Contact Information: CONTACT: Shawn Ramsey Crossroads Public Relations 919-782-3262 or 919-621-0737 Email Contact WEB SITE: http://www.etprogram.org/summit06
RTP Research Capabilities, Growth Potential Identified as Big Advantages for Environmental Technology Advancement
Unique Combination of EPA, Academia and Entrepreneurship Cited by Environmental Partnership Summit Participants
RALEIGH, NC -- (MARKET WIRE) -- October 25, 2006 -- The impressive research capabilities of the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) area laboratories, along with
complementary research conducted at North Carolina State University (NC
State) and the University of North Carolina (UNC), were cited in the recent
Environmental Partnership Summit as important elements for economic growth
in the region.
The unique combination of top research universities, a vital
entrepreneurial culture, an extensive EPA presence and strong state
government support promises to make environmental technology a valuable
opportunity for growing the North Carolina economy.
The summit was facilitated in September by the Intellectual Property (IP)
Management Group, under a cooperative agreement with the EPA and in
conjunction with UNC and NC State. The IP Management Group is part of the
West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation, based in Fairmont,
W.Va.
"Other regions in the country would love to have the resources present at
RTP," said Joseph Allen, Vice President and General Manager of the IP
Management Group. "Each of the three EPA labs there is producing
cutting-edge research that, combined with the outstanding resources of the
region's major research universities, will lead to new products to protect
the environment and improve the economy."
"This conference was a recognition of the importance of bridging
institutions," said Robert McMahan, Ph.D., Senior Science and Technology
Advisor to the State of North Carolina and Executive Director of the North
Carolina Board of Science and Technology. "We must begin to think
differently about the role of universities and research institutions in
building regional economies and structure institutional collaborations
around them."
The latest in air quality-related research was unveiled by researchers from
the EPA's National Risk Management Research Laboratory, the National
Exposure Research Laboratory and the National Health and Environmental
Effects Research Laboratory, and their counterparts at NC State and UNC.
High-level representatives of the EPA stressed the importance of university
and industry strategic partnerships to the future of the agency's science
and technology initiatives.
Those interested in learning more about partnership opportunities
discovered at the summit or who have new ideas for collaboration may
contact the IP Management Group's Environmental Technologies Program at
866-483-4764 or etprogram@wvhtf.org.
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