Brooklyn Climate Innovation Hub Boosts New York's Green Economy

New York is making a significant investment in the green economy with the establishment of the Brooklyn climate innovation hub, BATWorks. This development signals a commitment to sustaining growth in the green economy and fostering an environment conducive for cleantech startups. The hub is expected to nurture an estimated 150 cleantech startups, generate an impressive $2.6B in economic impact, and create more than 600 green jobs, underscoring its potential as a powerful catalyst for both environmental sustainability and economic development.

BATWorks will be joining a burgeoning network of cleantech incubators that have sprouted across the country over the past decade. These include notable workspaces like the Houston and Somerville, Massachusetts branches of nonprofit Greentown Labs, which provide a nurturing environment for environmental and energy sector startups. In Knoxville, the University of Tennessee has propelled innovation in the sector with the launch of the Spark Innovation Center. In a similar vein, Seattle welcomed the Seattle Climate Innovation Hub this year, established through a collaboration between the city and the University of Washington.

The establishment of BATWorks is a result of a strategic partnership announced on May 22 between the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI). LACI, founded in 2011 by the city of Los Angeles and its Department of Water and Power, has been pivotal in providing space and support for cleantech startups. In 2020, it further bolstered its position by launching the National Coalition of Clean Energy Incubators. In the BATWorks consortium, the tech and science coworking space company, Cambridge Innovation Center, will also take a leading role.

LACI will be instrumental in advising on climate programming for the new hub and leading a pilot program. This program will enable emergency climate technology companies to test products in a live built environment as part of its Climate Innovation Challenge. This challenge aims to provide funding and assistance to companies testing out their innovative solutions, further fostering the growth of the cleantech sector.

In a world that is increasingly focused on climate change and environmental sustainability, initiatives like BATWorks are crucial. Providing a supportive and stimulating environment for cleantech startups, these hubs play a pivotal role in driving innovation and accelerating the transition to a more sustainable future. As such, the Brooklyn climate innovation hub is set to be instrumental in promoting eco-friendly solutions and driving economic development in New York and beyond. It is a powerful testament to how investment in green technology can bring about sustainable economic growth while addressing pressing environmental issues.