This Wednesday, April 3, Dr. Bryan Willson will speak on how energy innovation impacts our lives. After introduction by Alan Kirkpatrick, Bryan will explain how innovation (the process of getting new concepts into widespread use) involves both creativity (new ideas) and entrepreneurship (business models for getting ideas to scale). Innovation at scale generally requires mobilizing networks of diverse skill sets. This talk explores approaches to innovation in the context of three widely divergent energy applications:
· oil and gas technology
· clean energy solutions in the developing world
· high-risk energy research.
RCFC will hear about 1) the role of traditional dissemination approaches such as licensing for advancements in proven markets; 2) the role of for-profit startups for applications with significant technical or market risk but a conventional customer base; and 3) the role of social enterprise to provide market-based solutions to the world’s poorest citizens – one of the most under-served but fastest growing segments of society.
Dr. Bryan Willson is Executive Director of the Energy Institute at Colorado State University (www.Energy.ColoState.edu) where he also occupies the Bryan Willson Presidential Chair in Energy Innovation and serves as a Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Willson served as a Program Director at ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy, (www.ARPA-E.energy.gov ) from 2012-2016 and continues to serve as a consultant / advisor to the agency. He has worked for over 30 years to develop and deploy large-scale technology solutions related to energy, air quality, and human health. As an entrepreneur, Dr. Willson is co-founder of Envirofit International (www.Envirofit.org), Solix BioSystems (www.SolixBioSystems.com), Factor(e) Ventures (www.FactorE.com), and Xpower. His research laboratory, the Engines & Energy Conversion Laboratory, has made important contributions in many areas, including: internal combustion engines, oil & gas production technology, advanced electrical grids, advanced biofuels, energy technology for the developing world, and advanced building technologies. Dr. Willson is a Fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers and has worked in over 40 countries.