STATE COLLEGE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Are you a researcher, entrepreneur, or innovator working in the shale gas space in Pennsylvania or West Virginia? The Ben Franklin Shale Gas Innovation and Commercialization Center www.sgicc.org announced today the program will award a total of $100,000 in cash prizes for the four best shale gas-oriented innovations, new product ideas, or service concepts that are either in the development stage or recently launched.
In addition to the cash prizes, successful applicants will gain exposure to investors, potential partners, and industry sponsors. This traditional Pennsylvania event has been expanded to include West Virginia through a grant from the Benedum Foundation. The 3rd Annual Shale Gas Innovation Contest is co-sponsored by Ben Franklin Technology Partners (http://www.benfranklin.org), ANGA (www.anga.us), Acorn Energy (http://acornenergy.com), AquaTech (www.aquatech.com), Baker Hughes (www.bakerhughes.com), Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (www.cabotog.com), Chevron Technology Ventures (http://www.chevron.com/ctv/ctvi/), CONSOL Energy (www.consolenergy.com), Chesapeake Energy (www.chk.com), First National Bank (www.fnb-online.com ), GE Oil & Gas (http://www.ge-energy.com), Little Pine Resources (http://littlepineresources.com), the Marcellus Shale Coalition (http://marcelluscoalition.org), Praxair (www.praxair.com), Range Resources (http://www.rangeresources.com/), and Seneca Resources Corporation (http://natfuel.com/seneca/).
Bill Hall, Director of the SGICC remarked, “What’s great about this competition is that a simple online summary is all that’s required to get started. Any idea related to the shale gas space is eligible - even if the product or service has already been commercially developed. Examples include natural gas utilization products/services, remote site monitoring, well pad EH&S products or services, natural gas or NGL conversion technologies, and water management or remediation technologies.”
Finalists will be chosen by a panel of industry experts. To download an application, visit www.sgicc.org and click on the $100,000 Shale Gas Innovation Contest tab. Deadline to enter is February 1, 2014.
For details regarding eligibility or other questions, contact Bill Hall at either 814-933-8203 or billhall@psu.edu.
About the SGICC
The Ben Franklin Shale Gas Innovation and Commercialization Center (www.sgicc.org) is designed to harness innovation and new technologies as a means to maximize the economic return to Pennsylvania’s citizens from the Marcellus and Utica shale formations. The Center’s goal is to increase sustainable employment and wealth creation in Pennsylvania that has the potential to outlast the initial exploration, production and transportation of natural gas from the formations. The Center will also identify, support and commercialize technologies and early-stage businesses that enhance responsible stewardship of the environment while properly utilizing this transformative energy asset.
