Industrial Partners

The Smart Lighting ERC (Engineering Research Center) aims to achieve nothing less than innovative products for the marketplace, increased competitiveness of US industry, and transformative impact on humankind. A partnership between Boston University, RPI, UNH and the National Science Foundation, the ERC places the highest priority on maximizing industrial involvement and participation, both with established companies, as well as with new commercial enterprises based on Smart Lighting technology.

"BU’s vision of free-space optical (FSO) communications presents enormous opportunities to innovate in the delivery of public and commercial services beyond anything available today," said Pam Reeve, CEO, Open Air Boston. “We can foresee whole new market segments - traffic safety, emergency services - made available via FSO. We are excited to participate as an ERC testbed."

To support ERC opportunities for industry involvement, we have established membership terms, an IP agreement, licensing terms, innovation partners, and an advisory structure - all geared for access to research and testbeds, educational programs, and efficient technology transfer and commercialization.

To date, more than 20 industrial partners have expressed strong support for the SLC. We will be in a position to share those names when agreements are finalized.

We welcome all industry participants to leverage these extraordinary resources from the ERC partnering institutions as we embark on this exciting journey to create and use Smart Light.

Industrial Advisory Board and Membership - The ERC offers three membership levels, with member companies serving on the Industrial Advisory Board (IAB). The IAB will monitor the activities of industrial and non-academic ERC participants, meeting semi-annually to evaluate overall strategy and progress, promote interaction with industry, assist in the transfer of specific technologies to the commercial sector, and seek outside sources of support.

Start-up Companies - In addition, the ERC supports the interests of ERC researchers to innovate through the creation of startup companies. Newly spawned companies will be able to benefit from the infrastructure provided by the ERC leadership team, core Academic Partners, Innovation Partners, Incubator facilities, and RPI School of Management. For more information, visit ERC Innovation Resources

ERC Innovation Resources:

• BU Photonics Center Incubator
• BU Institute for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (ITEC)

For more information, please contact Linda Grosser, the SLC Industry Outreach Coordinator.