Rutgers EcoComplex
Rutgers EcoComplex is a university-based clean energy business incubator under Rutgers, NJ, providing lab space, scale-up facilities, and accelerator programs (EcoIgnite, WindIgnite, Agrivoltaics) to early-stage clean energy and environmental startups.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersBordentown, New Jersey, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Rutgers EcoComplex does
Rutgers EcoComplex is a university-based clean energy innovation center and business incubator operating under Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey through its New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES). Founded in 2001 as one of the first university-based clean energy business incubators in the United States, the facility is located at 1200 Florence Columbus Rd, Bordentown, NJ, with a 29,000 sq. ft. main building that includes 3,400 sq. ft. of laboratory space (analytical equipment, wetlab benchspace, chemical hoods, clean room), a 1,200 sq. ft. two-story scale-up lab, and a 120-seat conference center. It is uniquely co-located with the 500-acre Burlington County Resource Recovery Complex, granting tenants direct access to landfill gas (7 MW renewable), MSW feedstock (300,000 tons/year), and composting facilities (50,000 tons/year).
The center's core offerings span four lines: (1) a Business Incubator program providing concept evaluation, business planning, market assessment, technology verification, and engineering support; (2) the EcoIgnite Clean Energy Proof of Concept Center and Accelerator, funded by a U.S. EDA I6 grant (2016–2020); (3) WindIgnite, an offshore wind supply chain accelerator launched in 2022 in partnership with Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind and the Rutgers OSW Initiative; and (4) the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program (RAP), operating 520 kW of installed solar across three New Jersey research farms. Supporting research services include biomass energy potential assessments for the NJ Board of Public Utilities, food waste generation assessments for municipalities and institutions, and innovative waste reutilization technology development. Educational offerings include college courses (e.g., Plants and Innovative Technologies for Bioenergy) and professional training.
Revenue is generated through facility and conference center rentals to clean energy startups, environmental technology companies, and event clients, supplemented by competitive grants from federal (EDA, USDA, EPA) and state (NJ DEP, NJ BPU) agencies and program-related partnerships such as NJEDA's NJ Ignite rent support. The customer base is a distributed mix of early-stage clean energy and environmental tenants (e.g., HiT Nano, Princeton NuEnergy, NJ Agricultural Society), 25+ graduated alumni including TerraCycle and Nuvvon, and government/municipal research clients. The operation runs lean with a six-person core staff (Director, Assistant Director, Program Coordinator, Facilities Maintenance, and two research staff) under the leadership of Director Dr. Serpil Guran.
Rutgers EcoComplex firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rutgers EcoComplex
- Legal name
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
- Website
- https://ecocomplex.rutgers.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Rutgers EcoComplex is a university-based clean energy business incubator under Rutgers, NJ, providing lab space, scale-up facilities, and accelerator programs (EcoIgnite, WindIgnite, Agrivoltaics) to early-stage clean energy and environmental startups.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rutgers EcoComplex industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Clean Energy Business Incubation and Innovation Services
- NAICS
- Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators (562213), Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)
- SIC
- Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Siting, Resource Assessment & Environmental Tech R&D (Remote Sensing, Wake Modeling, Wildlife Mitigation) (EUAMAOAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Waste-to-Energy (WtE) Incineration & Power/Heat Generation (EUAIACAG), WtE Plant Development, EPC & O&M Services (Project delivery and operations) (EUAAAKAK), Waste-to-Energy CHP & District Heating Integration (Heat offtake systems) (EUAAAKAH)
Keywords
Where Rutgers EcoComplex is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bordentown, New Jersey
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Rutgers EcoComplex business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Facility Rentals: The EcoComplex generates revenue through rental of laboratory space, office space, conference center facilities, and technology demonstration areas to clean energy startups, environmental technology companies, and other tenants. Rental rates are described as 'competitive' with flexible terms.
- Grant Funding: The EcoComplex receives grant funding from multiple sources including EDA I6 Grant for the EcoIgnite program, USDA grants, EPA grants, and NJ DEP grants for various research and demonstration projects.
- Conference Center Rental: State-of-the-art auditorium (seats 120), classrooms, conference rooms, and atrium area available for rental to public and private entities for events and conferences.
- Business Incubator Program: Comprehensive business development program providing concept evaluation, business planning, market assessment, tech verification, engineering and analytical services to tenant companies in clean energy, environmental, and controlled environment agriculture industries.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Office space rental with flexible terms |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Rutgers EcoComplex product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rutgers EcoComplex is a university-based clean energy business incubator and innovation center that provides laboratory space, office facilities, a conference center, and technology scale-up infrastructure to clean energy and environmental technology startups. It operates business incubation and acceleration programs (EcoIgnite, WindIgnite), conducts applied research in agrivoltaics, biomass energy, food waste assessment, and innovative waste reutilization, and offers mentoring, SBIR-STTR collaboration, and access to venture capital networks. Its mission is to move clean energy inventions from benchtop to pilot-scale commercialization, supported by co-location with the Burlington County Resource Recovery Complex providing unique feedstock access.
