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Microbattery Design Prize

Seeking designs for microbatteries to support new uses for small electronic devices with improved performance, safety, and recyclability.

This challenge is closed

stage:
Judging
prize:
$1,100,000

This challenge is closed

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Summary

Overview

Computing power that once fit in a room now fits in our pockets or on our fingertips. Microelectronics continue to transform society, but emerging applications for these tiny technologies requires new cutting-edge battery designs to meet demand. 

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office launched the Microbattery Design Prize to supercharge this opportunity. This two-phase prize will help inspire promising designs for small-capacity batteries that yield devices with improved performance, safety, and recyclability. 

The prize is designed to advance innovative new designs for microbatteries and accelerate their commercialization and integration into existing technologies needed for clean energy manufacturing, like sensors for improved smart manufacturing processes or for grid monitoring to help more renewable energy sources come onto the grid.

 

The prize also aims to close existing gaps in the microelectronics and energy storage supply chains, which will strengthen both U.S. manufacturing competitiveness abroad and domestic end-to-end supply chains for these technologies.

 

Prize Structure

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The Microbattery Design Prize has two phases that will run from 2023 to 2024. During Phase 1, also called the Idea Phase, competitors will develop and submit technical designs and schematics for microbatteries that serve a specific application and meet certain performance goals that go beyond what is commercially available today. During Phase 2, also referred to as the Test Phase, competitors will create prototypes they can submit to DOE national labs for performance and safety testing. Graphic by John Frenzl, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

 

The Microbattery Design Prize offers a total prize pool of $1.1 million in federal funding, and performance and safety testing services with DOE national laboratories.

Phase 1: Idea

In Phase 1, teams will submit designs for batteries, including descriptions, technical specifications, intended applications, and impacts. Up to six winning teams will each receive a $75,000 cash prize and performance and safety testing services with DOE national laboratories.

Phase 2: Test

In Phase 2, open only to winning teams from Phase 1, competitors will submit technical data from battery testing prototypes of their winning designs, along with techno-economic analyses and business plans, as well as letters of support from potential commercial partners, if available. At the end of Phase 2, one winning team will receive $300,000, and up to two runners up will receive $175,000 each in cash.

The Microbattery Design Prize is open only to private (for-profit and nonprofit) entities; nonfederal government entities, such as those at state, county, tribal, and municipality levels; academic institutions; and individuals. More information can be found in the official Microbattery Design Prize Rules document[CL1] .


Guidelines

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

If you have any questions, please subscribe by using the contact feature on the HeroX platform or message us directly at

Timeline
Updates9

Challenge Updates

Microbattery Design Prize submissions due on Thursday!

June 26, 2023, 6 a.m. PDT by NREL Prize Administrator

Don’t miss your last chance to submit a design for the Microbattery Design Prize! This prize challenges competitors to create new cutting-edge designs for microbattery technology. Up to $1.1 million in cash will be awarded to participants who best optimize the safety, recyclability, and performance of these tiny technologies in their proposals. Be sure to submit your design by this Thursday June 29, 2023!


REMINDER: Microbattery Design Prize submissions are due June 29, 2023!

June 12, 2023, 11:36 a.m. PDT by NREL Prize Administrator

Got a big idea for a tiny technology? Don’t miss your chance to submit a design for the Microbattery Design Prize! This prize challenges competitors to create new cutting-edge designs for microbattery technology. Up to $1.1 million in cash will be awarded to participants who best optimize the safety, recyclability, and performance of these tiny technologies in their proposals.

Watch the recording of the informational webinar to learn how and why to apply. Then click “Solve This Challenge” to submit your design by June 29, 2023.


Don't miss the Entrepreneur Futures Network Webinar in Support of the Microbattery Design Prize 5/22/2023

May 19, 2023, 11:25 a.m. PDT by NREL Prize Administrator

Register for Entrepreneur Futures Network's May 22nd webinar to learn how to compete for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) $1.1M Microbattery Design Prize.

Learn from the panel of experts including Hal Stillman, Senior Advisor at Argonne National Labs, and Professor Paul Braun with the University of Illinois.

There will be networking opportunities and plenty of time for Q&A.

Register here for this webinar. https://lnkd.in/gQTENwy3 
 


Watch the Microbattery Design Prize supplemental webinar hosted by EFN!

May 8, 2023, 6 a.m. PDT by NREL Prize Administrator

Our Power Connector Entrepreneur Futures Network's hosted a webinar last Monday to support the Microbattery Design Prize. Check it out!

Microbattery Webinar - May 1: https://vimeo.com/823120897?share=copy

 


Microbattery Design Prize Official Rules - Now Updated!

April 28, 2023, 2:32 p.m. PDT by NREL Prize Administrator

The Microbattery Design Prize has changed the way in which it will administer lab vouchers and will be assigning competitors to specific voucher providers within the national lab system. Therefore, submission requirements involving network engagement and technical assistance requests are no longer required. Such requirements have been removed from the rules.

The rules have been modified as follows:

  • Deletion of 3.5:2c Network Engagement
  •  Deletion of 3.6: Technical Assistance Request
  • Deletion of 3.6.6 Technical Assistance Request (Will Be Made Public)

Access the updated rules here and in the resources tab!


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