Few consumers realise that a property’s poor energy rating can directly impact their ability to obtain a mortgage. In the future, flood and other climate-related risks will also play a greater role in lending decisions. Aalto University researchers interviewed 25 green finance experts from major European banks and real estate advisories, finding that a high energy rating helps borrowers access green lending or other financial benefits, while a poor rating can make a property harder to finance.  

UCF is leading the U.S. National Science Foundation’s (NSF) $20 million National Commercialization and Translation Institute (NCTI) initiative, a two-year pilot program designed to help promising federally funded technologies become successful companies.

The effort validates decades of impact UCF has created with helping researchers take discoveries from the lab into the marketplace — and allows the university to help enhance economic vitality across America.

Previously successful research commercialization efforts at the university include the UCF Business Incubation Program and three other NSF-funded programs: Accelerating Research Translation (ART), I-Corps and the Florida Semiconductor Engine.

Led by Professor Ivan Garibay ’00MS ’04PhD, NCTI will support developing businesses under the guidance of technology, business and research experts, including College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean Michael Georgiopoulos, and professors Thomas O’Neal ’96MS ’96MBA ’05PhD and Ron Piccolo.