Taylor, Mich. (May 17, 2011) - Continuing the tradition of
support for not-for-profit organizations in areas of the arts, culture,
housing and environmental initiatives, Masco Corporation Foundation
sponsored the 2011 Clean Energy Prize. The third annual contest is
designed to encourage entrepreneurship in Michigan and the development
of clean-energy technologies. This year's contest was organized by the
Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan College of
Engineering and DTE Energy.
The Clean Energy Prize is a competition that is accelerating energy
innovation in Michigan by moving clean technologies from university labs
to the market through collaborative, cross-disciplinary business plans.
Initially, 26 teams from seven colleges and universities across
Michigan competed for the top prize of $50,000. DTE Energy made a
commitment to be the anchor sponsor of the prize joined by founding
sponsors Masco Corporation Foundation and The Kresge Foundation, as well
as additional annual sponsors.
"The Clean Energy Prize supports an innovative future for Michigan
business, and is in keeping with the Foundation's interest in promoting
clean energy solutions," said Melonie Colaianne, President of Masco's
Foundation. "The Foundation is dedicated to supporting advanced
technologies, particularly those that have the opportunity to improve
green building science and provide more environmentally-friendly and
sustainable options to consumers."
The winning company, CSquared Innovation, is a concept to component
research and development company focusing on disruptive
clean-manufacturing technologies for energy, aerospace and biomedical
industries.
CSquared Innovation is commercializing a laser-assisted atmospheric
plasma deposition technology development at the University of Michigan
which offers a high speed, cost effective and highly scalable platform
approach to the synthesis of nanostructure materials and films for a
large area on Li-ion battery electrodes, photovoltaics, industrial
coatings and biomedical materials. The company is expected to launch
shortly from the University of Michigan Tech Transfer's Venture Center
and is based on technology developed in the lab of Pravansu Mohanty, a
professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at University of
Michigan Dearborn.
About Masco Corporation Foundation
The Masco Corporation Foundation supports not-for-profit organizations
in the areas of arts, culture, housing and environmental initiatives.
Additionally, the Foundation makes limited grants to a number of very
specific civic, educational and human service initiatives in the
communities where it does business. The Masco Corporation Foundation was
founded in 1952 and is funded with contributions from Masco
Corporation. Masco Corporation is one of the world's largest
manufacturers of brand-name consumer products for the home including
Behr® paint, Delta® and Hansgrohe® faucets, bath and shower fixtures and
KraftMaid® and Merillat® cabinetry. For more information on the
Foundation and the Masco family of brands, visit www.masco.com.
Media Contact
Karen Mendelsohn
Vice President - Sales and Marketing
313.792.6708
karen_mendelsohn@mascohq.com
Jill Delaney
MSL Chicago
312-861-5264
jill.delaney@mslgroup.com