January 15, 2014

DOE’s $3 million will support a national network of clean energy incubators

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $3 million to support clean energy businesses and entrepreneurs. This “National Incubator Initiative for Clean Energy” will help to provide critical support to help entrepreneurs commercialize their ideas and bring them to market more quickly.

By Melissa C. Lott

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $3 million to support clean energy businesses and entrepreneurs. This "National Incubator Initiative for Clean Energy" will help to provide critical support to help entrepreneurs commercialize their ideas and bring them to market more quickly.

Overseen by the DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), these funds will be awarded to incubators across the country. In turn, this national incubator network will directly provide mentorship, business development, capital access, and manufacturing support to promising clean energy ideas. According to the announcement, this initiative will support this national network of clean energy incubators and early-stage companies through two primary channels:

1. National Organization: The DOE will fund a national organization to support the coordination of American clean energy-focused business incubators. This organization will serve as a central source of information about incubators, enable entrepreneurs to have easier access to clean energy incubators and services, and connect industry with innovative clean energy start-up companies.

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

2. Clean Energy Incubators: The Energy Department will fund up to five incubators to identify, develop, and implement best practices for top-performing, clean energy-focused incubators. These organizations will support early-stage companies as they scale to production and enhance our clean energy sector and manufacturing competitiveness.

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American