A first-of-its-kind entrepreneurial-development program in New England is designed to rapidly transition experienced executives from other industries into the region’s clean energy jobs sector.
The Clean Energy Fellowship Program, founded by the New England Clean Energy Council addresses a simple but acute problem: a lack of repeat entrepreneurs to help accelerate growth in the sector. It will offer professionals from other technology sectors a half-time, semester-length program to facilitate their transition.
The Fellowship Program is supported by academic, research and venture capital institutions, including the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s John Adams Innovation Institute .
"There are an increasing number of experienced entrepreneurs from other sectors such as telecom, IT and life sciences that have a strong interest in transitioning into the clean-energy sector. However, this transition requires knowledge of the technology trends, market drivers, industry forces, financing models, regulatory drivers and a range of other issues unique to this sector," said Nick d’Arbeloff, Executive Director of the New England Clean Energy Council. "This program will give these executives the knowledge, exposure and contacts necessary to begin applying their skills to clean energy venture development."
The program, developed by the Council over the past six months, was included in Massachusetts’ recently proposed Green Jobs Act of 2008. The program will serve as a pilot for what is hoped will be an ongoing, Massachusetts-funded initiative.
The Council’s Fellowship Program aims to add approximately 25 experienced, CEO-caliber entrepreneurs to the Massachusetts clean energy sector each year. Run twice per year, the three-month part-time program will consist of small classes of 10-15 high level executives and will include:
- Intensive classroom sessions with seminars, lectures and case studies covering issues, trends, and details of clean energy technologies, markets and policies
- Visits to energy labs at various universities and an instructive visit to the National Renewable Energy Lab in Colorado in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy
- Capstone projects, in conjunction with area venture capital firms and in support of potential or existing clean energy startups.
Applications will be accepted until May 1st , 2008. The program begins on May 29th 2008 and will continue through mid-September.
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