To advance President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) yesterday announced $52 million in awards for a diverse group of small businesses across 39 states.
These projects will tackle a wide array of challenges—from safeguarding electric vehicle charging infrastructure against cyber threats to pioneering new methods for detecting radiation and producing lithium metal for batteries.
Granholm’s Statement on Small Business Support
“Since the beginning, the Biden-Harris Administration has championed small businesses, fostering record growth in the U.S. economy,” stated U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm.
“By awarding research and development grants to small businesses in nearly every state, the DOE continues to invest in an inclusive industrial strategy that leaves no community behind as we transition towards a clean energy future.”
Transforming Breakthroughs into Commercial Impact
DOE’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards aim to translate DOE-supported scientific and technological advancements into real-world applications.
Funding Phases and Award Details
Primarily for Phase I research and development, today’s selections, funded through the DOE’s SBIR and STTR programs, also include a limited number of Fast-Track (combined Phase I & II) awards.
Small businesses that successfully demonstrate the technical feasibility of their innovations during Phase I will then compete for Phase II funding to develop prototypes or processes. The median Phase I award is $200,000 for a period of six to twelve months.
Diverse Projects Across DOE Offices
A total of 229 projects will receive funding from various DOE Offices, including Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response; Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation; Electricity; Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Fossil Energy and Carbon Management; and Nuclear Energy.
Of these, 20 projects, totaling $8 million, are funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Ensuring U.S. Leadership in Energy Innovation
The DOE SBIR/STTR program ensures that the US maintains its leadership in energy science and engineering while also enabling these innovations to have commercial impact.
As Justice40 covered programs, SBIR/STTR aims to ensure these benefits reach disadvantaged communities.
Past grantees have raised $8.6 billion in private-sector follow-on funding and reported over a thousand inventions and patent applications, demonstrating their commitment to commercialization.
Highlighted Projects
- Advanced Grid Technologies, Lancaster, PA: Developing a cost-effective approach to extend the lifetime of existing distribution transformers, enhancing grid reliability.
- Resonant Link, Inc., Shelburne, VT: Optimizing wireless charging for electric transit systems to promote sustainable urban mobility.
- Atlantic Biomass Conversions, Inc., Frederick, MD: Developing a low-cost biomass conversion system for sustainable aviation fuel production.
- RookStack, LLC, Indianapolis, IN: Creating an AI solution for accurate sizing of residential heating and cooling equipment.
- RhinoCorps, Albuquerque, NM: Investigating new approaches to enhance physical protection and reduce operational costs at advanced and small nuclear reactors.
- Nokomis, Inc., Charleroi, PA: Developing hardware-based cyber threat detection technology for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.