Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001703
The Department of Energy (DOE), through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and its Office of Strategic Programs, released a funding opportunity called Innovative Pathways (FOA number DE-FOA-0001703). It sits under EERE's Technology-to-Market (Tech-to-Market) program, and the overall goal is to strengthen U.S. competitiveness in clean energy innovation by improving how promising energy technologies move from early development to real-world adoption. Rather than paying to build or demonstrate a specific new device or technology, this opportunity focuses on the systems around innovation: the partnerships, processes, and financing approaches that can make commercialization faster, cheaper, and more reliable for many different clean energy technologies at once.
The core idea is to fund testable, scalable mechanisms that reduce common structural barriers that repeatedly slow down energy startups and emerging technologies. These barriers can include difficulty forming meaningful partnerships between startups and established companies, limited access to specialized facilities or expertise, and challenges securing the right kind of investment at the right stage. EERE's intent is to pilot and evaluate new models and, if they work, help position them so the private sector can adopt and continue them beyond the grant period. In other words, the government is trying to help prove out new "pathway" models that can become self-sustaining parts of the broader energy innovation ecosystem.
Proposals are requested under two main topic areas. Topic 1, Technical Community and Industry Collaboration, is aimed at improving how technical communities (such as researchers, national labs, and innovators) connect with industry partners that can manufacture, scale, validate, purchase, or deploy innovations. A highlighted interest here is creating better models for industry-startup partnerships, which could include structured collaboration frameworks, shared validation efforts, standardized pilot agreements, or other repeatable ways for startups and established firms to work together without the typical friction and delays. Topic 2, Lowering Barriers to Resource Access, targets obstacles that prevent innovators from accessing the kinds of resources needed to progress, including capital, equipment, expertise, testing infrastructure, and networks. A highlighted interest in this topic is the development of new investment models, implying approaches that can unlock or better match funding to commercialization stages where private capital may be hesitant, while still being designed for eventual private-sector uptake.
This is a discretionary funding opportunity using cooperative agreements, which generally means DOE expects to be substantially involved during the project, not just writing a check and stepping away. The activity category is Energy and it is associated with CFDA number 81.117. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications that may appear in the official FOA text. The issuing office is listed as the Department of Energy, Golden Field Office.
In terms of scale, the award ceiling is stated as $1,000,000, with an expectation of about 7 awards. The opportunity was created on December 20, 2016, with an original closing date of February 15, 2017. Applicants are directed to EERE Exchange (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/) for the full announcement and all application requirements. Submissions are only accepted through EERE Exchange, and applications are explicitly not accepted through Grants.gov. Registration in EERE Exchange is also recommended for anyone who wants to receive official updates or notifications related to the FOA.Apply for DE FOA 0001703
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovative Pathways" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.117.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 20, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 15, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - DOE EERE Innovative Pathways (DE-FOA-0001703)
What is the Innovative Pathways funding opportunity?
Innovative Pathways is a Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity released through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Strategic Programs. It is issued under EERE's Technology-to-Market (Tech-to-Market) program and is identified as FOA number DE-FOA-0001703.
What is the main goal of this FOA?
The overall goal is to strengthen U.S. competitiveness in clean energy innovation by improving how promising energy technologies move from early development to real-world adoption. The emphasis is on improving commercialization pathways and reducing repeat structural barriers that slow down startups and emerging clean energy technologies.
Does this FOA fund building or demonstrating a specific new technology or device?
No. Based on the description provided, this opportunity is not primarily intended to pay for building or demonstrating a specific new device or technology. Instead, it focuses on the surrounding systems of innovation, such as partnerships, processes, and financing approaches that can help many technologies commercialize more effectively.
What types of barriers is DOE trying to reduce through this funding?
The FOA targets common structural barriers that can repeatedly slow commercialization, including challenges forming meaningful partnerships between startups and established companies, limited access to specialized facilities or expertise, and difficulty securing the right kind of investment at the right stage.
What kinds of projects does DOE want to support under this opportunity?
DOE is seeking testable and scalable mechanisms (sometimes described as new "pathway" models) that can be piloted, evaluated, and, if successful, positioned for adoption by the private sector beyond the grant period. The intent is to prove out models that could become self-sustaining parts of the clean energy innovation ecosystem.
How is this opportunity organized (topic areas)?
Proposals are requested under two main topic areas: (1) Technical Community and Industry Collaboration, and (2) Lowering Barriers to Resource Access.
What is Topic Area 1: Technical Community and Industry Collaboration about?
Topic 1 focuses on improving how technical communities (such as researchers, national labs, and innovators) connect with industry partners that can manufacture, scale, validate, purchase, or deploy innovations. A highlighted interest is creating better and more repeatable models for industry-startup partnerships.
What are examples of approaches mentioned for Topic Area 1?
The description highlights possible approaches such as structured collaboration frameworks, shared validation efforts, standardized pilot agreements, or other repeatable ways for startups and established firms to work together with less friction and fewer delays.
What is Topic Area 2: Lowering Barriers to Resource Access about?
Topic 2 targets obstacles that prevent innovators from accessing resources needed to progress, including capital, equipment, expertise, testing infrastructure, and networks.
What does the FOA highlight as a particular interest under Topic Area 2?
A highlighted interest is the development of new investment models. These are implied to be approaches that can unlock funding or better match funding to commercialization stages where private capital may be hesitant, while still being designed for eventual private-sector uptake.
What type of funding instrument is used for this FOA?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity using cooperative agreements.
What does it mean that awards are cooperative agreements?
Cooperative agreements generally mean DOE expects to be substantially involved during the project rather than only providing funds and remaining hands-off. The FOA description indicates DOE involvement is anticipated during the project period.
What is the activity category and CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The activity category is Energy, and the opportunity is associated with CFDA number 81.117.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications that may appear in the official FOA text.
Which DOE office is issuing or administering this opportunity?
The issuing office is listed as the Department of Energy, Golden Field Office.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is stated as $1,000,000.
How many awards does DOE expect to make?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of about 7 awards.
What are the key dates mentioned for this FOA?
The opportunity was created on December 20, 2016, and the original closing date was February 15, 2017.
Where can applicants find the full announcement and application requirements?
Applicants are directed to EERE Exchange at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/ for the full announcement and all application requirements.
How do applicants submit an application?
Submissions are only accepted through EERE Exchange (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/).
Are applications accepted through Grants.gov?
No. The opportunity explicitly states that applications are not accepted through Grants.gov.
Why should someone register in EERE Exchange even if they are not ready to submit?
Registration in EERE Exchange is recommended for anyone who wants to receive official updates or notifications related to the FOA.
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