Product overview
Rutgers EcoComplex is a university-based clean energy innovation center and business incubator that operates as a multi-service facility rather than a single software product. Its core offerings include the Business Incubator Program, which provides comprehensive development services for clean energy and environmental companies. The EcoIgnite accelerator and WindIgnite offshore wind supply chain accelerator offer specialized acceleration pathways. The Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program conducts research combining solar energy with agriculture. Supporting services include a Conference Center with auditorium and meeting spaces (seating up to 120), laboratory facilities (6 labs totaling 3,400 sq ft plus 1,200 sq ft scale-up space), and research programs covering biomass energy assessment, food waste assessment, and innovative waste reutilization technologies. Educational offerings include college courses and professional training workshops.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program (RAP): A multidisciplinary program committed to designing and conducting applied agrivoltaics research and outreach.
- WindIgnite
Products and services
- Business Incubator A comprehensive business development program for companies in clean energy, environmental, and controlled environment agriculture industries, offering concept evaluation, business planning, market assessment, tech verification, and access to Rutgers resources.
- EcoIgnite Clean Energy Proof of Concept Center and Accelerator Program created by Rutgers EcoComplex and funded by the US Economic Development Authority, helping clean energy technology companies navigate from discovery to commercialization.
- WindIgnite Offshore Wind Innovation and Supply Chain Accelerator Program that supports the development of a diverse offshore wind energy supply chain through networking events, business development guidance, specialized training, and regional resource connections.
- Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program (RAP) A multidisciplinary research and outreach program dedicated to designing and conducting applied agrivoltaics research, combining agriculture and solar energy generation on the same piece of land.
- Conference Center A fully equipped outreach and education center offering meeting and event spaces including a 120-seat auditorium, classrooms, conference rooms, and atrium areas available for rental to public and private sector entities.
- Laboratory and Scale-up Facilities Research facilities including six labs totaling 3,400 square feet with analytical equipment, wetlab space, clean room, and a 1,200 square foot two-story scale-up lab for pilot scale demonstrations of clean technologies.
- Biomass Energy Assessment Assessment of New Jersey's biomass potential and bioenergy production capabilities, including updated feedstock assessment, technology evaluation, statewide mapping of waste/biomass resources, and policy recommendations for bioenergy innovation.
- Food Waste Generation Assessment Assessment services that identify and map large quantity generators of food waste in New Jersey, determining viable alternatives for food waste collection and utilization as feedstock for renewable energy and organic fertilizer production.
- Innovative Waste Reutilization Technologies Access to landfills and research facilities for waste-to-energy and waste reutilization research and demonstration projects, including access to Burlington County's Bio-Reactor Landfill at the BCRRC.
- Sustainable Agriculture Research Research and pilot-scale demonstrations on sustainable controlled environment agriculture methods including recirculating hydroponics, aquaponics, energy conservation, biogas utilization, and reduced pesticide practices.
- Educational Courses and Training College-level courses including Plants and Innovative Technologies for Bioenergy, Introduction to Bioenergy Technologies, and Sustainability Decision Tools, along with workshops and training programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Incubated company Princeton NuEnergy awarded $12M grant from U.S. Department of Energy EERE program
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Rutgers EcoComplex
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Rutgers EcoComplex technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Rutgers EcoComplex partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Atlantic Shores Offshore WindcoreAtlantic Shores Offshore Wind is supporting the WindIgnite program as part of Rutgers OSW Initiative collaboration. This partnership positions WindIgnite as the ecosystem hub for offshore wind supply chain development in New Jersey, connecting small businesses to major OSW developers.
- Burlington County Department of Solid WastecoreBurlington County provides EcoComplex access to the 500-acre Burlington County Resource Recovery Complex adjacent to the facility. This gives tenants access to landfill gas (7 MW renewable energy), MSW feedstock (300,000 tons/year), and composting facilities (50,000 tons/year) for research and demonstration projects.
- NJ Economic Development Authority (NJ Ignite)coreNJEDA's NJ Ignite program provides rent support to qualifying startups at the EcoComplex, reducing financial barriers for clean technology and life sciences companies to launch their businesses. This partnership supports EcoComplex's incubator mission.
- Rutgers OSW InitiativecoreRutgers Offshore Wind Initiative collaborates with WindIgnite on offshore wind energy innovation and supply chain accelerator activities, providing academic research support and expertise to the program.
- International Business Innovation Association (InBIA)minorEcoComplex holds membership in InBIA, a professional association for business incubators and accelerators, providing access to industry best practices, networking, and recognition programs.
