Twenty organizations, including 3M Co. (NYSE:MMM) and the University of Minnesota, have partnered to launch a new clean energy association called the Minnesota Cleantech Consortium that plans to drive growth in Minnesota's clean technology sector.
The consortium wants to bring together key stakeholders across various industries to advance research for sustainability.
“Partnerships like the Minnesota Cleantech Consortium will build on investments by Minnesota and the federal government to capitalize on historic opportunities to spur innovation to achieve this vision,” said Minnesota Department of Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold in a statement.
Grid Catalyst, an accelerator founded in 2021 to promote clean energy in northern climate, announced the association's launch Thursday. The announcement also came a day after Grid Catalyst organized an event hosted at 3M's Innovation Center that featured more than 50 companies and a dozen startups with energy and climate solutions.
“Clean technology is a priority market for 3M and represents an immense opportunity for all of us to partner, innovate and solve global challenges,” said Mike Kesti, senior vice president of 3M’s corporate research lab, in a statement.
The consortium said it wants to tap into the $500 million that was dedicated to energy, environment and climate initiatives in the latest Minnesota legislative session. MPR has more details on the $2 billion Minnesota Clean Energy Bill, also includes funding for renewable energy, electric vehicles and regulation of so-called “forever chemicals."
