DOE’s Commercialization Team
The Commercialization Team is focused on broad market adoption of clean energy technologies.  Crucial to this effort, is supporting the move of these technologies from DOE’s National Laboratories to the private sector.

About the EIR Program
The Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) Program will bring venture capital sponsored entrepreneurs into three of DOE’s National Laboratories to develop plans to commercialize new clean energy technologies.  The entrepreneurs in residence will identify technologies that, when commercialized in private sector companies, will contribute to DOE’s mission to promote America’s energy security through reliable, clean, and affordable energy. 

The EIR program seeks to identify and develop business cases to commercialize promising laboratory technology and give proven start-up entrepreneurs the opportunity to work directly with technical management and staff at a National Laboratory.  Selected entrepreneurs would conduct technology assessments, evaluate market opportunities, formulate preliminary business cases, and propose business structures for start-up enterprises, as well as recommend policy and business practice modifications to the National Laboratories to refine their approaches to moving technology into the commercial sector.

The National Renewable Energy Lab, Sandia National Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory will be the first DOE laboratories to host entrepreneurs in residence.  As a first step in the program, DOE will support the work of three entrepreneurs at National Laboratories.  DOE will provide up to $300,000 funding to support this initiative. 

How to Apply
The Funding Opportunity Announcement can be accessed, by visiting the Grants.gov homepage, clicking on "Find Grant Opportunities" and performing a "Basic Search" for Funding Opportunity Number DE-PS36-08GO98001. Applications are due December 21, 2007.

EIRs would be expected to sign a non-disclosure agreement to facilitate full access to lab personnel, inventions, and data.  After a technology is identified, the EIR would then be granted a 180-day first right of refusal to license the identified technologies. To streamline the intellectual property negotiation, the solicitation includes a standard equity-share license agreement. 

Media contact(s):
Megan Barnett, DOE, (202) 586-4940