Announcing Arctic Energy's Funded Bonus Prize for EnergyTech University Prize 2025

The Arctic Energy Office is in a unique role to fill in gaps in investments to Alaska and our Arctic allies, in coordination with our offices across the agency. New this year, the Arctic Energy Office is funding a bonus prize for the American-Made EnergyTech University Prize to offer a prize specifically to a team that’s made up of a majority of Alaska-based students.

This $25,000 bonus prize will encourage entries from schools and students based in Alaska, who understand Alaska’s energy challenges. The criteria for this bonus prize is to present an entry to this competition that demonstrates a clear understanding of the market potential for the Arctic region for their technology, and an innovative business model to significantly increase the Arctic’s clean energy transition and reduce reliance on diesel and/or lower emissions and energy burden for Alaskans/Arctic people. 

Sponsored by the Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the American-Made EnergyTech University Prize (EnergyTech UP) challenges student teams to compete for cash prizes for successfully identifying a promising energy technology, assessing its market potential, and creating a business plan for commercialization. Faculty are challenged to create innovative implementation plans that expand energy technology commercialization. 

Student teams compete for more than $400,000 in cash prizes as they explore business opportunities for lab-developed or other high-potential energy technologies, assess commercialization opportunities through market analysis, and present a viable business plan to industry judges. 

Understanding that energy is often inherently local, competitor teams first present at their designated regional events in March, where regional finalists are identified. The regional workshops are virtual, so no travel is required for the regional pitch competition. Teams that are invited to participate in the regional events receive free access to OTT’s Energy I-Corps curriculum. Finalists are provided exclusive mentorship to help students refine their ideas throughout March and April. Finally, the finalists pitch their complete business plan as part of a national conference in April 2025 (tentative).

Student registration is due February 3. Students will present to judges at their corresponding regional event on March 4, 5, and 6, and present a final pitch to judges at the national competition in late Spring 2025. The top teams at the regional pitch competitions receive $5K and get invited to the national pitch competition.