New Inventions & Innovation (I&I) Web Site Features Link to Government Commercialization Resource Portal for Energy Inventors for Funding Opportunities

Inventions & Innovation (I&I), within the U.S. Department of Energy, recently launched its redesigned Web site. The new site features an enhanced interactive format and updated information about I&I technologies, partners, funding opportunities, and resources. One improvement is the Pre-Application Self-Assessment Tool, which walks potential grantees through a brief questionnaire and features a schedule of Announcements of Funding Opportunities and links to open announcements.

A highlight of the site is the Energy TechNet portal, a one-stop-shop for information on research, development, and commercialization of energy-efficiency and renewable-energy technologies. The Energy TechNet Web site is the only government-sponsored site targeted specifically for individual inventors and small businesses that are developing energy-related technologies. For help with transforming their ideas into commercial realities, I&I grantees and non-grantees alike can utilize the extensive, unbiased information on the site-much of it available at no cost. Its comprehensive databases of resources, clear and informative discussions about the essential steps of development and commercialization, regularly updated news and events, and hundreds of links to related sites make Energy TechNet an invaluable tool that will increase the development, and therefore adoption, of energy-saving technologies.

I&I’s new Web site may be accessed at http://www.eere.energy.gov/inventions.

To access Energy TechNet, visit http://www.eere.energy.gov/inventions/energytechnet.

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Inventions and Innovation (I&I) Competitive Solicitation Released

The Inventions and Innovation (I&I) Fiscal Year 2004 solicitation opened on March 5, 2004. I&I is accepting proposals for technologies related to 11 EERE program areas and is specifically designed to help individuals and small businesses bring their energy-saving ideas to the marketplace.

I&I funds grants up to $50,000 for Category 1, $250,000 for Category 2, and one Category 3 grant up to $500,000. Category 1 grants are awarded to technologies in the early stages of development, Category 2 grants to those approaching the point of prototype, and the Category 3 grant to a previous I&I grantee to demonstrate its successful prototype. For more information, visit the I&I Web site at http://www.eere.energy.gov/inventions.