New Energy New York of Binghamton University Awards Over $314K to advance U.S. Battery Technology

New Energy New York (NENY), led by Binghamton University in partnership with the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium (NY-BEST), announced $314,980 in funding for four companies through its fourth Technical Assistance Program round. The program supports startups and small businesses in upstate New York by covering costs for testing, prototyping, and certification services, such as those provided by the NorthEast Center for Chemical Energy Storage, Rochester Institute of Technology’s Battery Prototyping Center, and Eastman Kodak Company. This funding helps de-risk technology development and scale manufacturing readiness for clean energy innovations. The initiative aims to accelerate the commercialization of battery technologies critical to the U.S. energy storage supply chain. Emily Marino, deputy director for NENY, highlighted that the program reduces the time and financial barriers for companies to access lab resources, enabling faster market entry. M. Stanley Whittingham, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Binghamton University and Nobel laureate, emphasized the program’s role in fostering American-made battery solutions and leapfrogging current technologies. Companies can request funding to offset costs for services like testing, prototyping, and certification from qualified New York-based providers, including university centers and private entities. William Acker, executive director of NY-BEST, noted that the program invests in real-time technology development, supporting New York businesses in deploying new energy products. The funding addresses cost barriers that often hinder innovation, particularly for small to medium-sized businesses. The fourth round of the Technical Assistance Program follows a rigorous evaluation process, with awardees gaining access to reduced-cost resources essential for advancing their innovations. NENY’s goal is to build a sustainable and secure battery supply chain in the U.S., with New York serving as a key hub for energy storage technology commercialization. The program’s success underscores the state’s growing role in driving clean energy advancements.