Sept. 4, 2008

INLAND EMPIRE EMBRACES NANO-TECHNOLOGY CONCEPTS
Clean Technology Forum, Webcast by GIVE, presents a positive view for the region.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The future of green industry and nano-technology is bright for the Inland Empire, area experts demonstrated in a daylong forum sponsored last week by the Donald F. Averill Applied Technology Training Center at San Bernardino Community College, and the California Institute of Nanotechnology.

The Aug. 28 forum, held at the training center, featured industry experts discussing new developments in emerging technologies, as well as market trends, sustainable community efforts and intellectual property issues. The Green Institute for Village Empowerment, GIVE, was a co-sponsor of the event, Web casting the presentations live and on demand on its Web site at www.giveforthefuture.org.

Joe Heinzmann of Fuel Cell, Inc., spoke on new developments in commercial applications of fuel cell technology. Attorney Rachael Wexler of Goodwin Proctor, LLP, presented strategies on establishing joint ventures and alliances in nanotech and clean tech.
Michael J. Gallo, president and CEO of Kelly Space and Technology, Inc., presented information on his company’s role in the development of a small-scale waste-to-energy plant that uses sewage sludge in a process that can produce methane gas, which can be converted into electricity and other energy sources. The process is in the R&D stages, but expected to go into full-scale operations in the near future.

Tim Gerrity, PhD., director of the Office of Techology Transfer & Commercialization at Cal State University, San Bernardino, presented an overview of his project, which will help new and emerging green technologies market themselves locally and beyond. The program is scheduled to launch this fall.

GIVE founder Ali Sahabi presented the latest updates on the Green Valley Initiative, an economic development plan designed to bring green and clean technologies to the Inland Empire. A steering committee representing various stakeholders involved in the effort, has targeted the shipping industry as a potential driver for new industries in the region. For more information, visit www.greenvalleynow.org