Edward Reinfurt, Executive Director
Edward Reinfurt serves as Executive Director of the
New York State Foundation for Science, Technology
and Innovation.
Under Mr. Reinfurt’s leadership, NYSTAR has
entered into an agreement with the New York
Academy of Sciences to assess how New York’s
existing research assets can be leveraged and how
future opportunities in technology development can be
maximized. NYSTAR’s Prioritization Project will
have multiple phases with the first one consisting of
three regional meetings to develop a strategy to
maximize the scientific and economic impacts of
NYSTAR’s investments in science and technology.
In December 2007, in recognition of NYSTAR’s role
in technology development, Mr. Reinfurt was named
as a representative to the New York State Council for
Universal Broadband, chaired by the New York State
Chief Information Officer and Director of the New
York State Office for Technology. Mr. Reinfurt is
chair of the Governmental Initiatives Action Committee.
Mr. Reinfurt’s expertise in working with New York companies in developing the Council’s
“innovation agenda” supporting investment in to research activities and strengthening of math
and science education has been a huge asset to NYSTAR.
Prior to his appointment at NYSTAR, Mr. Reinfurt served as Vice President of the Business
Council of New York State, Inc. The Business Council represents more than 3,000 member
businesses, chambers of commerce and professional and trade associations.
While at the Business Council, Mr. Reinfurt spent considerable time on a wide range of public
policy issues. In 2000, he assembled working groups that brought together leaders from both the
business and academic sectors to help formulate a comprehensive Research University Business
Initiative (RUBI).
Mr. Reinfurt is a graduate of the University at Albany of the State University of New York. He
was nominated to serve on May 7, 2007 and was confirmed by the State Senate on October 22,
2007.