RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Virginia Tech will seek partnerships with the research and development community in India to support Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW), a world leader in specialty glass and ceramics, in the development of clean, sustainable energy solutions. Representatives of Corning and Virginia Tech are among the Virginia delegation currently in India. Secretary of Technology Aneesh Chopra made the announcement on Governor Kaine’s behalf during a luncheon hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry at the ITC Hotel Maurya Sheraton in New Delhi.
“Today’s announcement is a welcome sign that the important work at Virginia Tech will continue following last week’s tragedy,” Governor Kaine said. “Corning and Virginia Tech have shown tremendous commitment and leadership to research and development in Virginia, and I am in full support of this effort to tap into India’s scientific talent. We all have high hopes that this collaboration ultimately will create jobs in Virginia and India that will help address today’s global energy needs.”
The initial phase of the collaboration will focus research in fuel cells to be jointly conducted by scientists at Virginia Tech, in India and at Corning. A fuel cell, unlike internal combustion engines or conventional gas, oil or coal-fired plants, converts energy from the combustion of a fuel directly without requiring a mechanical or thermal to electrical conversion. The result is a higher efficiency, lower emission modular power source and a quiet, wear-free operation.
“We are delighted to be a part of the Governor’s mission and to have his support for Corning’s fuel cell program – a technology that will one day generate clean, reliable energy from cities to villages in India and America,” said Vivian Gernand, Vice President for Global Commercial Development at Corning Incorporated. “We look forward to working closely with Virginia Tech and India’s scientific community on this important initiative.”
Drawing on more than 150 years of materials science and process engineering knowledge, Corning creates and makes keystone components that enable high technology systems for consumer electronics, mobile emissions control, telecommunications and life sciences. Corning’s products include glass substrates for LCD televisions, computer monitors and laptops; ceramic substrates and filters for mobile emission control systems; optical fiber, cable, hardware and equipment for telecommunications networks; optical biosensors for drug discovery; and other advanced optics and specialty glass solutions for a number of industries. Additionally, Corning’s Environmental Technologies Division has a presence in Montgomery County, Virginia.
“Despite the tragedy we suffered last week, we are determined to recover and move forward with program excellence that addresses critical world issues,” said University President Charles Steger. “Developing new, clean and sustainable energy solutions is one of the world’s most essential quests. We are extremely happy that Virginia Tech can partner with Corning and India’s research community to explore and implement innovative technologies to help fulfill this critical need. We have numerous research projects – from hydrogen cells to cellulosic ethanol production and from hybrid vehicles to solar homes – focused on this area of exploration. By working with scientists at Corning and in India, we can expand these projects and, possibly, develop revolutionary new concepts to provide for the world’s energy requirements in a sustainable fashion.”
Founded in 1872 as a land-grant college named Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, Virginia Tech is now a comprehensive, innovative research university with the largest full-time student population in Virginia. Through a combination of its three missions of learning, discovery, and engagement, Virginia Tech continually strives to accomplish the charge of its motto: Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). In 2005 Virginia Tech was the first U.S. institution to grant degrees in India. The degree is the Master’s in Information Technology, which is provided in conjunction with the S.P. Jain Institute.