STATE COLLEGE, PA – The Ben Franklin Shale Gas Innovation and Commercialization Center www.sgicc.org is seeking innovators developing the next breakthrough technology for the shale energy play. The 2014 Shale Gas Innovation Contest will award a total of $100,000 to the four best shale energy-oriented innovations, new product ideas, or service concepts. The contest is open to researchers, entrepreneurs, or small companies located in Pennsylvania or West Virginia – or those willing to locate to those states.
To download an application, visit www.sgicc.org and click on the $100,000 Shale Gas Innovation Contest tab. The deadline for applications is February 1, 2014.
“As the shale energy play matures, it is even more important to focus on every aspect of the process,” remarked Bill Hall, Director of the SGICC. “We’ve lined up many of the leading industry players as sponsors and judges to assist us in identifying the best new ideas. This is the third year of the contest, and in the past, we’ve seen applications related to virtually all aspects of the process, including the exploration, extraction, and utilization areas.”
Finalists will be chosen by a panel of industry experts at an Awards Event in May 2014.
In addition to the cash prizes, successful applicants will gain exposure to investors, potential partners, and industry sponsors. Traditionally a Pennsylvania-focused event this year’s contest has been expanded to include West Virginia through a grant from the Benedum Foundation. The competition 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), EQT (www.eqt.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/), Seneca Resources Corporation (http://natfuel.com/seneca/), and Williams (www.williamsinthenortheast.com).
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