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Secretary of Energy Rick Perry Announces Resignation
Video courtesy of the Department of Energy

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: DOE Will Release New Small Business Topics

Next month, DOE will issue Phase I Release 2 funding for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. AMO subtopics under this solicitation include atomic precision for microelectronics, sensors for harsh and corrosive environments, critical materials supply chain-enabling research, and water desalination. AMO also has three joint subtopics with other EERE Offices on ocean plastic waste, thermal energy storage, and high-torque direct-drive generators for wind and water applications.

Register here for a webinar to discuss AMO-specific subtopics on Thursday, December 12, 2019, from 2–3 p.m. ET.

The full list of topics can be found here. The funding opportunity announcement is scheduled for release the week of December 16, 2019.


FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: DOE Seeks Industry Partners in High Performance Computing

DOE recently announced up to $4 million for new projects in High Performance Computing for Energy Innovation (HPC4EI) to support manufacturers in improving energy efficiency, increasing productivity, and accelerating manufacturing innovation. Selectees will work with DOE’s National Laboratories to solve key technical challenges in manufacturing and materials. Concept papers are due December 10, 2019. Learn more here.


FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: American-Made Challenges Network and Additive Manufacturing RFI

The DOE American-Made Challenges initiative, which incentivizes the nation’s entrepreneurs to assert American leadership in the energy marketplace, has issued a request for information (RFI) on organizations that specialize in manufacturing, prototyping, testing and validation, and technical advising for metals additive manufacturing. RFI submissions are now open through December 16, 2019. Learn more and respond to this RFI.


FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Energy Department Manufacturing Institute Announces Call for Proposals to Address Challenges in Plastics Recycling

DOE announced a $12 million funding opportunity for new projects to support research and development (R&D) and education and workforce development that will enable U.S. manufacturers to increase the recovery, recycling, reuse, and remanufacturing of plastics and other materials. DOE’s Reducing EMbodied Energy and Decreasing Emissions (REMADE) Manufacturing Institute will fund approximately 12 to 18 exploratory and full R&D projects aligned with REMADE’s research focus areas, as well as four to eight education and workforce development projects. Full proposals are due on Wednesday, December 18, 2019. Learn more about the submission requirements.


FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Request for Proposals for Smart Manufacturing Education and Workforce Development

The Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CESMII), an AMO-funded institute, issued a request for proposals (RFP) to fund projects that support CESMII’s Education & Workforce Development (EWD) mission to train the manufacturing workforce for new and additional job skills, work with CESMII members to create new and additional jobs, and democratize Smart Manufacturing (SM) to make it accessible to everyone. CESMII plans to award approximately five projects. A total investment of approximately $1.4 million ($700K of federal funding and $700K of cost share) will be allocated toward Education & Workforce Development. Project teams consisting of CESMII members, as well as non-members, are eligible to submit proposals in response to this RFP. White paper submissions are due on Thursday, December 19, 2019. Learn more about this RFP and the submission requirements.


DOE Announces $3.6 Million Investment in High Performance Computing

DOE announced that 12 projects were selected to receive access to the National Laboratories’ high performance computing (HPC) facilities and expertise under the umbrella of the High Performance Computing for Energy Innovation (HPC4EI) program. The selectees will help address key challenges in U.S. manufacturing, material, and mobility development.

Learn more about the selected projects here.


New eCatalog for Packaged Combined Heat and Power Systems

AMO introduced the Packaged Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Systems eCatalog, an open-source, web-based platform for CHP users, at the POWERGEN International conference in November 2019. This online tool includes packaged CHP systems with select features to assist with removing barriers, lowering project costs and development times, and reducing perceived risks of installing CHP systems. The platform will be continually updated with additional packages, packagers, solution providers, and customer engagement partners.

View the new tool here, and learn more about ongoing CHP initiatives here.


DOE Program Seeks Early Career Innovators with Fresh Ideas for Cohort

The Arctic Advanced Manufacturing Innovator Program seeks applicants for its cohort. The program supports early career innovators with fresh ideas and innovative approaches to address fundamental hard technology manufacturing challenges. With support from AMO, and in collaboration with the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), participants will have an opportunity to advance their early-stage concept to a potentially commercialize-able opportunity with support from mentors at the UAF and at a participating DOE National Laboratory. Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, January 15, 2020, at 5 p.m. ET.

Learn more about application instructions and requirements here.