NEW YORK CITY–Polytechnic Institute of New York University and the New York City Economic Development Corp. on Tuesday announced plans to develop and operate the Clean Technology Entrepreneur Center, an incubator and multi-use space to support innovators focused on solving urban challenges of sustainability, energy and resilience. The latest in a series of entrepreneurship programs launched by the Bloomberg Administration to nurture the growth of New York City's innovation economy, NYC CTEC will be based at 15 MetroTech in Downtown Brooklyn, combining a business incubator, a product demonstration showcase and educational programs. NYC CTEC will serve as a key anchor of the budding Brooklyn Tech Triangle, for which ambitious improvement plans were also announced Tuesday.

“Successful 21^st century cities will utilize smart technology everywhere and greater emphasis needs to be placed on developing those technologies now,” says NYU-Poly president Katepalli Sreenivasan in the announcement. “Public-private-academic collaboration has a proven track record of assisting entrepreneurs in starting new energy-related business ventures, launching new products, and creating new jobs.” Sreenivasan was alluding to other partnerships NYU has with the city to create business incubators.

“New York City is committed to addressing the global challenges associated with climate change, and the Bloomberg Administration has taken a number of important steps to ensure that we are a world leader in sustainability and resiliency in the 21st century,” says NYCEDC president Seth Pinsky in the announcement. “Our city's entrepreneurs also are rising to address these challenges. By providing the resources that startups need to thrive, the NYC Clean Technology Entrepreneur Center will help strengthen our economy while creating critical solutions for our future.”