Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the latest cohorts in its Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program. The selected innovators will tap into an extensive network of mentors and experts at the U.S. National Laboratories to develop next-generation technologies that will help power a clean energy future that benefits all Americans.
To tackle the climate crisis and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the United States will need to move clean energy innovations out of the lab and into the marketplace more rapidly than ever before. The Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program equips the nation's brightest scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs with the training, technical resources, and support they need to deploy their solutions at scale and launch successful energy and manufacturing businesses.
"Through the Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program, we're empowering entrepreneurs to pursue domestic clean energy innovation and translate ideas into action," said Kelly Speakes-Backman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. "The cutting-edge startups and clean energy technologies that result from this program will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create good-paying jobs for American workers, and strengthen American competitiveness."
This year's selectees will participate in a two-year fellowship in the following DOE programs:
- Chain Reaction Innovations at Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Illinois: The Chain Reaction Innovations program's latest cohort includes seven new innovators who represent five clean energy startups that will reduce our carbon footprint and strengthen emerging U.S. energy technologies. Meet the sixth group to join Chain Reaction Innovations.
- Cyclotron Road at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California: The Cyclotron Road program's new cohort will include 11 scientists and engineers working on technologies in new energy storage technology, probabilistic computing, critical mineral refinement, environmental bioremediation, and more. Learn more about the innovators joining the Cyclotron Road program.
- Innovation Crossroads at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee: The Innovation Crossroads program's cohort will include new science and technology innovators who are developing technologies to decarbonize the buildings, manufacturing, and energy storage sectors. Learn more about the new Innovation Crossroads cohort.
- West Gate at National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado: West Gate – the newest addition to the Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program – launched in December 2021. West Gate will announce their first cohort of innovators this summer. Learn more about the West Gate program.
The Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program is primarily funded by EERE's Advanced Manufacturing Office. The program is also funded by EERE's Building Technologies Office. Since the program's inception in 2015, 120 Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program startups have attracted $918M in follow-on funding and created nearly 1,000 jobs. Past Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program innovators have developed breakthrough technologies spanning American industries—and have launched successful U.S. manufacturing companies—that will help accelerate our clean energy future.