toledo will continue to bring new companies and new jobs to this area through PV research.
The incubator and research in this area are already creating jobs in the Toledo area, according to Reichert.
Two businesses grew out of the photovoltaics program at UT, already. One business, Midwest Optoelectronics, is a startup company run by Toledo professor of physics, Xunming Deng. MWOE uses patents licensed through UT and will pay royalties when it achieves commercial success, according to Compaan.
Reichert said MWOE has been in the incubator for several years. When it started, the business had two or three employees; now, MWOE has 17 employees.
Compaan said work in photovoltaics is not a new venture. Research involving PV has occurred since 1989 when Toledo received its first grant in the research area, Compaan said. There is a long-term research relationship between UT and businesses who want to be involved in natural renewable energy.
First Solar is another business that has a base in Toledo. It began in the North Engineering Building at the University of Toledo.
Reichert said that First Solar is the largest producer of solar cells in the country. First Solar has more than 500 employees with its largest manufacturing facility in Perrysburg, Ohio.
According to Compaan, a group of investors started here because they knew about the research culture at UT. Companies realize this is beneficial for them to partner with the university.
According to Reichert, UT has the third-largest amount of research in PV in the country, and the Wright Center Award shows that commitment as well as continued growth in this area.
Reichert said that as technology continues to improve to require less direct sunlight, Toledo will continue to play a larger role in solar technology.
Compaan said a large part of the capital funds would be used to buy equipment and renovate buildings for companies to use for research.
"PV has the possibility to become a major job market in the Toledo area," Reichert said. "We feel we have a lot of opportunities with the small businesses that we have in the incubator."
According to Compaan, we have a national and international reputation in PV because of the research commitment at the University of Toledo.
Recently, Toledo was mentioned in "The Economist," a news magazine, as an unusual place where there is an increased focus on clean and renewable energy, according to Compaan.
Because of this reputation, the university can have better standards, better students and ultimately bring technology jobs to the Toledo area.
According to Compaan, the Wright Center Award shows that Toledo is on the cutting edge in this area. Compaan believes that Toledo will continue to bring new companies and new jobs to this area through PV research.
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