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New Water, Energy Technology (WET) Incubator opens

Apr 18, 2007 10:02 AM

With the turn of a pump powered by sunlight, the new Water and Energy Technology (WET) Incubator has officially opened its doors on the campus of California State University, Fresno.

The key component of the new facility is the Claude Laval Water and Energy Technology (WET) Incubator, named for the Fresno water technology industry leader. It is expected to be at the international forefront of developing water, energy and other environmental technologies.

“The WET Incubator is a very important piece of our region’s economic development,” said Central Valley Business Incubator CEO Craig Scharton. “The facility will launch new businesses that will help us to manage our water and energy resources, and to clean the environment. The facility will also be an important cornerstone in the effort to build the Central Valley as a world leader in water technology. The economic rewards of this effort will create jobs, support the local tax base and focus international attention on our community. ”

The WET Incubator is a partnership between the Central Valley Business Incubator (CVBI) and Fresno State’s International Center for Water Technology (ICWT).

The WET Incubator is a specialty business incubator that combines the entrepreneurial leadership and training experience of CVBI with the research and testing expertise of Fresno State’s ICWT. It will be home to five early-stage businesses specializing in water or energy technology.

In addition, the building housing the incubator is a model of environmental technology.

Its solar panels will generate 56 kilowatts of power – more than enough for its own needs. Excess power will be returned to the university’s grid for use campus-wide.

The first five businesses selected for the WET Incubator are PureSense Environmental, Inc., WorldWater & Power Corp., Full Circle Energy, Inc., Golden State Enviro-Pure Water and OXYPRO. The businesses will be part of the incubator for six to 24 months, with new companies rotating in as they exit. on-site members.)

CVBI will operate the WET Incubator, along with its other efforts to foster economic development through entrepreneurship. In addition to supporting the five on-site members at the WET Incubator, CVBI provides business development training and houses five on-site members at its mixed-use facility.

The ICWT will provide the technical review and evaluation of emerging water and clean energy technologies for the incubator. This will include technology development assistance, research, development, industry testing, certification, education and training.

CVBI is an independent non-profit created to stimulate economic development through entrepreneurship by offering business development services and training. The goal of business incubation is to graduate successful, financially- viable businesses capable of operating independently from the incubator. Since its inception more than 10 years ago, CVBI has supported 3,000 entrepreneurs who have raised more than $12.5 million in capital and created more than 1,900 verifiable new jobs for our local community.

ICWT is a public/private partnership dedicated to the development and application of advanced technologies that enhance water use for urban, environmental and agricultural purposes. Fresno State, in collaboration with a growing consortium of members in the water technology industry, joined together to form the ICWT in 2001 with the goal of providing efficient first use and effective reuse of water supplies worldwide. The WET Incubator will enable ICWT to serve the region’s growing water technology industry with testing and certification, resulting in better products with increased water and energy efficiency.

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