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American-Made Challenges

 5,770

MAKE IT Prize Strategies Track

Enabling vibrant clean energy technology manufacturing activity in communities.
stage:
Informational Webinar
prize:
$5,500,000
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Summary
Timeline
Updates6
Forum3
Teams184
Resources
FAQ
Summary

Overview

The Manufacture of Advanced Key Energy Infrastructure Technologies (MAKE IT) Prize aims to catalyze domestic manufacturing of critical clean energy technology components, moving manufacturing facilities from planning to shovel-ready and enabling strategies for vibrant manufacturing activities in communities. This prize, developed by the Office of Technology Transitions in partnership with the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, has a prize pool of approximately $30 million spread across two tracks: Facilities and Strategies. 

The Strategies Track aims to help build interest and engagement around manufacturing clean energy technologies and expand the potential for more clean energy jobs and economic opportunity. In this track, competitors will be asked to develop a roadmap to establishing clean energy manufacturing in their region and get a letter of commitment from an entity interested in establishing a facility in their region. 

This page outlines the eligibility and track structure for the Strategies Track. More information on the Strategies Track and instructions for competing can be found in the official rules document

For information on the Facilities Track, where competitors develop clean energy technology manufacturing facilities to the point of being shovel-ready, please visit the Facilities Track HeroX page.

 

Competitor Eligibility

The Strategies Track is open to teams working to promote manufacturing activity development in their regions. More information on eligibility can be found in the official rules document

 

Track Structure

The Strategies Track offers two opportunities to compete through two rounds. Each round includes three phases. 

  • Phase 1: Engage: Competitors submit a narrative describing their team, region, potential elements to include in their roadmap, and a community engagement plan. Approximately 30 winners will be awarded $50,000 each across two rounds of competition and will advance to Phase 2: Create.
  • Phase 2: Create: Competitors submit their concept roadmap, including the results of their community engagement, and a list of potential manufacturers for the region. Approximately 20 winners will be awarded $100,000 each across two rounds of competition and will advance to Phase 3: Activate.
  • Phase 3: Activate: Competitors submit their final roadmaps and demonstrate commitment from at least one entity interested in establishing a clean energy manufacturing facility in the region. Approximately eight winners will be awarded $250,000 each across two rounds of competition.

Timeline

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More information can be found in the official rules document.

 

Upcoming Dates

Key Dates (estimated, subject to change)

 Round 1Round 2
Informational webinarAug 17, 2023TBD
Phase 1: Engage Submission DeadlineOct 18, 2023 Feb 15, 2024
Phase 2: Create Submission DeadlineMay 2024Nov 2024
Phase 3: Activate Submission DeadlineNov 2024May 2024

 

All Dates (estimated, subject to change)

  • Informational Webinar: August 17, 2023
  • Round 1 Phase 1: Engage Submission Deadline: October 18, 2023
  • Round 1 Phase 1:Engage Winner Announcement: approximately 60 days after deadline
  • Round 2 Phase 1: Engage Submission Deadline: February 15, 2024 
  • Round 2 Phase 1: Engage Winner Announcement: approximately 60 days after deadline
  • Round 1 Phase 2: Create Submission Deadline: May 1, 2024
  • Round 1 Phase 2: Create Winner Announcement: approximately 60 days after deadline

 

  • Round 2 Phase 2: Create Submission Deadline: November 2024
  • Round 1 Phase 3: Activate Submission Deadline: November 2024
  • Round 2 Phase 2: Create Winner Announcement: approximately 60 days after deadline
  • Round 1 Phase 3: Activate Winner Announcement: approximately 60 days after deadline 
  • Round 2 Phase 3: Activate Submission Deadline: May 2025
  • Round 2 Phase 3: Activate Winner Announcement: approximately 60 days after deadline

 

Informational Webinar

The MAKE IT Prize Strategies Track informational webinar is on Aug. 17, 2023, at 12 p.m. MT. The webinar will give an overview of the Strategies Track and its phases, timelines, and submission requirements. Interested competitors can ask questions during the Q&A. Register for the webinar today. 

