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American-Made Challenges

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Open Voucher Call

Accelerating technology commercialization while connecting the public with U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory facilities.

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stage:
Submission Deadline
prize:
$2,100,000

This challenge is closed

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Summary
Timeline
Updates8
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Teams763
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Summary

Overview

A new kind of American-Made opportunity created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Technology Transitions, the Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF) Open Voucher Call, will provide the public with opportunities to receive technical assistance from researchers at DOE National Laboratory facilities.   
 

The $2.1 million TCF Open Voucher Call will help facilitate the commercialization of scientific discoveries by helping to identify pathways by which technological breakthroughs can make their way to market. Although a variety of technologies will be considered, applicants are encouraged to leverage the capabilities and initiatives of the National Laboratories when developing their ideas so they can further develop their technology alongside the National Lab. 


Successful applicants will receive vouchers—valid for testing and validation, use of specialized equipment or software, simulation or modeling, consulting, or various other requests from a National Laboratory—which will ultimately allow them to advance their technologies. In this way, the call will foster a culture of curiosity and collaboration while bridging the gap between scientific expertise and public engagement.   


Through the TCF Open Voucher Call, DOE intends to inspire a new generation of researchers and instill a sense of shared responsibility for advancing knowledge and innovation within the scientific community.  

Open Voucher Call Structure 

This single-phase open voucher call will award up to 21 teams a voucher of up to $100,000 to be redeemed at one of these eight national laboratories:   

  • National Renewable Energy Laboratory   
  • Sandia National Laboratories   
  • Pacific Northwest National Laboratory   
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory   
  • Ames National Laboratory   
  • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory   
  • Argonne National Laboratory  
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory.   

See the National Laboratories Capabilities section of the Official Rules for more information on the types of technologies each laboratory can assist with or explore the Lab Partnering Service for further information.     


For each voucher awarded, winning teams will be required to provide a minimum cost share of $25,000 (either cash or in-kind). Teams will have one year to work with one National Laboratory of their choice and provide a progress report at the conclusion of their work.    


Guidelines

The competition is open only to private entities (for-profits and nonprofits); non-federal government entities such as states, counties, tribes, and municipalities; academic and research institutions; and individuals, subject to the requirements detailed in the official TCF Open Voucher Call rules.   

If you want to subscribe to updates, click the "Follow" button at the top of the page. If you have any questions, you may use the contact feature on the HeroX platform, or

Timeline
Updates8

Challenge Updates

Just 3 Days Left to Submit Your TCF Open Voucher Call Application!

Sept. 30, 2024, 2:18 p.m. PDT by NREL Prize Administrator

This Thursday is the final day to submit an application for the TCF Open Voucher Call! 

Innovators with clean tech ideas, now is your chance to apply for a voucher worth $100,000 that gives you access and assistance from the U.S. Department of Energy’s national labs and researchers!

 

Pro Tip: Take advantage of the resources in the “Resources” tab to help you complete a strong submission. 

 

Submit your application before Thursday Oct. 3 at 5 p.m. ET. We recommend submitting early to avoid any technical difficulties. 

 

Remember – There is NO save function while you are completing the application and you will not receive a confirmation or copy of your submission. 

 

Reach out to  with any questions. 


Please Note: No Save Function for Submission Form

Sept. 17, 2024, 11:54 a.m. PDT by NREL Prize Moderator

Please note that there will be no save function when you go to submit your TCF Open Voucher Call application! 

  

We highly recommend using the submission template from the official prize rules to craft your responses in a separate document, then copy and paste them into the submission form and submit all at once when you are ready. 
 
Additionally, please note that once you submit your application for the voucher you will not receive a confirmation or copy of your submission. We apologize for this inconvenience. 

  

Please contact openvouchercall@nrel.gov with any questions. 


New Resources and Updates – Take Note and Apply Before Oct 3

Sept. 9, 2024, 6 a.m. PDT by NREL Prize Moderator

New Resource - List of National Lab Prioritized IP 

A list of National Lab Prioritized IP has been to the ‘Resources’ tab. The list shows intellectual property (IP) that has been identified as a priority by some of the participating labs. This may mean the IP either aligns with topic areas identified for the voucher call, aligns with researchers identified to assist with the vouchers, or is closer to commercialization than other lab IP. 

 

*Please note that all National Lab IP can be included as part of your submission. This list simply serves as an additional resource.  

 

Important Note – No Submission Confirmation 

Please note that once you submit your application for the voucher there will be no confirmation of submission and no copies of the submission sent to you.  

 

Connect With National Lab Researchers Before Sept. 20 

If you’re looking to connect with national lab researchers to discuss national lab IP, reach out to openvouchercall@nrel.gov as soon as possible! Administrators for the TCF Open Voucher Call will not be able to facilitate any connections around national lab IP after Sept. 20. 

 

Best of luck and we look forward to seeing your submissions!  

 


Deadline Approaching - Apply for the TCF Open Voucher Call by Oct 3

Sept. 5, 2024, 2:58 p.m. PDT by NREL Prize Administrator

 

Innovators, the deadline to apply for the TCF Open Voucher Call is coming up Oct. 3! Submit your big ideas for the chance to win one of 21 vouchers, each worth $100,000 in assistance from a U.S. Department of Energy national lab!  

 

Vouchers can be redeemed at one of eight participating national labs, meaning you could get access to top-tier expertise and equipment that will help bring your concepts closer to commercialization. 

  

Submit your application by Oct. 3 at 5 p.m. ET: herox.com/openvouchercall   


Webinar Q&A Available, National Lab Capabilities List Updated

July 29, 2024, 10:22 a.m. PDT by NREL Prize Moderator

New updates in the TCF Open Voucher Call ‘Resouces’ tab 

Webinar Q&A Document 

Questions received during the July 17 TCF Open Voucher Call Informational Webinar have now been answered in the Questions and Responses document in the ‘Resources’ section of the HeroX page.  

 

Updated National Laboratory Capabilities List 

The National Lab Capabilities List in the ‘Resources’ section of the HeroX page has been updated and reposted to reflect additional capabilities shared by laboratory staff.   

 

Questions? Email openvouchercall@nrel.gov 


Forum10
Teams763
Resources
FAQ