SyracuseCoE: NYS's Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems

What SyracuseCoE: NYS's Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems does

SyracuseCoE (Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems) is a university-affiliated research and technology transfer center operated by Syracuse University and designated as one of 13 New York State Centers of Excellence funded through NYSTAR (Empire State Development's Division of Science, Technology and Innovation). Established in 2002 and housed in a LEED Platinum-certified, 55,000-square-foot facility constructed at a cost of $46 million on a former brownfield site in Syracuse, New York, the center catalyzes research, development, and demonstration activity in indoor environmental quality, clean and renewable energy, water resources, and building energy efficiency. It serves as a multi-stakeholder hub connecting industry partners, academic researchers, startups, and community organizations, with 200+ firms and institutions and 75+ faculty engaged since inception.

The center's core technology platform comprises unique R&D facilities and programmatic offerings. The Total Indoor Environmental Quality (TIEQ) Laboratory, co-funded by NYSTAR, Carrier, and Empire State Development, studies how temperature, humidity, air quality, lighting, and sound combine to affect human health and performance. The Building Energy and Environmental Systems (BEES) Testbed provides plug-and-play HVAC and domestic hot water prototype testing, complemented by a 150-foot Urban Ecosystem Observatory for urban air quality monitoring and the Building Training and Assessment Center (BTAC) for student-led building energy assessments. Programmatic offerings include the multi-tiered Partner Program (Academic, Industry, Affiliate, Startup, Student Entrepreneur, Community), the Faculty Fellows Program (seed funding for faculty research, supporting 70+ researchers with over $1.1 million since 2015), the Innovation Fund (awards up to $10,000 to commercialize innovations, with 16 startups created cumulatively), the Industry Collaboration Summer Internship Program (42 companies and 125+ students to date), and the DOE-funded EPIC Buildings Program for grid-interactive efficient buildings.

SyracuseCoE is not a commercially revenue-generating enterprise; it operates as an organized research unit within Syracuse University rather than a separately incorporated legal entity, with a core staff of 13 people that leverages 75+ affiliated faculty across Syracuse University, SUNY-ESF, and SUNY Upstate Medical University. Funding flows from NYSTAR state appropriations, federal grants (notably from the U.S. Department of Energy, including a $1 million Building America award in 2024 and a $750,000 EPIC Buildings award in 2021), Partner Program membership fees, faculty grant overhead recovery, and donations. Reported cumulative outcomes through June 2022 include nearly 2,000 jobs created or retained, $76.6 million in research funding leveraged, $11+ million in capital investments by collaborating firms, and 75 invention disclosures and patents. The GTM motion is community- and partner-led: the center recruits industry members through events (Partners Day, monthly Research & Technology Forums, annual Innovation Showcase, AI Industry Summit), direct outreach by the Associate Director of Partner Programs, and ecosystem cultivation rather than traditional sales.

Name

SyracuseCoE: NYS's Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems

Legal name

Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems

Website

https://centerofexcellence.syracuse.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SyracuseCoE is a NYSTAR-funded research center operated by Syracuse University that accelerates environmental and energy systems innovations by connecting industry partners with faculty and students across three academic institutions, operating unique testbed facilities and seed funding programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clean Energy and Environmental Systems Research

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHABAH

Technology Transfer & Innovation-Driven Research Universities (High Commercialization)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Private Research Universities

SECONDARYBPAIAAAK

Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Central/Federal Government Administration

SECONDARYEDAIABAH

Virtual/Blended Exchange (COIL) Partnerships

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/University/College Exchange Programs & Partnerships

SECONDARYEDALALAI

Environmental Services, Waste & Recycling Management

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Campus Facilities, Maintenance & Operations

SECONDARYEDAHAEAL

Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Technical & Polytechnic Universities

Keywords

• Clean energy research
• Building science R&D
• Indoor environmental quality
• Clean technology incubation
• Technology transfer services

Headquarters

HQ city

Syracuse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. NYSTAR State Funding: SyracuseCoE is one of 13 NYSTAR funded Centers of Excellence in New York State, receiving state funding to support activities and the Faculty Fellows Program.
2. Partner Program Memberships: Partner companies pay membership fees to join the SyracuseCoE Partner Program, which provides access to research support, R&D expertise, facilities, networking, and funding guidance. The partner membership fees fund the Innovation Fund Program.
3. Donations and Gifts: SyracuseCoE accepts donations to support programs and activities such as student research or the SyracuseCoE Innovation Fund. Donations can be designated for specific purposes.
4. Federal and Foundation Grants: SyracuseCoE helps faculty and companies develop competitive proposals in response to funding solicitations from governments and foundations. The center compiles funding opportunity guides for partners.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

SyracuseCoE is a university-affiliated research and technology transfer hub that connects industry partners with faculty researchers and students to accelerate commercialization of environmental and energy systems innovations. It operates multi-tiered partner programs, seed funding vehicles, unique testbed facilities, internship programs, and forums focused on indoor environmental quality, building energy efficiency, clean/renewable energy, and water resources.

