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Please review important information below about the EERE Exchange website as it relates to this FOA. A recent study by Oak Ridge National Lab has shown that there is up to 60 GW of new hydropower development potential available in the United States. Most of the available sites come with challenges with regard to environmental and social sustainability and cost effective development. To address these challenges, DOE?s Water Program initiated a new technology program, HydroNEXT to focus on hydropower technology innovation that will foster development of potential new hydropower capacity in the U.S. The HydroNEXT effort continues in 2015, through this FOA, aimed at the development of suitable technologies to overcome environmental, social, and LCOE challenges. DOE will solicit innovative ideas to harness hydropower that can be rapidly built, removed, and replaced when necessary. Applicants will be encouraged to provide new concepts for alternative hydropower systems that will lower costs of civil infrastructure development, can be deployed in a maximum of 2 years with relatively low environmental impacts, and can be removed or replaced after their intended life is completed. These concepts and systems will be able to operate at a cost that is competitive with traditional sources of generation. The three topic areas covered by this FOA are outlined below: Topic Area 1: Design and laboratory testing of new rapidly deployable hydropower technologies that can be easily removed or replaced at the end of their useful life, including, but not limited to, water impounding structures, water conveying systems, and innovative pre-fabricated structures. Topic Area 2: Research on innovative methods and/or materials for construction of conventional hydropower facilities including, but not limited to, concrete alternatives, in-water construction, and innovative advanced tunneling methods. Topic Area 3: Design and laboratory testing of new and innovative conventional hydropower powert

Today, we are very excited to announce that we are on the lookout for more innovators and technologists to serve the nation as Presidential Innovation Fellows. The Fellowship brings talented, diverse individuals from outside government to team up with top federal innovators to tackle some of our country's most pressing challenges. Acting as a small team alongside federal agency "co-founders," Fellows will work quickly and iteratively to turn promising ideas into game-changing solutions. As always, the Fellows will focus on national priorities, leveraging the best principles and practices of the innovation economy to help create positive impact in the span of months, not years. This is an opportunity to truly transform how government works for the people it serves.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks to develop and nurture a national innovation ecosystem that builds upon fundamental research to guide the output to facilitate the application of scientific discoveries closer to the development of technologies, products and processes that benefit society. In order to maintain, strengthen and grow a national innovation ecosystem, NSF has established the Innovation Corps - National Innovation Network Teams Program (I-Corps Teams). The NSF I-Corps Teams Program purpose is to identify NSF-funded researchers who will receive additional support in the form of entrepreneurial education, mentoring and funding to accelerate innovation that can attract subsequent third-party funding. The purpose of the I-Corps Teams program is to identify NSF-funded researchers who will receive additional support in the form of entrepreneurial education, mentoring and funding to accelerate the translation of knowledge derived from fundamental research into emerging products and services that can attract subsequent third-party funding. The outcomes of I-Corps Teams projects will be threefold: 1) a clear go/no go decision based on an assessment of the viability of the overall business model, 2) substantial first-hand evidence for or against product-market fit, with a pithy definition of the customer segments and corresponding value propositions, and 3) a narrative of a compelling technology demonstration for potential partners. WEBINAR: A webinar will be held monthly to answer questions about this program. Details will be posted on the I-Corps website (see http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/i-corps/program.jsp) as they become available

