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American-Made Challenges

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CABLE Conductor Manufacturing Prize

Conductivity-enhanced materials for Affordable, Breakthrough Leapfrog Electric applications (CABLE) Prize for materials inventors

This challenge is closed

stage:
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prize:
$4,500,000

This challenge is closed

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Summary

Conductive materials are fundamental to nearly all energy use applications. Developing manufacturing processes for conductivity-enhanced materials in motors, generators, and renewable power technologies could lower costs and climate impacts while improving energy efficiency and other performance.

The competition aims to unite a diverse collection of researchers and inventors to develop transformative, cost-effective approaches and technologies to accelerate American entrepreneurship and pinpoint pathways for further research and development funding and technology transition efforts.

The Conductivity-enhanced materials for Affordable, Breakthrough Leapfrog Electric and thermal applications (CABLE) Conductor Manufacturing Prize aims to help supercharge our U.S. energy and manufacturing industries. Competitors must demonstrate significant enhancements in conductivity and affordability that enable U.S. manufacturers to leapfrog to next-generation materials.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) launched the CABLE Conductor Manufacturing Prize to encourage such breakthrough conductivity-enhanced materials. Up to 4 Grand Prize winners will be selected in this three-stage, three-year contest.

 

CABLE Conductor Manufacturing Prize Stage Overview

Stage 1 (CLOSED):

Competitors submitted their breakthrough concepts to develop and manufacture a new, affordable, conductivity-enhanced material useable for electrical or thermal applications. Ten winners each received $25,000 in cash awards and a stipend for third-party testing of their material in Stage 2 of the prize. Stage 1 of the prize helped inform DOE about the minimum-conductivity enhancement and other property standards, as well as the types of support that competitors will likely need from DOE national laboratories or other American-Made Challenges Network providers in the next two stages of the prize. 

 

Stage 2 (Open NOW):

Competitors will provide a sample of their material for electrical conductivity testing and preliminary plans to scale-up and manufacture the material according to prize requirements. Up to 6 competitors each will win $200,000 in cash awards and $100,000 in noncash voucher support to work with a DOE national laboratory (including user facilities) or other American-Made Challenges Network provider in Stage 3. Any eligible entity can compete in Stage 2 regardless of whether they were a competitor in Stage 1. 

 

Stage 3:

Competitors successful in Stage 2 will develop a larger sample of their conductivity-enhanced material. Competitors also must provide substantial background information on how the sample was made and plans to commercialize the material. At least three testing organizations will evaluate each material sample for conductivity and other characteristics. Scores will be based, in part, on the conductivity enhancement (size and extent of breakthrough), other important material characteristics, and leapfrog manufacturability and affordability. Up to 4 competitors will split a total prize pool of at least $2,000,000.

 

You can review the Stage 1 official rules or the Stage 2 rules when they are ready here

 

FOLLOW CHALLENGE

View legal agreement

 

Timeline
Updates32

Challenge Updates

ICYMI: DOE ISSUES NOTICE OF INTENT TO DRIVE INNOVATION IN CLEAN MANUFACTURING

Oct. 17, 2022, 2:50 p.m. PDT by NREL Challenge

On October 14, DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announced its intent to issue a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) that will drive innovation leading to economy-wide decarbonization, increased sustainability, and economic competitiveness. CABLE competitors should specifically take note of the topic called, “Next Generation Materials and Manufacturing.” This topic will focus on research, development, and deployment of novel materials with improved properties such as high pressure, high-temperature performance, and/or enhanced conductivity. Specific areas of interest include increased conductivity materials, harsh environment materials, and AI/machine learning for aerostructures. For more information about the notice of intent, visit DOE’s webpage on the topic.


REMINDER: CABLE PRIZE SAMPLE SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS OCT. 17

Oct. 10, 2022, 12:48 p.m. PDT by NREL Challenge

Hi Stage 2 competitors! 

This is a friendly reminder that you have until Oct. 17 to submit your conductivity-enhanced materials for testing at the approved laboratories. Each competitor must mail in three material samples that meet the requirements laid out in the prize rules. Samples must be postmarked by Oct. 17, but prize administrators strongly recommend submitting samples as early as possible. All registered competitors have been sent specific shipping information via email. If you did not submit your registration or have registered but not received your shipping information, please email as soon as possible for next steps. 

For more information about submission requirements, where to ship your sample materials or late testing registration visit the CABLE HeroX page or send your questions by email.

Thank you!


Registration Deadline Today for Free Conductivity Testing!

Aug. 25, 2022, 6 a.m. PDT by NREL Challenge

Dear Stage 2 Competitors,

Don’t forget to submit a registration form for free testing of your conductive material by 5 P.M. ET Today (August 25). The registration form can be found on the CABLE Prize HeroX homepage by clicking on “Solve this Challenge” and then “Begin Entry”.

The registration form is easy and should only take a few minutes to complete. You can find a visual help guide posted to the HeroX Resources page with screenshots of the registration process. 

Please reach out to if you have any questions.

Thank you,

The CABLE Prize Administration Team


Last Chance to Register for Free Conductivity Testing

Aug. 23, 2022, 4:02 a.m. PDT by NREL Challenge

Hi CABLE Prize Competitors,

The registration deadline for free sample testing is this week! Stage 2 competitors should submit a registration form for free testing of their conductive material on or before Thursday, August 25 5 PM ET. The registration form can be found on the CABLE Prize HeroX homepage by clicking on “Solve this Challenge” and then “Begin Entry”. 

The registration form is easy and should only take a few minutes to complete. You can find a visual help guide posted to the HeroX Resources page with screenshots of the registration process. 

Please reach out to if you have any questions.

Thank you,

The CABLE Prize Administration Team


Happening Today: CABLE Voucher Networking Event

Aug. 18, 2022, 6 a.m. PDT by NREL Challenge

Dear Stage 2 CABLE Prize Competitors, 

We are looking forward to seeing you all at today’s CABLE Voucher Service Provider Networking Event, which is happening on Zoom from 12:30 – 2:00 P.M. ET.

To help you prepare for the event, we strongly encourage you to review the VSP Capabilities Menu of Services, and the Lab capabilities presentations from the 2022 CABLE Workshop to get an overview of the various lab capabilities ahead of the event.  The focus of today’s session is to provide competitors with an opportunity to meet with prospective voucher service providers to find the best fit for your enhanced conductivity materials. Below is the agenda for the event: 

 

Time (ET)Description
12:30–12:35  Welcome
12:35–12:40CABLE Prize Workshop and CABLE Innovation Ecosystem Overview
12:40–12:50Voucher Process Overview, CABLE Prize Updates and Upcoming Deadlines
12:50 – 1:05Round Robin National Lab Introductions 
1:05Breakout Rooms Open
1:05–1:55Breakout Room: Prysmian Group
Breakout Room: Sandia National Laboratories
Breakout Room: National Renewable Energy Laboratory 
Breakout Room: National Energy Technology Laboratory 
Breakout Room: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 
Breakout Room: Argonne National Laboratory
Breakout Room: Ames National Laboratory 
Main Room: CABLE Prize Administration 
2:00Event Close

 

As a reminder, you are required to submit a Voucher Summary Slide as part of your Stage 2 submission, which is due (along with the rest of your Stage 2 Submission) on December 8, 2022 at 5 P.M. ET. 

 

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out. 

 

Thank you, 

CABLE Prize Administration Team


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