As a graduate of the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, and CEO of CNSE's first student spin-off company, I want to congratulate Chairman Carl McCall, the SUNY Board of Trustees and Chancellor Nancy Zimpher for the forward-thinking decision to designate CNSE as SUNY's newest degree-granting institution.
My experience as a CNSE student and alumnus is a true representation of the pioneering nature of CNSE's educational programs.
My doctoral work in the cutting-edge field of nanoeconomics provided me the unique opportunity to understand both the science and business sides of commercializing innovation. The presence of world-class faculty, unparalleled high-tech tools and connections with global corporate partners, gave me and a group of my fellow students the motivation to start our own business.
In just over a year, Bess-Tech, a clean energy company developing advanced energy storage technologies, has attracted more than $1 million in funding from public and private investors. Now, with Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Start-Up NY program, there has never been a better time to be a high-tech start-up in New York.
Clearly, we made the right decision to build and grow our company here. Similarly, I think CNSE's new status will allow it to enhance and expand its curricula, research and industry partnerships, and make stories like ours commonplace.
Fernando Gomez-Baquero
Albany Co-founder and chief executive officer, Bess-Tech, Battery Energy Storage Systems–Technologies LLC