Economic & Workforce Development
INL helps nurture a fertile environment for bringing technology to market by creating and accelerating new tech-related industries. INL is leading regional and national efforts to ensure a new generation of technicians and engineering technologists is trained to replace the aging energy workforce.
INL Economic Summary, Research and Development
INL is one of the largest employers in Idaho and therefore provides a significant economic impact on the state’s economy. The economic impacts identified in the report include INL operations managed by Battelle Energy Alliance only and do not include the impacts of other Department of Energy (DOE) contractors, the DOE itself or the Naval Reactors Facility at INL.
TECH-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
Battelle Energy Alliance corporate funds provide grants for projects aimed at spurring technology-based economic development, entrepreneurship and innovation in the region. Priority is given to projects that focus on connecting industry partners, universities, start-ups and economic development organizations that drive job growth. Projects that complement the mission areas of the lab in nuclear energy, clean energy and national and homeland security are strongly encouraged.
INL works through existing groups to establish a strong climate for tech-based economic development. Available funds are leveraged by challenging other groups to match contributions for the start of tech-based projects. Examples of INL’s efforts include:
• Helping start-up companies develop business plans, providing strategic planning training, and offering highly-specialized technical assistance.
• Working with economic and technology development organizations to identify opportunities and resources.
• Providing services to tech-based incubators and science & technology parks.
Donation Request: INL’s Technology Based Economic Development donation process is conducted on an annual basis. Donation requests for fiscal year 2017 closed on October 15, 2016. You can now request a Technology Based Economic Development donation for fiscal year 2018 (Oct 1, 2017 – Sept. 30, 2018). Submission deadline is Oct. 15, 2017.
- 2017 INL Techbased Economic Development Donation Request Form (PDF)
- 2017 INL Techbased Economic Development Donation Request Form (Download and Fill Out)
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
This is a technical support program for small business and state and local governments where INL scientists and engineers provide, without fees, assistance which is not normally available to a community or small business. It helps in areas where organizations may find their problems too complex or technical to solve on their own.
This program is authorized by federal law, and DOE has allocated limited funding for this support activity and provides policy guidance directing the screening and selection of projects.
• Requested services cannot substantially compete with services available from the private sector.
• The requested assistance must fall within INL areas of expertise.
• The requested assistance must not interfere with ongoing INL programs.
• No more than 40 hours of assistance are allowed per request.
To submit your request for consideration, complete the Request for Technical Assistance form.
To submit your project report, complete the Project Report – Technical Assistance Program form.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
INL is leading regional and national efforts to ensure a new generation of technicians and engineering technologists is trained to replace the aging energy workforce. We do this by supporting technical colleges, universities, and graduate programs.
Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR)
These programs allow federal agencies to set aside a fraction of their R&D funds specifically for small businesses. These funds can be used to do R&D work with Idaho National Laboratory scientific and engineering staff. INL, however, does not provide SBIR/STTR funding. Contact: Stephanie Cook, Program Manager stephanie.cook@inl.gov for further information.
