Today, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) launched the Laboratory Making Advanced Technology Commercialization Harmonized (Lab MATCH) Prize.
Office of Technology Transitions
September 14, 2023
minute read time
Today, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) launched the Laboratory Making Advanced Technology Commercialization Harmonized (Lab MATCH) Prize. Funded by the Technology Commercialization Fund, this three-phase competition will award $620,000 to entrepreneurs who find actionable pathways to bring groundbreaking National Laboratory intellectual property (IP) to market.
Lab MATCH competitors will each select one of 20 IP articles created by researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories. These IP articles include a solution for surface water contamination, an antibody discovery platform for biological threats, and a method for engineering biodegradable plastics. Other IP options span grid cybersecurity, selective carbon capture, solar energy, hydrogen technology, and building efficiencies.
“The Lab MATCH Prize is creating a super team by pairing innovators and entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds to work directly with our National Lab researchers. These teams will work to accelerate technology commercialization of DOE’s IP to address some of our most pressing problems.” said DOE Chief Commercialization Officer and Director of the Office of Technology Transitions Dr. Vanessa Z. Chan.
In Phase 1 of the prize (“Commitment”), up to 20 winning teams will each receive $6,000 for successfully securing impactful team members and a viable licensing plan for their selected IP. The winners will be eligible to compete in Phase 2 (“Plan”) to create a comprehensive engagement plan that includes actionable steps, partners, and a timeline. Up to 6 winning teams will each receive $50,000 and be eligible to compete in the final, third phase. In Phase 3 (“Action”) competitors will show demonstrable progress toward commercialization by working with National Laboratory researchers and their technology transfer offices. Two teams will each win a grand prize of $100,000.
This prize is part of the American-Made program, which fast-tracks innovation through prizes, training, teaming, and mentoring, connecting the nation's entrepreneurs and innovators to America's national labs and the private sector.
The Lab MATCH Prize is administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and is funded by OTT. Visit Energy.gov to learn more about OTT's overall mission to spur commercialization of impactful energy technologies and expand public benefit of the U.S. Department of Energy's research, development, demonstration, and deployment portfolio.
If you’re interested in learning more or applying, visit the Lab MATCH Prize website. Sign up for the informational webinar on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, 12:00pm: register here.
About the Department of Energy Office of Technology Transitions
The Department of Energy Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) is one of the largest supporters of technology commercialization in the federal government. Founded in 2015, OTT bolsters the technology industry's market skills and enables clean energy technologies to progress through research, development, demonstration, and to deployment into the private sector to meet our nation’s climate goals. Visit us at energy.gov/technologytransitions to learn more, and subscribe to receive our latest opportunities and accomplishments via email. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Media Contact