Based at NYU Tandon School of Engineering in Downtown Brooklyn, Urban Future Lab is an innovation hub that supports climate-technology startups working on clean energy and sustainable urban infrastructure. Its roots go back to 2009, when NYU Polytechnic and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority established the NYC Accelerator for a Clean and Resilient Economy (NYC ACRE), described as New York City’s first climate-tech incubator. The Urban Future Lab took shape in 2012, after ACRE received a grant from the New York City Economic Development Corporation to establish the hub.2
The Lab’s work combines startup incubation with programmes that connect emerging technologies to industry and markets. Its flagship, ACRE, is identified by the organisation as New York State’s longest-running climate-tech incubator. Other programmes include the Carbon to Value Initiative, which supports commercialisation of technologies that capture or convert carbon dioxide, and the Offshore Wind Innovation Hub, which works with innovators developing solutions for the US offshore-wind industry. The Lab also hosts the US landing programme for Innovate UK’s Global Incubator Programme, helping UK climate-tech startups enter the US market.4611
The organisation reports supporting more than 170 startups since 2009. Examples from its portfolio include Air Company, which converts captured carbon dioxide into alcohol; Amperon, which forecasts electricity demand for utilities; and NineDot Energy, a New York-based community energy developer.31 Its leadership includes Managing Director Frederic Clerc; the Lab’s programme team also includes directors for ACRE and the Offshore Wind Innovation Hub.2