Apply Now to the 6th Annual 2017 Shale Gas Innovation Contest!

STATE COLLEGE, PA – The Ben Franklin Shale Gas Innovation and Commercialization Center www.sgicc.org is excited to announce today their 6th Annual Shale Gas Innovation Contest, offering a total of $60,000 in cash prizes for the three best shale energy oriented innovations, new product ideas, or service concepts that are either in the development stage or recently launched.  Researchers, entrepreneurs, or small businesses in Pennsylvania focused on developing a new product or service with applicability to the oil and gas industry can apply.  A simple online application can be found at http://www.sgicc.org/2017-shale-gas-innovation-contest.html.

In addition to the cash prizes, successful applicants will gain exposure to investors, potential partners, and industry sponsors. Additionally at this year’s Finals Event, already scheduled to take place on May 9th, 2017, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Southpointe, PA, there will be a poster session included to highlight some of the most promising technologies under development at Carnegie Mellon and Penn State universities. A keynote address will also be included highlighting the opportunities companies are being presented through the rapidly advancing Industrial Internet of Things (IoT). Rich Hufnagel  IoT Specialist from Verizon Wireless will address how network connectivity of products can allow them to both send and receive data, expanding B2B opportunities.

This 6th Annual Shale Gas Innovation Contest’s GOLD Sponsor is the Ben Franklin Technology Partners (http://www.benfranklin.org). Industry sponsors include: AquaTech (www.aquatech.com), Chevron Technology Ventures (http://www.chevron.com/ctv/ctvi/), EQT Corporation (https://www.eqt.com/ ), Fluid Recovery Systems (www.fluidrecovery.com), LPR Energy (http://www.lprenergy.com/), LPR Land Services (http://www.lprls.com/), the Marcellus Shale Coalition (http://marcelluscoalition.org), Praxair (www.praxair.com), Range Resources (www.rangeresources.com), Steptoe & Johnson PLLC (http://www.steptoe-johnson.com/ ), and Williams (www.williamsinthenortheast.com). Non-Profit sponsors include: Carnegie Mellon University’s Scott Institute for Energy Innovation (http://www.cmu.edu/energy/), and the Penn State University’s Institute for Natural Gas Research (http://www.ems.psu.edu/INGaR).

Bill Hall, Director of the SGICC commented, “We are excited to once again support our entrepreneurial community across the Commonwealth. The rapid pace of innovation adoption across the shale energy play has been amazing! Through the contest SGICC shines a light on the best new innovations being developed in the state.”

Entering the competition is easy, requiring the completion of the online application. Any idea or already commercialized product or service related to the oil and gas industry is eligible. Examples include well pad EH&S products or services, novel materials or chemicals to enhance performance, or for instance prevent corrosion or improve product yield, remote site monitoring technologies, natural gas or NGL use or conversion technologies, and water management or remediation technologies.  

Finalists will be chosen by a panel of industry experts. To download an application, visit www.sgicc.org and click on the 2017 Shale Gas Innovation Contest tab.  Deadline to enter is 11:59PM on February 6th,  2017.

For details regarding eligibility or other questions, contact Bill Hall at either 814-933-8203 or billhall@psu.edu.