WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to help it refine the scope and structure of its commercialization programs.

These programs address specific challenges in the commercialization process as ideas move across the research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) continuum. Through these programs, OTT guides interactions between the DOE, our national laboratories, and the private sector in collaborative research, strategic partnerships, facilities access, and technology transfer. OTT is constantly improving existing programs and practices, identifying whitespaces, and building new initiatives and tools to enhance the impact of DOE investments.

This RFI seeks information from a broad range of interested parties to improve existing programs, build new initiatives and tools, and enhance the impact of DOE investments. Specifically, OTT is interested in programmatic feedback, commercialization challenges, ideas for programs applicable to a variety of technologies, and ways to support diversity, equity, and inclusion.

OTT commercialization programs for consideration and input include: Lab access, including the Lab Partnering Service (LPS), Energy I-Corps, Practices to Accelerate the Commercialization of Technologies (PACT), Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC), EnergyTech University Prize (UP), and additional new program concepts.

To review the RFI and instructions for how to respond, please visit the Office Of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Funding Opportunity Exchange website. Responses to this RFI must be submitted no later than January 19, 2022.

This RFI is not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) or other funding program. OTT may issue a funding program in the future based on or related to the content and responses to this RFI; however, OTT may also elect not to issue a funding program.

OTT develops DOE's policy and vision for expanding the commercial impacts of its research investments, and streamlines information and access to DOE's National Labs, sites, and facilities to foster partnerships that will move innovations from the labs into the marketplace.