Oregon BEST FEST '10 was a grand success! Below is the agenda from the day, and you can download speaker presentations HERE.

At Oregon BEST FEST '10, university researchers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and small businesses developing new renewable energy and sustainable built environment products and services came together for an all-day networking event and research expo in Portland. The theme was the collaborative commercialization pipeline – from the research funding that generates breakthroughs to the creation and funding of new companies, products, and services that result from this research.

Participants included researchers from the Oregon University System, public and private funders of technology R&D, entrepreneurs and inventors, and others working in the innovation sector. The event featured speakers, research presentations, panels, and an interactive Innovation-Collaboration Challenge aimed at generating and exploring five top revolutionary projects that Oregon BEST will help advance. Participants made many connections and learned how green research, innovation, and collaboration are fueling Oregon's green economy.

Oregon BEST was proud to partner with Innovate | Collaborate | Oregon (ICOregon) on the 2010 event. 

• Sustainable Built Environment (four 15-min. presentations focused on industry technology needs and academic research) Speakers include:
  • Lech Muszynski, OSU professor of wood science & engineering, on a bioplastics composite material for use in the transportation sector
  • Lorie Wigle, General Manager, Eco-Technology Program Office, Intel Corporation
  • Ihab Elzeyadi, UO professor of architecture, on a solar awning/light shelf prototype
  • Eden Brukman, LEED AP, Vice President, International Living Building Institute
• Renewable Energy (four 15-min. presentations focused on industry technology needs and academic research) Speakers include:
  • Kevin Reynolds, PSU professor of chemistry, on a biofuels project
  • Steve Hummel, VP of Engineering for PV Powered
  • Gregory Herman, OSU professor of chemical engineering, on a Generation III solar energy project with Sharp Laboratories
  • Jaisen Mody, PGE's Director of Generation Projects on coal substitutes at the Boardman Power Plant.

12:00 – 12:45: Catered Lunch
12:45 – 1:15: Panel Presentation: the Oregon Sustainability Center's research agenda, industry collaboration, and more.
1:15 – 2:30: The Oregon BEST Innovation-Collaboration Challenge, a dynamic, interactive exercise to generate and explore five top revolutionary renewable energy and sustainable built environment projects that Oregon BEST will help advance
2:30 – 3:15: Research Poster Session/Networking Break
3:15 – 4:15: Funding Sessions (two tracks):

• Public Funding Speakers include:
  
  • Ravi Prasher, Program Director in charge of thermal devices, U.S. Dept. of Energy's ARPA-E Program
  • Gregory Rorrer, Program Director, National Science Foundation's Energy for Sustainability Program
• Innovative Financing Speakers include:
  
  • Brad Zenger, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Pivotal Investments
  • Ash Awad, VP, Energy & Facility Services, McKinstry
  • David Chen, Principal, Equilibrium Capital

4:15 – 6:00: Reception & Networking, including ongoing Research Poster Session and announcement of the Innovation-Collaboration Challenge Awards

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
Become an Oregon BEST FEST '10 Sponsor and help support this annual event. Sponsorship details here.

GOALS OF OREGON BEST FEST '10:

• Help Oregon university researchers increase federal research funding through collaboration and contact with funding agency personnel
• Spark collaboration between university researchers and oregon businesses engaged in renewable energy and green building
• Fuel Oregon's green economy by speeding commercialization of research into tomorrow's green products, technologies, and jobs

Read about last year's event, Oregon BEST FEST '09, here.