DOE Announces Expanded Commercialization Support for SBIR and STTR Awardees

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) today announced expanded commercialization support for recipients of its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs through an agreement with the Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation (FESI). The agreement advances OTC’s strategy to strengthen the resources available to innovators beyond the award itself and helps more promising technologies reach the marketplace. 

"When the DOE SBIR and STTR programs became part of the Office of Technology Commercialization, we saw an opportunity to strengthen how we support innovators beyond the award itself," said Anthony Pugliese, DOE Chief Commercialization Officer and Director of OTC." This agreement puts that strategy into action by expanding the commercialization support available to our awardees. FESI complements DOE's strengths by bringing together the people, organizations, and expertise that help innovators continue moving toward commercial success." 

As DOE continues strengthening commercialization support for SBIR and STTR awardees, FESI will help connect innovators with the expertise, networks, and market opportunities needed to advance promising technologies towards commercial deployment. With its unique authority to leverage private capital, industry partners, and philanthropy, FESI will serve as the bridge, connecting DOE-funded innovators with corporations, venture capital, private equity, entrepreneurs and others that can help achieve market adoption. Through the agreement, FESI will: 

• Strengthen Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) by helping Phase II awardees identify commercialization needs and connect with pre-vetted service providers that can address technical, business, and market challenges. 
• Expand commercialization engagement opportunities by organizing events that bring together DOE-funded innovators with potential customers, investors, federal agencies, industry, and other partners while providing opportunities for pitch preparation, networking, and business development. 
• Develop a Phase III Consortium that proactively connects selected SBIR and STTR companies with federal agencies, corporate buyers, investors, philanthropic organizations, and other strategic partners interested in deploying innovative technologies. Through targeted matchmaking, the consortium will create opportunities for follow-on funding, demonstration projects, strategic partnerships, and market adoption. 

"America's small businesses are the engine driving our nation's economic prosperity and energy security," said Rick Stockburger, Chief Executive Officer of FESI. "Built on the principles of speed, scale, and stability, FESI is proud to partner with DOE's Office of Technology Commercialization to create new pathways for investment and collaboration that accelerate the deployment of DOE-funded technologies. This agreement marks the first step in building a first-of-its-kind network that brings together entrepreneurs, investors, industry, and commercialization partners to help America's most promising energy technologies reach the marketplace faster." 

DOE's SBIR and STTR programs invest approximately $300 million annually in innovative U.S. small businesses developing technologies with strong commercial potential that advance DOE's mission. The programs help transform promising ideas into commercial technologies that strengthen American innovation and competitiveness. Learn more about the programs at energy.gov/SBIR.  

The Foundation for Energy Security & Innovation (FESI) is a nonpartisan organization created to help accelerate innovative solutions in support of American energy security, prosperity, and leadership. Established in 2022 under the CHIPS and Science Act, FESI is the official congressionally chartered nonprofit partner of the U.S. Department of Energy. Learn more about joining FESI's commercialization platform at fesi.org.