 

Challenge Guidelines

The official rules document contains the complete application process and instructions for competing.

 

Follow the challenge page to receive the latest updates. For any questions, please use the contact feature on the HeroX platform or message us directly at

 


Guidelines

Please review the official rules for the complete application process and instructions for competing.

Follow the challenge page to receive the latest updates. For any questions, please use the contact feature on the HeroX platform or message us directly at

Timeline
Updates6

Challenge Updates

Deadline Upcoming

Sept. 18, 2023, 7 a.m. PDT by NREL Moderator

The first Manufacture of Advanced Key Energy Infrastructure Technology (MAKE IT) Prize Strategies Track Deadline is one month away! 

Be sure to read the Official Rules Document and schedule your 1:1 times with our Power Connector to ensure your application is submission ready! 


Get Your Questions Answered

Sept. 7, 2023, 6:59 a.m. PDT by NREL Moderator

Meet the two Power Connectors supporting MAKE IT Prize applicants: yet2 (Facilities Track) and the Clean Energy Business Network (Strategies and Facilities Tracks). Together, these Power Connectors are offering two Group Sessions, starting with a quick review of the prize goals, rules, timelines, and considerations impacting which track is the best fit for you, along with information on yet2 and CEBN’s respective areas of expertise and assistance. Then they will open the session to Q&A, applicant feedback, and any other guidance requested. Two identical group sessions are being offered to accommodate different time zones. 

 REGISTER FOR GROUP SESSIONS:

Group session 9/12, 10-11 am ET: https://secure.everyaction.com/27o4K5DLAki8W34ROdGnwg2 

Group session 9/13, 2-3 pm ET: https://secure.everyaction.com/VASZ8G-U9U2LL3axhfMyCA2

And don't forget, our Power Connectors are offering 1:1 Office Hours for you to connect with them about your application. Schedule yours today!


CEBN (Strategies or Facilities): https://bit.ly/Make-It-Office-Hours

yet2 (Facilities): https://calendly.com/amclaren-yet2/nrel-make-it-prize-office-hours


Strategies Track Webinar Recording Available

Aug. 23, 2023, 2:25 p.m. PDT by NREL Moderator

In case you missed the MAKE IT Prize Strategies Track Informational Webinar on August 17, 2023, you can view the recording and slides at any time.  Links below.

 

MAKE IT Strategies Track Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np8LhUbiyIQ&t=2711s

MAKE IT Strategies Track Slides: https://www.herox.com/make-it-strategies/resource/1473 

MAKE IT Strategies Webinar Q&A: https://www.herox.com/make-it-strategies/faq

 

In this webinar, presenters provide an overview of the prize goals, review the prize rules, and answer questions from attendees.

More information about the prize can be found in the Official Rules document.


Registration Reminder: Strategies Track Informational Webinar

Aug. 11, 2023, 10:52 a.m. PDT by NREL Prize Administrator

Remember to register for the Strategies Track Informational Webinar on Aug. 17, 2023, at 12 p.m. MT. During the webinar, presenters will give an overview of the Strategies Track and its phases, timelines, and submission requirements. Attendees will also have the opportunity to submit questions. Please visit the Zoom registration page to register today.


Power Connectors - Here to support your application!

Aug. 4, 2023, 7:23 a.m. PDT by NREL Moderator

Delivering new products or innovations to market requires countless people in various behind-the-scenes roles to achieve a successful launch. The same is true for competitors in the American-Made Challenges (AMC) prize programs. AMC has worked to bring together a core group of incubators, universities, and other industry organizations who perform critical program tasks, including recruiting teams, hosting events, and providing assistance for the national prize competition. These highly skilled partners are here to assist our competitors are called our Power Connectors.

The MAKE IT Prize Strategies Track has welcomed the Clean Energy Business Network (CEBN) as a Power Connector - here to assist you with your application! 

If you would like to schedule some one-on-one time with CEBN, please use their Calendly link to schedule your office hours: https://calendly.com/d/2tk-r9k-4j4/make-it-prize-office-hours?month=2023-08 

 


Forum3
Teams184
Resources
FAQ