ETAC Collaborations

ETAC has close relationships and active projects or partnerships with the following organizations:

Ben Franklin Technology Partners (BFTP) is a statewide network that fosters innovation to stimulate Pennsylvania's economic growth and prosperity. For 20 years, BFTPs have helped Pennsylvania's technology companies prosper by providing access to risk capital, business expertise, and third-party resources.

BFTPs are dedicated to driving technology innovation, strengthening Pennsylvania's economy, and creating and retaining high-wage high-skilled jobs. To deliver on this objective, BFTPs proactively identify and work with the most promising technology ventures and support the development and application of new products, technologies and ideas among entrepreneurs and established companies.

BFTP is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and is governed by the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority. They operate regionally with four centers strategically located throughout the Commonwealth, including the BFTP of Northeastern PA in Bethlehem, PA and the BFTP of Southeastern PA in the Philadelphia, PA.

For more information, visit BFTP at www.benfranklin.org.

United States Department of Energy (DOE)

The U.S. DOE has funded the Industrial Energy Efficiency Diploma Program at Northampton Community College. The $250,000 funding was awarded earlier this year through the Energy Department at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The Center for Business & Industry (CBI) at Northampton Community College is offering the new Industrial Energy Efficiency specialized diploma beginning in the fall 2003 semester. New courses begin October 6, 2003. The new non-credit diploma, developed in cooperation with the U.S. DOE, is the first diploma program developed specifically for energy efficiency and reliability within the industrial sector.

The new program prepares students for careers as energy efficiency technicians and is ideal for those interested in a career within manufacturiing, energy consulting, energy service companies, and utilities. At the completion of the program, studetns will have developed the skills necessary to effectively manage energy efficiency through reductions i energy consumption and costs. Students will aslo have improved their knowledge of manufacturing processes and their ability to identify and implement energy efficiency opportunities. Course instruction features in-house lectures by industry specialists with hands-on training on the most up-to-date energy assessment methods and tools.

Enterprise Systems Center (ESC)

The Enterprise Systems Center (ESC), located at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, is an organization committed to enriching students' education while working to make its' clients in industry more efficient and increasingly competitive. The ESC employs students, professors and professional engineers to work in teams capable of tackling a variety of real world industry situations. With their assistance, clients reduce costs, increase revenue, and achieve industry leading positions. Participation in these work teams provides students work experience representative of what they will encounter following graduation.

ESC's objective is to:

• Fuse student experiential learning and industry value creation.
• Discover new ways for collaboration among education, industry and government partners through the use of advanced technology.
• Advance research and scholarship relating to enterprise systems.

For more information, visit www.lehigh.edu — Then quick search on "esc."

Gas Equipment Guild

The Gas Equipment Guild of the Delaware Valley was formed in 1959. It has evolved as the only association in the Northeastern U.S. region catering directly to the needs of the gas equipment industry, regardless of application or qualifications. The Guild is the respected authority within all branches of the gas equipment industry, and there are few gas equipment problems its members cannot solve.

The Guild's objectives include:

• To promote the use of gas for industrial, commercial and institutional applications.
• To present recommendations for equipment and gas usage in accordance with the "Engineer's Code."
• To coordinate promotional, educational, and other projects for the gas industry and its customers.
• To educate members and customers about gas, its origins, characteristics and applications.

For more information, visit www.gasguild.org.

Graphic Arts Technical Foundation and the Printing Industries of America

The Printing Industries of America and the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation serve more than 13,000 member companies, promoting programs, services, and an environment that help them operate their businesses profitably.

For more information, visit www.gain.net/PIA_GATF/about_join/aboutgatf.html.

PENNTAP

PENNTAP, a federal-state-university partnership for economic development, helps Pennsylvania business and industry improve their competitiveness. They provide free scientific and technological assistance and information to help resolve specific technical questions or problems that can be addressed within a limited amount of time. The program focuses on helping smaller businesses that normally do not have the in-house expertise or time to resolve specific technical questions or problems.

PENNTAP technical specialists assist small businesses with technical information, short-term technical counseling and referrals to other expertise, resources or programs. PENNTAP services the entire state of Pennsylvania with a technical librarian and a network of technical specialists who have specific areas of technical expertise and are located throughout the state. The service of PENNTAP's staff is confidential and provided at no cost to clients.

For more information, visit www.penntap.psu.edu.

RadTech

RadTech International North America is a non-profit association for the advancement of ultraviolet (UV) and electron beam (EB) technology. RadTech serves as an industry forum, addressing the educational needs of the users and supplies of UV and EB.

For more information, visit www.radtech.org.

UGI Utilities

UGI Utilities, Inc. is a leader in Pennsylvania's energy industry, serving more than 330,000 natural gas and electric customers and offering a full range of heating and cooling services. UGI provides natural gas service to 14 eastern and south-central counties and electric service to portions of two northeastern counties. UGI Utilities, Inc., is a subsidiary of UGI Corporation, a holding company with propane marketing, utility and energy marketing subsidiaries.

For more information, visit www.ugi.com/.