Upstate New York has been a hub of innovations in environmental and energy technologies since the early 1900s, when Willis Carrier invented the basics of modern air conditioning technology. Today, the growth and development of this key regional economic cluster is advanced through the Office for Industry Collaboration (OIC) within the Syracuse Center of Excellence (CoE).

The activities of the Syracuse CoE OIC focus on firms that are located in the 12-county region at the center of Upstate New York. The environmental and energy industry clusters that exist within this region have been identified as possessing significant growth potential by the Essential New York Initiative, the regional economic strategy developed by the Metropolitan Development Association of Syracuse and Central New York (MDA). The Syracuse CoE OIC is building upon the set of economic development initiatives first established by the NYIEQ Center, Inc., an independent not-for-profit corporation established by the MDA in July 2000. The role of the Office for Industry Collaboration is to:

• coordinate and channel the research, development and production of new environmental technologies and solutions;
• build on the Central New York regional cluster of educational programs, research and development, and engineering and manufacturing; and
• create new jobs and position Central New York as a leader in indoor environmental quality research and product development.

Current activities of the Syracuse CoE OIC include:

• assisting local companies to bring new products to market, including grants through OIC Technology Application and Demonstration (TAD) and Commercialization Assistance Program (CAP) grants;
• assisting local companies to host college student interns who are studying at academic institutions in the region; and
• promoting increased public understanding of key issues through education and outreach programs.