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Created on April 17, 2014 |
In 2013, MBDA and the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity (ED) within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) established a partnership aimed at increasing the participation of minority business enterprises (MBEs) in energy – one of the largest industries in the United States. In addition to enhancing access to procurement and contracting opportunities available through the DOE for minority firms, MBDA and ED are also working to create and unveil growth opportunities for minority firms through technology transfer and commercialization.
On March 13 and 14, 2014, MBDA Acting National Director Alejandra Castillo joined Director Dot Harris of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity (ED), on a Domestic Trade Mission to one of DOE’S 17 national research laboratories - the Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago, Illinois. Joined also by a delegation including minority-owned firms and the local Chicago MBDA Business Center, this Trade Mission represented a collaborative effort to advance the mission of the Minorities in Energy Initiative launched by DOE in September of 2013.
The delegation participated in meetings with instrumental partners and stakeholders including Clean Energy Trust, Energy Foundry, World Business Chicago, the Illinois Science and Energy Innovation Foundation, and the Office of Congressman Bobby Rush of the First District of Illinois. The meetings proved informative, helping to open doors for minority firms to access innovation, technology, and capital resources through this partnership.
The partnership shared with DOE will also help to level the playing field for minority firms and develop a gateway to new opportunities through technology transfer. Upon gaining critical market intelligence of the technology developed at laboratories such as Argonne National Laboratory, MBEs will be able to better compete in their contracting programs. Also, the sharing of expertise and resources between the MBDA Business Center network and the DOE national laboratories can be of immense benefit to the growth and development of MBEs in the energy and technology industries.
MBDA looks forward to continuing to work with DOE in support of President Obama’s plan to develop and secure America’s energy resources so that our nation can not only safely and responsibly develop more energy here at home, but also be a leader in the global energy economy.
Posted at 8:33 AM
