Vision and Goals

The Vision

STEP^® and the Capital Region of New York State will become known internationally as a knowledge community centered on niches of expertise in clean energy and environmental technologies - including an important focus on transformational and enabling technologies. By becoming known as one of a few business destinations-of-choice in the world for growing companies and products in these fields, STEP will be instrumental in enacting NYSERDA's economic development mission for New York State and the Capital Region.

The Goals

Within this vision, there are four important broad goals for STEP to pursue:

• Help STEP Companies Succeed. Directly and materially advance the success and growth of companies located in STEP.
• Coordinate with STEP Partners. Focus on advanced energy projects and energy applications of nanotechnologies, thus aiding the growth and success of the Rensselaer Center for Future Energy Systems and Albany NanoTech. Also support the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation in economic development and its development of Luther Forest Technology Campus.
• Capital Region and Tech Valley. Be one important component in the broader growth of energy and environmental industries in the Capital Region.
• New York State. Contribute directly and indirectly to overall growth and success of energy and environmental industry segments throughout New York State.

The Broader Picture

STEP bears the promise of being one among the major factors for emergence of the Capital Region's Tech Valley as a strong, growth economy in this decade. STEP is part of a bigger plan that is coupled with other technology-focused initiatives in the Capital Region and the direct activities and development projects of NYSERDA's partners. It has been estimated that STEP will provide between 1,000 and 1,500 jobs to the Capital Region, as emerging alternative energy companies take advantage of its resources. In addition, STEP is an instrumental part of the larger strategies to focus global attention on the Capital Region and New York State as the best destination in the United States or in the world, for alternative energy technologies, and research, development and commercialization.

The planned development of STEP not only supports NYSERDA's own mission, but more broadly supports the State's clean energy initiatives which are designed to attract to New York companies that manufacture renewable technologies such as wind energy, photovoltaics, and fuel cells.