January 3, 2012

I am pleased to announce that the Nevada Institute for Renewable Energy Commercialization (NIREC) has leased office space on DRI's Reno and Las Vegas campuses. NIREC is a not-for-profit organization that was started by several outstanding Nevadan businessmen, whose office has been in Incline Village for the past several years, and whose charge is to transform clean energy ideas into sustainable commercial enterprises. Recognizing that renewable energy is one of the most important business opportunities in our state, NIREC serves as a nonprofit intermediary in support of activities that drive innovation, formation of companies, and job creation around renewable energy in Nevada.

In Reno, NIREC is anticipating moving in by the end of the week and will be located across the hallway from the Executive Vice President for Research office in the Maxey Science Building. The Reno phone number is 775-673-7939. In Las Vegas, NIREC is planning to move in closer to the end of the month and will be in the administrative area near the President's office in the Southern Nevada Science Center. The Las Vegas phone number is 702-862-5592.

DRI has already greatly benefitted from NIREC's activities, including supporting Drs. Hampden Kuhns and Morien Roberts in the development of their energy management product and company, Load IQ. Through funding support and key industry introductions, NIREC has worked with this team to help them develop business plans and conduct market analysis to determine product markets and focus. NIREC recently launched a monthly Tech Chat on our Las Vegas campus to provide a forum for sharing new technologies, gaining input from fellow researchers and discussing goals and challenges on the road to commercialization.

There are additional synergies between DRI's entrepreneurial environment and NIREC's support of entrepreneurial activities, and I believe continued collaboration between DRI and NIREC will help advance our commercialization efforts. Being located within DRI will also allow NIREC better access to research partners at the University of Nevada, Reno and University of Nevada, Las Vegas. NIREC has also recently collaborated with the UNR-DRI Technology Transfer Office, conducting a review of the office and developing a strategic roadmap, goals, and tactics for engaging industry and community with UNR and DRI.

DRI, in working more closely with NIREC, UNLV, and UNR will be more effective in addressing the recommendations from the recent Brookings Study, which calls for Nevada to focus on innovation and accelerate commercialization. This study urges an alignment of higher education and workforce development to strategize new economic opportunities. Brookings calls for the state to begin constructing an effective, sector-focused, private sector-connected infrastructure for spawning innovations in Nevada and efficiently helping them scale up. This is a good description of NIREC's mission.

Now more than ever, we must identify new funding opportunities and look for partners to chart a bright future for DRI. In the process we will build new research endeavors while playing a critical role in diversifying Nevada's economy.

Sincerely
Steve Wells