Product overview

SyracuseCoE is a research and innovation center led by Syracuse University that operates as a platform of interconnected programs and facilities rather than a single unified product. The core offerings include the Partner Program (connecting industry with academic researchers), the Faculty Fellows Program (seed funding for university faculty), the Innovation Fund (commercialization support for startups), and the Industry Collaboration Summer Internship Program (student talent development). These are supported by specialized research facilities including the Total Indoor Environmental Quality (TIEQ) Laboratory, the Building Energy and Environmental Systems (BEES) Testbed, and the Building Training and Assessment Center (BTAC). Additional programs include the EPIC Buildings Program for grid-interactive efficient building innovations, Research & Technology Forums for knowledge exchange, and the Building Evidence video series for public education. The center catalyzes research, development and demonstrations to accelerate innovations for clean energy, healthy buildings and resilient communities through its multi-institutional collaborative ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Partner Program
• Faculty Fellows Program
• Innovation Fund
• Industry Collaboration Summer Internship Program
• EPIC Buildings Program
• Total Indoor Environmental Quality (TIEQ) Laboratory
• Building Energy and Environmental Systems (BEES) Testbed
• Building Training and Assessment Center (BTAC)
• Analysis & Design Center (ADC)

Quantifiable outcome

• 200+ firms and institutions engaged in collaborative projects since 2002
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, affiliate, startup and community.

• Syracuse UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSyracuseCoE is led by Syracuse University and operates from its campus. The university provides faculty researchers, students, facilities, and administrative support. Syracuse University faculty across multiple colleges (Engineering, Architecture, Arts & Sciences, Maxwell School) participate in SyracuseCoE research initiatives.
• SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner institution contributing faculty researchers to SyracuseCoE's Faculty Fellows Program. Faculty from SUNY-ESF participate in research across environmental science, chemistry, forest resources, and engineering disciplines.
• SUNY Upstate Medical UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner institution collaborating on health-related research including infection control in healthcare settings and cognitive performance studies. Faculty from Upstate's Department of Psychiatry and other departments participate in SyracuseCoE research.
• Carrier CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor industry partner co-chairing the Industry Partners Council. Carrier collaborated on funding the Willis H. Carrier Total Indoor Environmental Quality (TIEQ) Laboratory. Company executives Scott MacBain and Yu Chen serve as IPC co-chairs. Carrier presents on healthy buildings and AI applications at SyracuseCoE events.
• EngiemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner engaged in collaborative projects focused on clean energy innovations. Engie participates in the Partner Program to access university research expertise and innovation ecosystem.
• Centrio EnergymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner collaborating on energy technology innovations through the SyracuseCoE Partner Program.
• Taitem EngineeringmajorTechnology or IntegrationAffiliate partner and participant in DOE Building America project 'Reducing Applied Losses in Heat Pumps' alongside SyracuseCoE, Syracuse University, and Association for Energy Affordability. Taitem provides engineering expertise for heat pump testing and evaluation.
• Air InnovationsaffiliateTechnology or IntegrationAffiliate partner providing environmental control and air quality technologies. Participates in SyracuseCoE's innovation ecosystem for technology development and commercialization support.
• Frontier EnergyaffiliateTechnology or IntegrationAffiliate partner engaged with SyracuseCoE's programs for energy technology innovation and commercialization.
• TROXaffiliateTechnology or IntegrationAffiliate partner contributing to SyracuseCoE's building systems and indoor environmental quality research ecosystem.
• IoTACOMMaffiliateTechnology or IntegrationAffiliate partner in the SyracuseCoE Partner Program, engaging in IoT and communication technologies for built environment applications.
• EMPEQstartupStrategic or Co-development PartnerSyracuseCoE startup partner and 2022 Innovation Fund awardee. EMPEQ develops technologies for critical infrastructure and presented on AI in buildings at the AI Industry Summit. The company received $10,000 through the Innovation Fund.
• TKFabricatestartupStrategic or Co-development PartnerSyracuseCoE startup partner that received Innovation Fund award and collaborated with SyracuseCoE students to build a hydronic testbed for testing cold climate heat pumps. Participated in EPIC Buildings Program.
• Hydronic Shell TechnologiesstartupStrategic or Co-development PartnerSyracuseCoE startup partner that received $10,000 Innovation Fund award in 2022 and was later awarded a $3 million grant from the Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge administered by Enterprise Community Partners and Wells Fargo Foundation.
• UVC Phyzx (tomPhyzx)startupStrategic or Co-development PartnerSyracuseCoE startup partner and 2022 Innovation Fund awardee. Collaborating with Syracuse University Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, achieved significant breakthrough in pathogen inactivation using UVC technology.
• M3 InnovationstartupStrategic or Co-development PartnerSyracuseCoE startup partner that received Innovation Fund award in 2023. Engaged in container packaging project and participated in the summer internship program.
• BloomOptixstartupStrategic or Co-development PartnerSyracuseCoE startup partner that received 2023 Innovation Fund award for commercialization of innovative products and services.
• Ducted Wind TurbinestartupStrategic or Co-development PartnerSyracuseCoE startup partner that received 2022 Innovation Fund award for innovative energy technology.
• Hearth LabsstartupStrategic or Co-development PartnerSyracuseCoE startup partner that received 2022 Innovation Fund award for product development.
• Wex EnergystartupStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartup partner in the SyracuseCoE innovation ecosystem, participating in the Partner Program for technology commercialization support.
• Clivet (Italy)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational industry partner collaborating with SyracuseCoE on ELFOPack system testing and occupancy-based control research through the Innovation Showcase program. Clivet engineers participated in joint research projects with Syracuse University faculty.
• DaikinmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner through Daikin Open Innovation Lab Silicon Valley. Dr. Josiah Johnston, Senior Director of Data Science, presented at the SyracuseCoE AI Industry Summit on AI strategy for thermal energy systems.
• NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYSERDA provides funding for SyracuseCoE projects including Professor Bing Dong's $1 million award for intelligent building technologies. Partnered to host EnergyTech University Prize competition and supports various research initiatives.
• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOE provides major research funding through programs including Building America ($1 million for heat pump research led by Ian Shapiro) and EPIC Buildings ($750,000 for grid-interactive efficient buildings). DOE peer review held with SyracuseCoE faculty participation.
• Association for Energy AffordabilitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStakeholder in DOE Building America project 'Reducing Applied Losses in Heat Pumps' alongside SyracuseCoE and Taitem Engineering, focusing on applied energy losses in heat pumps for underserved communities.
• CenterState CEO / The Tech GardencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development organization collaborating on EPIC Buildings Program (third year cohort announced in 2024). Partnered to host EnergyTech University Prize regional competitions. The Tech Garden supports startup ecosystem development.
• NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNREL collaborates with SyracuseCoE through the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) Channel Partnership and Building America Program. SyracuseCoE hosted as Channel Partner for DOE/NREL program.
• ASHRAE CNY ChaptercommunityStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner collaborating on building science and HVAC research. ASHRAE CNY Chapter members joined SyracuseCoE Partners Day for keynote on airborne disease transmission standards.
• SUNY Upstate Medical UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on urban air quality monitoring project assessing I-81 reconstruction impacts and Micron facility development on community health. Upstate provides health impact expertise while SyracuseCoE provides environmental monitoring capabilities.
• National GridmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented on load flexibility and electrified commercial buildings at the AI Industry Summit organized by SyracuseCoE. Represents industry collaboration on grid-interactive buildings research.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC): State-funded clean-energy innovation hub providing grants, incubators, and commercialization support in Massachusetts. Comparable as a state-level public funding and innovation intermediary for clean-energy startups, but operating in a different state.

