Office of Technology Transitions EnergyTech University Prize 2022-2023

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Tasking student teams to develop and present a business plan that leverages lab-developed and other high-potential energy technologies.

stage:

2022-2023 Academic Year coming soon

prize:

$250,000

Challenge Overview

Sponsored by the Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the EnergyTech University Prize (EnergyTech UP) is a collegiate competition challenging multidisciplinary student teams to develop and present a business plan that leverages DOE national laboratory-developed and other high-potential energy technologies. EnergyTech UP awards cash prizes to teams that successfully identify an energy technology, assess its market potential, and propose a strategy for commercialization.

The EnergyTech University Prize (EnergyTech UP), in partnership with American-Made Challenges, is designed to be approachable, equitable, and scalable nationwide. Distinct from many startup competitions, winners will be chosen based on the strength of their proposal, not the strength of their background.

Start by Reading the Official Rules document.

Then explore possible technology opportunities on the Lab Partnering Service

View a 90-Second Explainer Video by Deputy Secretary David Turk

Watch a Recording of our Informational Webinar.

To see the results of the 2022 competition, visit: https://www.herox.com/EnergyTechUP2022/teams

Prize Structure

Student teams compete for a total of $250,000 in cash prizes as they explore business opportunities for lab-developed or other high-potential energy technologies, assess commercialization opportunities through market analysis, and present a viable business plan to industry judges. Throughout the competition, they receive mentorship and materials to help them succeed.

The top teams will compete for a share of $100,000 in prizes funded by OTT. In addition, six DOE Technology Offices are offering up to $25,000 each in bonus prizes for the best teams in their respective fields. The six offices include: the Geothermal Technology Office, Solar Energy Technology Office, Office of Nuclear Energy, Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, Building Technology Office, and the Water Power and Technologies Office.

Understanding that energy is often inherently local, teams first present at their closest regional events in February 2022, where regional winners are identified. First-place regional winners are provided exclusive mentorship and free access to OTT’s Energy I-Corps curriculum to help students refine their ideas throughout February and March. Finally, the regional winners pitch their complete business plan at Carnegie Mellon University’s (CMU’s) Energy Week, hosted by CMU’s Scott Institute in March 2022.

Important Dates

details coming soon...

Challenge Updates

Follow Here for EnergyTech UP 2022-2023 Updates!

May 13, 2022, 12:16 p.m. PDT by NREL Challenge

Welcome to the EnergyTech University Prize (EnergyTech UP) 2022-2023! The next edition of the student competition is coming this fall. Follow the competition on this HeroX channel for updates on the next round!

We’re gearing up for the next iteration of EnergyTech UP, brought to you by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Technology Transitions. Like the first round of competition, EnergyTech UP is a collegiate competition challenging multidisciplinary student teams to develop and present a business plan that leverages DOE national laboratory-developed and other high-potential energy technologies. The competition awards cash prizes to teams that successfully identify an energy technology, assess its market potential, and propose a strategy for commercialization.

Prize programming will start in fall 2022 with an informational webinar and updated rules. The opportunity to register as a competitor is now open and will close in January 2023. This HeroX channel is EnergyTech UP’s official platform and is where you’ll find competition rules, updates, and a public forum.

For details and results of the 2021-2022 competition, please visit the archived channel here.

If you’re a student interested in joining the 2022-2023 EnergyTech University Prize, or a faculty member hoping to advise a team, we encourage you to follow the competition and register your team now. Stay tuned for more updates soon!