Energy Conversions
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results Fall 2013 • Research, Innovation & Economic Development SMART GRIDS & CLEANTECH: ENERGY CONVERSIONS ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: • FOOD SAFETY + BETTER PACKAGING = JOBS • MEET A CENTENNIAL PARTNER • PRODUCTS ON THE HORIZON Reaping What We Have Sown ABOVE: Chancellor Randy Woodson and Research is an exciting endeavor in itself, but through • NC State’s innovation symposium, Transforming SAS founder Jim Goodnight were among hard work and partnership, at NC State we often experience Economies, drew national academic and industry experts participants in the Transforming Economies the thrill of applying our discoveries in the real world. There who cited our cutting-edge partnerships as a model for symposium at NC State earlier this year. are so many great examples of NC State’s research impacts, their own growth. it was difficult to decide which stories to feature in this issue. ReapingDiscussions What at this year’s Raleigh Innovation Summit will We are leading global efforts to modernize the national focus on what is needed for the region to be recognized as power grid and bring clean energy sources into the mix, a “top five” center for innovation and entrepreneurship. sparking economic growth here in North Carolina. A startup Who knows what big idea today will be a reality in 2014? based on technology developed at NC State has introduced packaged food products with improved nutrition and taste Innovate Raleigh continues as the umbrella organization Weto the marketplaceHave — creating good jobs in the process. for manySown public/private/academic activities. Along with NC A Centennial Campus partner is seizing the opportunity to State and the City of Raleigh, partners are Raleigh Economic launch new products with help from our research community. Development, Wake County Economic Development, the We are excited to share these results and other breakthrough Downtown Raleigh Alliance, Wake Technical Community solutions that improve North Carolina’s economy, environ- College, the Wake County Public School System and the ment, and the well-being of its people. Council for Entrepreneurial Development. Discussions at this year’s Raleigh And what a fruitful fall season is ahead. Here at NC State, we have brought various offices and programs to the building now known as the Poulton Innovation Summit will focus on what is The 2013 Raleigh Innovation Summit is an example of how Innovation Center, named for Bruce Poulton, whose tenure NC State is driving development of the entrepreneurship as chancellor included Centennial Campus’ early days. The needed for the region to be recognized ecosystem in the region and state. The university and center’s second floor is home to the Springboard Innovation city again are hosting the summit, along with partners Hub, which includes the Concierge, Centennial Campus as a “top five” center for innovation and from academia, industry, government, and community Partnership Office, Industry Alliances, Office of Technology organizations. Transfer, Research Development Office, Venture Development, entrepreneurship. Who knows what big and the Small Business Technology and Development Center. Since the first summit in 2012, innovation has been at the idea today will be a reality in 2014? forefront of discussions and actions. Audacious may have been the description of early Centennial Campus visions shared by Poulton and others. Their dreams • Direct flights now run between Raleigh-Durham of public/private partnerships have come true. Now we are International Airport and San Francisco, encouraging shaping new visions for a future focused on innovation. synergies with — and attracting venture capital from — Silicon Valley. I am often at Springboard, working with university, industry, • Entrepreneurs have more spaces to nurture startups, and community partners. Stop by to share your big idea. In the including HQ Raleigh and its ThinkHouse, American meantime, join the conversation on Twitter at #InnovateRal Underground @Raleigh, and NC State’s Incubator 2.0. and with @NCStateResearch. • Triangulate is a new online tool to connect entrepreneurs TERRI L. LOMAX with resources and one another. The site, triangulatenc. Vice Chancellor com, reflects the enormous activity all across the region. Research, Innovation and Economic Development Table of Contents results XIII, Number 2, Fall 2013. 2 ................. High-Powered Punch Chancellor 2 A global effort to modernize the power grid also is sparking W. Randolph Woodson a cleantech bonanza in North Carolina. Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor 10 ............... The Wright Way Warwick A. Arden A startup built on NC State innovation brings new direction to the packaged food industry — and new life to a Vice Chancellor for Research, small town. Innovation & Economic Development 15 ............... Opportunity Knocks Terri L. Lomax 10 Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems builds upon varied campus connections. Agriculture & Life Sciences Richard Linton, Dean 18 ............... Sharing Solutions NC State’s 2013 Chancellor’s Innovation Fund helps Design research results move to market. Marvin J. Malecha, Dean 20 .............. Progress toward Products Past CIF projects are generating startup companies and Education 15 commercial licensing of products. Jayne Fleener, Dean 21 ............... Kudos Engineering Carl Koch elected to National Academy of Engineering, Louis A. Martin-Vega, Dean while other faculty, staff and students also earn local, national and international honors. Graduate School 24 ............... Quick Takes Rebeca C. Rufty, Interim Dean Check out NC State research that is making the news. Humanities & Social Sciences 18 27 .............. Annual Report Jeffery P. Braden, Dean NC State shares keys accomplishments in research, innovation and economic development in FY2013. Management 29 .............. Creative State Ira R. Weiss, Dean Animation, landscape design and Earth observations’ data visualizations are just some of the creative sparks for Natural Resources students and faculty. Mary Watzin, Dean 21 Back .......... Show Me the Data Sciences Maps that identify dialect trends have drawn millions of Daniel L. Solomon, Dean online views. Do you say soda or pop? Textiles A. Blanton Godfrey, Dean Editor: Katie Mosher Associate Editor: David Hunt Veterinary Medicine D. Paul Lunn, Dean Subscription Manager: Bonnie Aldridge 24 Contributing writers: Angela Brockelsby, Dave Caldwell, Kylie Cafiero, Lisa Chang, Nate DeGraff, Tilla Fearn, D’Lyn Ford, Wade Fulghum, Liana Front cover: Alex Huang leads the Fryer, David Green, Lauren Kirkpatrick, Mick Kulikowski, Tracey Peake, FREEDM center that has attracted Gene Pinder, Matt Shipman and Jenny Weston. global partners to change the way Contributing photographers: Marc Hall, Becky Kirkland, Gene Pinder, we think about, generate and deliver Wendy Savage, Marc Turano, Katy Warner and Roger Winstead. power. research.ncsu.edu . Fall 2013 . 1 NC State fuels clean energy bonanza High-Powered Punch By David Hunt High-PoweredABOVE: The FREEDM Center draws upon vast expertise at NC State, including, from left:Punch Seth Crossno, industry liaison; Rogelio Sullivan, managing director; Alex Huang, center director; and Ewan Pritchard, associate director. “We’re trying to create a new electric A severe summer storm roared across North $30 million in industry support, the effort has sparked the Carolina’s Triangle region in June, knocking out power to growth of dozens of clean energy businesses in the Triangle, grid infrastructure that we call more than 28,000 homes and businesses, and reminding making the region the epicenter of smart grid development. residents of the high-tech area just how dependent they the energy Internet. We’re looking are on a steady supply of electrical current. It’s not just the Among the center’s 50 industry partners are global leaders, loss of air conditioning that makes people sweat during a including Duke Energy, Itron and Samsung, as well as newer at the whole distribution system. blackout. From computers and communication devices to enterprises, such as Triangle Technology Ventures and entertainment consoles and even a new generation of cars, Sarda Technologies. That’s a huge engineering system. the essential tools of modern life run on power generated by utility companies. “We’re trying to create a new electric grid infrastructure that It’s very, very complex.” we call the energy Internet,” Huang says. “We’re looking “It’s a very old system,” says NC State professor Alex Huang, at the whole distribution system. That’s a huge engineering — ALEX HUANG an expert in electrical and computer engineering. “In the system. It’s very, very complex.” future, it’s going to change.” According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the smart Huang is spearheading a global collaboration of leaders in grid will be more efficient, capable of meeting increased research, industry and economic development to envision consumer demand without adding infrastructure; and be and then create the energy system of the future. With $20 more intelligent, sensing system overloads and rerouting million in funding from the National Science Foundation and power to prevent or minimize a potential outage. It will 2 . Fall 2013 . research.ncsu.edu accept energy from virtually any fuel source, “It’s not a fundamental technology barrier we face,” Huang and offer improved security and resiliency says. “It’s more a matter of systems engineering, along with in case of a natural disaster or threat. It business and policy challenges.” also will allow real-time