A Total of $80,000 in Cash Prizes Will Be Awarded at This Year’s 5th Annual 2016 Shale Gas Innovation Contest

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.--()--Innovators who are developing or have recently commercialized new products or services that are applicable to any aspect of the O&G industry should be entering the 5th Annual Shale Gas Innovation Contest. The contest, sponsored by Ben Franklin’s Shale Gas Innovation and Commercialization Center (www.sgicc.org) offers a total of $80,000 in cash prizes to be split among the four best shale-energy oriented innovations. Any new technology that could be employed along the entire O&G industry value chain is of interest. The contest is open to small businesses, researchers, or entrepreneurs in Pennsylvania or West Virginia. A simple online application can be found at http://www.sgicc.org/2016-shale-gas-innovation-contest.html.

In addition to the cash prizes, successful applicants will gain exposure to investors, potential partners, and industry sponsors. Additionally at this year’s Finals’ Event, already scheduled to take place on May 18th, 2016 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Southpointe, PA, there will be a poster session included to highlight some of the most promising technologies under development at regional universities and research centers.

Entering the competition is easy, requiring only the completion of the online application. Any idea or already commercialized product or service related to the oil & gas space is eligible. Examples include well pad or mid-stream EH&S products or services, novel materials or chemicals to enhance performance, or for instance prevent corrosion or improve product yield, remote site monitoring technologies, natural gas or NGL downstream conversion technologies, and water management or remediation technologies. “Continuous improvement along the entire value chain is a constant industry objective,” stated SGICC Director Bill Hall.

This 5th Annual Shale Gas Innovation Contest’s GOLD Sponsor is Ben Franklin Technology Partners (http://www.benfranklin.org). Industry sponsors include: AquaTech (www.aquatech.com), Chevron Technology Ventures (http://www.chevron.com/ctv/ctvi/), EQT Corporation (https://www.eqt.com/ ), First National Bank (www.fnb-online.com ), GE Transportation (http://www.getransportation.com/), Inflection Energy (http://www.inflectionenergy.com/), LPR Energy (http://www.lprenergy.com/), LPR Land Services (http://www.lprls.com/), the Marcellus Shale Coalition (http://marcelluscoalition.org), PPG Industries (http://corporate.ppg.com/), Praxair (www.praxair.com), Steptoe & Johnson PLLC (http://www.steptoe-johnson.com/ ), and Williams (www.williamsinthenortheast.com). Non-Profit sponsors include: Carnegie Mellon University’s Scott Institute for Energy Innovation (http://www.cmu.edu/energy/), Penn State University’s Institute for Natural Gas Research (http://www.ems.psu.edu/INGaR), the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Energy (http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/cfe/), and West Virginia University’s Energy Institute (http://energy.wvu.edu/).

The SGICC also wants to recognize the generous support of the Benedum Foundation which allows the contest to include West Virginia, as well as Pennsylvania.

Finalists will be chosen by a panel of industry experts. To review the eligibility requirements and download an application, visit www.sgicc.org and click on the 2016 Shale Gas Innovation Contest tab. Deadline to enter is 11:59PM on February 1st, 2016.

For questions regarding eligibility or for any 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.

Contacts

Shale Gas Innovation & Commercialization Center
Bill Hall, Director, 814-933-8203
billhall@psu.edu

Release Summary

“Continuous improvement along the entire value chain is a constant industry objective,” - Bill Hall, SGICC Director.

Contacts

Shale Gas Innovation & Commercialization Center
Bill Hall, Director, 814-933-8203
billhall@psu.edu