Current RFPs and Funding Opportunities
Opportunities posted here are provided for reference and inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement by NIREC.
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Energy, Power, and Adaptive Systems (EPAS)
National Science Foundation
Full Proposal Due: February 7, 2012
Supplemental Deadline: April 1, 2012
The Energy, Power, and Adaptive Systems (EPAS) program invests in the design and analysis of intelligent and adaptive engineering networks, including sensing, imaging, controls, and computational technologies for a variety of application domains. There are many clean energy topics of interest for EPAS proposals.
Sontag Entrepreneurship Business Plan Competition (for UNR Students)
Amount: $50,000
Intent Letter Deadline: February 10, 2012
Preliminary Overview Deadline: March 19, 2012
The Sontag Entrepreneurship Competition was established to develop the entrepreneurial capacities of University of Nevada, Reno Students and facilitate the creation of new businesses in Nevada by awarding $50,000 every spring to the student's (or group of students') business plan that clearly demonstrates performance potential and embodies the innovative spirit for which Nevada is known.
Annual Partnership Solicitation: Partnerships in MCA Countries
Millennium Challenge Corporation
Deadline: Ongoing through February 12, 2012
Partnerships in MCA countries as follows: Republics of Zambia, Indonesia, Cape Verde, and Ghana; Kingdom of Lesotho; United Republic of Tanzania. Category Explanation… Waste-to-Energy; Renewable Energy; Green Prosperity Initiatives; Low Carbon, environmentally sustainable and community-oriented development; et.al.
Accepting Project/Technology Proposals in Clean Energy for the University Research & Entrepreneurship Symposium 2012
Deadline: February 14, 2012
Projects and technologies developed out of a university lab will be considered for presentation at the URES 2012 symposium. University research will be shocased before a group of New Englands top entrepreneurs and VCs.
First Look West (FLoW): National University Clean Energy Business Challenge
U.S. Department of Energy
Awards: $100,000; $60,000; $40,000
Deadline: February 28, 2012 (deadline extended!)
Student teams from accredited universities throughout the Western U.S. are invited to participate in the Department of Energy’s first business plan competition for clean energy. The competition includes prize money, mentoring programs, legal start-up packages, and the opportunity to pitch to investors. The FLoW competition is designed to focus on the western states and territories: California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Nevada, Idaho, Hawaii, Guam and American Samoa.
Biotechnology, Biochemical and Biomass Engineering
National Science Foundation
Awards: $300,000 to $600,000
Deadline: March 1, 2012
The Biotechnology, Biochemical, and Biomass Engineering (BBBE) program supports fundamental engineering research that advances the understanding of cellular and biomolecular processes (in vivo, in vitro, and/or ex vivo) and eventually leads to the development of enabling technology and/or applications in support of the biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, and bioenergy industries, or with applications in health or the environment.
2012 Hazardous Fuels Woody Biomass Utilization Grant
U.S. Forest Service
No. of Awards: 15
Awards: $50,000 to $3,000,000
Deadline: March 1, 2012
The U.S. Forest Service, State and Private Forestry, Technology Marketing Unit, located at the Forest Products Laboratory, requests proposals for wood energy projects that require engineering services. These projects will use woody biomass, such as material removed from forest restoration activities, wildfire hazardous fuel treatments, insect and disease mitigation, forest management due to catastrophic weather events, and/or thinning overstocked stands. The woody biomass shall be used in a bioenergy facility that uses commercially proven technologies to produce thermal, electrical or liquid/gaseous bioenergy. The funds from the Hazardous Fuels Woody Biomass Utilization (WBU) Grant program must be used to further the planning of such facilities by funding the engineering services necessary for final design and cost analysis. Examples of projects might include engineering design of a 1) woody biomass boiler for steam at a sawmill, hospital or school, 2) non-pressurized hot water system for various applications, and 3) biomass power generation facility. To join in support of the public interest and general welfare to protect communities and critical infrastructure, the applicants to this program seek assistance to complete the necessary design work required to secure public and/or private funding for construction for developing local enterprises to better utilize woody biomass. In particular, USDA Rural Development has established grants and loan programs that might help fund construction of such facilities. The lack of engineering design often limits the ability of an applicant or business to receive federal, state or private funding.
Smart Grid Data Access
U.S. DOE, National Energy Technology Laboratory
No. of Awards: 12
Award Ceiling: $2,500,000
Deadline: March 1, 2012
Seeking applications aimed at empowering consumers to better manage their electricity use by enabling access to electricity consumption data by customers and their authorized third parties and providing or supporting the use of third party tools and software products that utilize the available data to deliver a value added service to the customer. Projects under this Funding Opportunity Announcement will be comprised of two Phases. Under Phase I applicants will need to demonstrate the capability for electricity customers and or designated third parties to access their usage data and the functionality of their proposed tool or software product to provide this access. Phase II involves adoption of the tools and software products demonstrated in Phase I to an entire service territory, region or community within the jurisdiction of the applicant or the utility partner of the applicant.
Environmental Sustainability
National Science Foundation
Awards: $300,000 to $600,000
Deadline: March 1, 2012
The Environmental Sustainability program supports engineering research with the goal of promoting sustainable engineered systems that support human well-being and that are also compatible with sustaining natural (environmental) systems. This program supports engineering research that seeks to balance society's need to provide ecological protection and maintain stable economic conditions. There are four principal general research areas which are supported, but others can be proposed: Industrial Ecology, Green Engineering, Ecological Engineering, Earth Systems Engineering.
