ANN ARBOR, MI - The Samuel Zell and Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, the world's leading university- based center for entrepreneurial studies, will present this year's winter symposium titled Alternative Energy: Economic Impact and Opportunity along with the University of Michigan Energy Club and Technology Transfer Office, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. This half-day event will offer entrepreneurs, investors and students the opportunity to interact with and learn from researchers and industry leaders representing sustainable alternative energy sources.

"Developments in the alternative energy sector are gaining global attention," said Thomas Kinnear, executive director of the Zell Lurie Institute. "Our winter symposium was formulated to provide valuable networking opportunities among business leaders, researchers and professors and build awareness of emerging technologies in an important industry."

The Symposium will feature keynote speakers Douglas Faulkner, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy; and Roger Saillant, President and Chief Executive Officer, Plug Power, Inc. Mr. Faulkner will speak about methods for attracting investment capital to spur innovation and commercialization in the alternative energy sector, current market adoption of fuel cell technologies, and Michigan's future in alternative energy. Mr. Saillant will discuss the future of fuel cells after the market hype.

The symposium will also present a leading cast of panelists including: Christine Sloane, Ph.D., General Motors; Richard Giesen, Munder Capital Management; Maurice Gunderson, Nth Power; Thomas Hazlett, STM Power; Peter Pintar, DTE Energy Company; Catherine Dunwoody, California Fuel Cell Partnership; Pat Flaherty, USCAR; Mark Fallek, DTE Energy Technologies; Aaron Crumm, Ph.D., Adaptive Materials; Rachel Kuntzsch, NextEnergy; Jerry Mader, Center for Automotive Research; and Levi Thompson, Ph.D., College of Engineering, University of Michigan.

"While the timeliness of this symposium is fortuitous considering the Bush administration's recent call to fund hydrogen-based fuel alternatives," said Bill Orabone, President of TJ Pulse - an energy technology company, "our goal is bridge the gap between technology and investment by highlighting those efforts which are already working today. Year after year, Zell Lurie has presented successful venues of industry influencers, business leaders and entrepreneurs to discuss emerging industries which will greatly impact our economy and this event is certainly consistent with that tradition."

The Symposium will be held at the Crown Plaza in Ann Arbor on Friday, February 14 from 7:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. This event is free to attend. To register please visit: http://mtrack.bus.umich.edu/zliforms /.

About Samuel Zell and Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies The Samuel Zell and Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies was formed in October 1999. The Institute actively engages the nation's most successful entrepreneurs and offers an outstanding faculty composed of both academic researchers and practitioners in entrepreneurship. The Institute's mission is to focus the capabilities and resources of the University of Michigan Business School to provide education, experience and opportunities in entrepreneurship; serve as a catalyst for new venture development; and contribute important research in the field of entrepreneurship. Members of the Institute's Advisory Board include Samuel Zell, Chairman of Equity Group Investments; Michael Hallman, former COO of Microsoft Corporation; and Eugene Applebaum, Founder of Arbor Drugs.

University of Michigan: Erb Institute | Business for Sustainability

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