- New Jersey Board of Public UtilitiescoreNJ BPU commissioned NJAES to conduct the Assessment of Biomass Energy Potential in New Jersey, which was published and updated by the EcoComplex. This established the foundation for bio-based renewable energy industry development in the state.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Rutgers EcoComplex competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Evergreen Climate Innovations: A nonprofit cleantech accelerator (formerly Clean Energy Trust) providing funding, mentorship, and programming to early-stage clean energy startups in the Midwest. Comparable as a regional nonprofit cleantech incubator focused on commercialization support.
- Greentown Labs: The largest cleantech startup incubator in North America, operating a physical prototyping lab and accelerator for hardware-focused clean energy startups. Highly comparable as a university-adjacent-style cleantech incubator serving similar early-stage clean energy and environmental technology companies.
- Elemental Excelerator: A Hawaii-based nonprofit cleantech accelerator that funds and supports startups deploying climate solutions at scale, with strong focus on community and government partnerships. Comparable as a mission-driven accelerator supporting clean energy and circular economy startups.
- Activate (formerly Cyclotron Road): A fellowship and incubator for entrepreneurs working on cutting-edge climate and clean energy technologies, providing living stipends, lab access, and mentorship. Comparable in its mission to support early-stage hard-tech clean energy innovators from lab to commercialization.
Regional players
- Innovation Works: One of the most active early-stage investors and technology accelerators in the U.S., based in Pittsburgh. Comparable as a regional technology incubator/accelerator with focus on hard-tech and clean energy startups, though broader in scope.
- Clean Energy Incubator (Houston): A Houston-based clean energy technology incubator supporting energy-focused startups with office space, mentorship, and access to industry partners. Comparable as a clean energy-focused startup incubator operating in a different regional market.
Broad incumbents
- Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC): A state economic development agency supporting clean energy innovation, startups, and workforce development in Massachusetts. Comparable as a state-funded clean energy ecosystem builder with incubator and accelerator programs, though operating at much larger scale.
- NYSERDA: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, funding clean energy innovation, commercialization, and demonstration projects. Comparable as a state-affiliated entity supporting clean energy startups, R&D, and market development with similar grant funding models.
Emerging players
- Calstart: A national clean transportation technology nonprofit working with companies, governments, and communities to advance clean mobility. Comparable in mission and nonprofit structure to support clean tech ecosystem development, though focused on transportation rather than broad clean energy.
- NYC ACRE (Accelerator for a Clean and Resilient Economy): A New York City-based clean energy and climate tech startup accelerator supporting diverse founders building solutions for cities. Comparable as a regional clean energy accelerator with similar focus on commercialization and ecosystem building.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Rutgers EcoComplex social profiles
Digital presenceRutgers EcoComplex financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rutgers EcoComplex leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Rutgers EcoComplex funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rutgers EcoComplex M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rutgers EcoComplex
What does Rutgers EcoComplex do?
Rutgers EcoComplex is a university-based clean energy business incubator and innovation center that provides laboratory space, office facilities, a conference center, and technology scale-up infrastructure to clean energy and environmental technology startups. It operates business incubation and acceleration programs (EcoIgnite, WindIgnite), conducts applied research in agrivoltaics, biomass energy, food waste assessment, and innovative waste reutilization, and offers mentoring, SBIR-STTR collaboration, and access to venture capital networks. Its mission is to move clean energy inventions from benchtop to pilot-scale commercialization, supported by co-location with the Burlington County Resource Recovery Complex providing unique feedstock access.
Is Rutgers EcoComplex a public or private company?
Rutgers EcoComplex is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Rutgers EcoComplex founded?
Rutgers EcoComplex was founded in 2001. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Rutgers EcoComplex based?
Rutgers EcoComplex is headquartered in Bordentown, New Jersey, United States, in the North America region.
How does Rutgers EcoComplex make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Facility Rentals are the primary driver. The others are grant Funding, conference Center Rental and business Incubator Program.
Who are Rutgers EcoComplex's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Evergreen Climate Innovations, Greentown Labs, Elemental Excelerator and Activate (formerly Cyclotron Road). Regional players are Innovation Works and Clean Energy Incubator (Houston). Broad incumbents are Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and NYSERDA. Emerging players are Calstart and NYC ACRE (Accelerator for a Clean and Resilient Economy).
Does Rutgers EcoComplex have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rutgers EcoComplex.
What industry is Rutgers EcoComplex in?
Rutgers EcoComplex's product category is Clean Energy Business Incubation and Innovation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAOAJ, Siting, Resource Assessment & Environmental Tech R&D (Remote Sensing, Wake Modeling, Wildlife Mitigation), with a secondary code of EUAIACAG, Waste-to-Energy (WtE) Incineration & Power/Heat Generation. Its NAICS code is 562213 and its SIC code is 4991.