Direct peers

• Clean Energy Incubator (Cleantech Open / Cyclotron Road / Greentown Labs): Hard-tech and cleantech incubators that combine industry partner networks, seed funding, and testbed access for early-stage energy and building-technology startups. Comparable as ecosystem orchestrators serving the same population of EPIC Buildings / Innovation Fund startups.
• Fraunhofer USA: Operates applied-research centers in the U.S. (including centers focused on energy and building technologies) under a university-affiliated technology-transfer model. Highly comparable as a contract R&D and innovation intermediary connecting faculty research to industry commercialization.
• Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability: Cornell's sustainability research and innovation hub funding cross-disciplinary faculty research and partnering with industry on clean energy, buildings, and climate. Comparable as a university-anchored tech-transfer platform operating in adjacent sustainability domains within New York.
• RPI Center for Future Energy Systems: A fellow NYSTAR-funded Center of Excellence led by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with an overlapping building-energy, electronics-cooling, and clean-energy research mandate. Directly comparable as a university-anchored NY state tech-transfer hub competing for the same state funding pool.

Broad incumbents

• NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory): DOE-funded national laboratory with deep building energy and grid-interactive efficient buildings programs. SyracuseCoE is already a Channel Partner for NREL's Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2); NREL is the larger federal incumbent whose priorities shape SyracuseCoE's grant opportunities.
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory — Building Technologies: DOE national laboratory division driving federal building-energy efficiency R&D, including HVAC, envelope, and grid integration research. Comparable as the larger incumbent whose technical agenda and standards (e.g., IEA tasks SyracuseCoE participates in) shape the field SyracuseCoE serves.
• Battelle Memorial Institute: Operates national laboratories and runs large applied-research, technology-commercialization, and partnership programs across energy and the built environment. Comparable as a much larger, established R&D management and tech-transfer incumbent in adjacent domains.
• EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute): Industry-funded R&D organization for the electricity sector with active programs in grid-interactive efficient buildings, electrification, and AI for the grid. Comparable as an established energy-R&D ecosystem-builder whose members overlap with SyracuseCoE's utility partners (e.g., National Grid).

Others

• RTI International: Non-profit research institute operating in energy, buildings, and environmental policy with a similar university-adjacent, contract-R&D business model. Comparable as an adjacent, enabling applied-research institution whose partner base and funding channels intersect with SyracuseCoE's ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SyracuseCoE
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SyracuseCoE
• Facebookfacebook.com/SyracuseCoE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/syracusecoe

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SyracuseCoE: NYS's Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems