Vice President for Research Stephen Forrest told a U.S. House committee that collaborative energy research initiatives between universities, government and business are crucial to a nationwide effort to find alternative solutions to today’s energy problems.
Testifying in Washington before the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming last week, Forrest urged that Congress fund both the newly authorized advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E) and regional “discovery and innovation institutes” (DII’s) as new ways to bring together federal agencies, universities, industry, entrepreneurs and the investment community.
Forrest highlighted the collaborative efforts between the state of Michigan, its universities and business leaders as examples of such cooperation.
“Even Michigan, which has the highest unemployment rate in the nation and a manufacturing economy under siege, can show what a great opportunity we have before us. Innovative partnerships with universities, government and industry are showing a clear path to a win-win situation. We can come up with energy solutions and innovations and strengthen economies.”
In his testimony, Forrest thanked Congress for its initial steps to fund the new ARPA-E that was authorized in the America COMPETES Act. That agency at the Department of Energy would connect universities with large and small companies “hungry for new advances in technology,” and would support “out-of-the-box transformational energy research.” Final appropriations for FY ’09 have yet to be determined, however.
Forrest also held up the concept of DII’s, recommended by the National Academy of Engineering, as way to address the challenge of bringing resources together to bear on solving energy problems.
“Each DII would be responsive to the unique regional needs and capabilities where it is located,” Forrest said. “For example, for the energy-intensive Great Lakes region, which is dependent upon heavy manufacturing, agriculture and transportation, a DII could lead research in areas such as alternative transportation fuels, advanced automobiles and energy efficient manufacturing technologies.”
Forrest was joined by MIT President Susan Hockfield and other panelists in calling for action now to begin replacing fossil fuels.
“In setting national priorities, it is increasingly apparent that transforming our energy economy now represents the single highest priority to assuring a bright future for our nation,” Forrest concluded.