Energy Innovation Hub - Batteries and Energy Storage
U.S. Department of Energy; Chicago Service Center
Awards: 1
Funding: $120,000,000
Letter of Intent: May 1, 2012
Deadline: May 31, 2012
The Hub will provide a critical mass research effort to overcome the current technical limits for electrochemical energy storage to the point that the risk level will be low enough for industry to further develop the innovations discovered by the Hub and deploy these new technologies into the marketplace. To achieve these goals, the Batteries and Energy Storage Hub will foster unique collaborations bridging fundamental scientific research and technology development.
Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase I Solicitation FY-2012 (SBIR) (Link not yet available)
National Science Foundation
Funding: $15 Million
Awards: 100
Deadline: March 15, 2012
Then, March 15, June 15 and Sept 15, annually
The SBIR program solicits proposals from the small business sector to stimulate technological innovation and increase private sector commercialization.
Genomic Science: Biosystems Design to Enable NExt-Generation Biofuels
U.S. Department of Energy - Office of Science
Awards: $1,000,000 to $5,000,000
Deadline: April 2, 2012
Accepting applications for research that supports the Genomics Science Program and addresses DOE's missions in energy and the environment in the following research areas: a) Microbial systems design for biofuels, from computer modeling to experimental validation: To develop modeling algorithms and innovative biosystems design technologies to define, build, and apply functional biological modules for the generation of novel biological systems that advance toward the production of biofuels; and b) Plant systems design for bioenergy: To develop novel technologies to re-design bioenergy crops that can grow in marginal environments while producing high yield of biomass that can be easily converted to biofuels. Applications should also address potential societal implications of engineered organisms.
2012 New Ventures Forum
Siemens Technology to Business Center
Deadline: April 8, 2012 (optional preliminary deadline March 11, 2012)
The New Ventures Forum is an opportunity for recent business plan competitors and early-stage startup companies to learn how to engage successfully with large companies. All expenses will be paid by Siemens TTB for a few selected companies (2 per company). Participants interact with other startups, Siemens executives, venture capitalists from silicon valley, and others to learn: How to get a large company interested as a customer or partner. Negotiating with a large company (intellectual property rights, development contracts, investments, prototyping). What to do if things go wrong. Why and when to engage with Siemens. How to approach Siemens, and help on putting together a win-win partnership.
Call for Papers: Geothermal: Reliable, Renewable, Global
Annual Meeting and Tradeshow
Geothermal Resources Council
April 27, 2012
The GRC 2012 Annual Meeting planning committee will consider papers for its Technical and Poster Sessions for these topics:
· Business Development / Finance
· Basin & Range / Cascades / Rocky Mountains
· Direct Use / Heat Pump
· Enhanced Geothermal Systems
· Exploration / Resource Assessment / Management
· Geology, Geophysics and Geochemistry
· Geothermal Energy Associated with Oil and Gas Operations
· Geothermal Project Case Studies
· International
· Power Operations / Maintenance / Production Technologies
· Regulatory / Environmental Compliance / Policy Issues
· Utility and Transmission Issues
2012 EERE Postdoctoral Research Award: Accepting Geothermal Applications
U.S. Department of Energy - EERE
Deadline: May 1, 2012
Access to unique education and training opportunities, top scientists in their field, and state-of-the art projects and equipment. Research opportunities will be awarded to qualified applicants to work on collaborative applied reserach of mutual interest to the applicant, the host facility, and the EERE program sponsoring the award. The award will provide an annual stipend, allowances for health insurance and research-related expenses and limited reimbursment for relocation expenses. Annual Research meeting for participants organized and hosted by EERE.
Workshop: Green Technology Entrepreneurship Academy
Center for Entrepreneurship, University of California, Davis
Award: Tuition, Room, Board
Deadline: May 25, 2012
Develop the commercial potention of your cleantech innovation by working with leading investors, entrepreneurs and others in the green tech sector. This one week academy is a springboard for moving green tech research out of the lab and into the marketplace. The academy is taught by venture capitalists, university faculty, industry executives and angel investors, who serve as mentors and guest speakers and provide participants with the knowledge and networks needed to take the next steps forward. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Software Grant
Autodesk
Deadline: ongoing
Free design and engineering software for early-stage clean technology companies in North America working to solve some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges. Valued up to $150,000.
Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)
National Science Foundation
Amount: varied
Deadline: accepted anytime
This opportunity promotes university-industry partnerships by making project funds or fellowships/traineeships available to support an eclectic mix of industry-university linkages. Special interest is focused on affording the opportunity for: Faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students to conduct research and gain experience in an industrial setting; Industrial scientists and engineers to bring industry's perspective and integrative skills to academe; and Interdisciplinary university-industry teams to conduct research projects.
Opportunities posted here are provided for reference and inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement by NIREC.
“NIREC has paired my research team with an Entrepreneur in Residence who has decades of experience making critical business decisions. Regular interactions with our EIR are helping us focus on issues that will create both a successful product and business."
– Hampden Kuhns, Principal Investigator, DRI
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