Washington state Dept. of Commerce commits $3M for ‘Innovation Cluster Accelerator’

Washington state’s Division of Commerce right now introduced an “Innovation Cluster Accelerator” that provides 5 organizations $550,000 to construct an “innovation cluster” in a given trade. The state is utilizing the present Washington Maritime Blue accelerator, Canada’s Superclusters Initiative, and the Norwegian Innovation Clusters as fashions for the brand new program. Listed here are the 5 organizations getting funding, with descriptions from the Dept. of Commerce (4 extra clusters can be added later this yr):

• Enterprise Digital Progress Ecosystem (EDGE) Cluster, led by the 5G Open Innovation Lab — utilizing edge computing and 5G to digitally remodel agriculture, power and utilities, healthcare, manufacturing and transportation and logistics.
• Superior Know-how Cluster, led by the Washington Know-how Trade Affiliation — utilizing quantum computing and distributed ledger applied sciences (blockchain) to develop superior applied sciences and keep Washington’s know-how management.
• Consortium for Hydrogen and Renewable Generated E-Fuels (CHARGE), led by WSU’s Joint Heart for Deployment and Analysis in Earth and Ample Supplies (JCDREAM) — exploring using hydrogen to decarbonize heavy-duty transport, aviation and delivery and scale back reliance on non-renewable gasoline sources.
• Decarbonizing the Constructed Setting Cluster, led by The Clear Tech Alliance — advancing the event and adoption of fresh applied sciences to decarbonize parts of the constructed setting together with human-made buildings, options corresponding to power and transportation, and services the place folks dwell and work.
• Washington VERTical, led by the Port of Benton — accelerating the transition to wash, renewable and non-emitting power manufacturing sources by 2025 via superior nuclear energy applied sciences.