The National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks to develop and nurture a national innovation ecosystem that builds upon fundamental research to guide the output to facilitate the application of scientific discoveries closer to the development of technologies, products and processes that benefit society. In order to maintain, strengthen and grow a national innovation ecosystem, NSF has established the Innovation Corps - National Innovation Network Teams Program (I-Corps Teams). The NSF I-Corps Teams Program purpose is to identify NSF-funded researchers who will receive additional support in the form of entrepreneurial education, mentoring and funding to accelerate innovation that can attract subsequent third-party funding.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks to develop and nurture a national innovation ecosystem that builds upon fundamental research to guide the output to facilitate the application of scientific discoveries closer to the development of technologies, products and processes that benefit society. In order to maintain, strengthen and grow a national innovation ecosystem, NSF has established the Innovation Corps - National Innovation Network Teams Program (I-Corps Teams). The NSF I-Corps Teams Program purpose is to identify NSF-funded researchers who will receive additional support in the form of entrepreneurial education, mentoring and funding to accelerate innovation that can attract subsequent third-party funding. The purpose of the NSF I-Corps Teams grant is to give the project team access to resources to help determine the readiness to transition technology developed by previously-funded or currently funded NSF projects. The outcomes of I-Corps Teams projects will be threefold: 1) a clear go /or no go decision regarding viability of products and services, 2) should the decision be to move the effort forward, a transition plan for those projects to move forward, and 3) a definition of a compelling technology demonstration for potential partners. WEBINAR: A webinar will be held monthly to answer questions about this program. Details will be posted on the I-Corps website (see http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/i-corps/program.jsp) as they become available.

Every year, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Fisheries Innovation Fund releases two requests for proposals (RFPs) aimed at creating more sustainable fisheries in the United States: Fisheries Innovation Fund - NFWF launched the Fisheries Innovation Fund in 2010 to foster innovation in fisheries and seafood production and help sustain livelihoods, working waterfronts, and sustainable access to fisheries while rebuilding fish stocks. The fund's priorities include bycatch reduction, recreational fisheries and offshore aquaculture, including activities to build community capacity and encourage sustainable use practices. In past years, most projects have originated locally to address needs, challenges, and opportunities at the community level. 

OVERVIEW INFORMATIONCatalog of Domestic Assistance Number is 10.674Program name is Wood Utilization AssistanceImportant Dates:October 27, 2014 Issuance of Request for ProposalsJanuary 23, 2015 Proposal submission deadlineSynopsis of Funding OpportunityThe U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) requests proposals to substantially expand and accelerate wood energy and wood products markets throughout the United States to support forest management needs on National Forest System and other forest lands. This Request for Proposals focuses on the following priorities:* Reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health on National Forest System and other forest lands. * Reduce costs of forest management on all land types.* Promote economic and environmental health of communities.Funding will be awarded in two separate grant categories: GRANT CATEGORY 1: EXPANSION OF WOOD ENERGY MARKETSThe intent of this category is to stimulate, expand, or support wood energy markets that depend on forest residues or forest byproducts generated from all land types. Preference will be given to projects that make use of low-value wood generated from National Forest System and other forest lands with high wildfire risk. Subcategories include:1. Statewide Wood Energy Teams 2. Wood Energy Projects3. Wood Energy MarketsGRANT CATEGORY 2: EXPANSION OF WOOD PRODUCTS MARKETSThe intent of this category is to promote markets that create or expand the demand for non-energy based wood products. Preference will be given to projects that support commercial building markets or other markets that use existing or innovative wood products. Wood energy projects will not be considered under this category because those projects can apply for funding under Grant Category 1. Completed electronic applications are due to the Regional Biomass Coordinator designated for your Forest Service region by 11:59 p.m. on January 23, 2015.Each submittal must consist of two separate PDF files, as follows: 1. Proposal narrati

This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) seeks opportunities to co-create, co-design, co-invest, and collaborate in the research, development, piloting, testing, and scaling of innovative, practical and cost-effective interventions that address development challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) invites interested parties to participate with USAID to identify innovative thinking, best practices and promising programs that will create more strategic, focused, results-oriented, cost-effective and practical options that will further the US Government's goal of improving the impact of its policies and programs on Africa's poor. USAID, through the Bureau for Africa (USAID/AFR), aims to develop and test innovative, sustainable and cost-effective solutions that will accelerate progress towards eliminating extreme poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. This BAA specifically seeks to incorporate new ideas that will directly and positively influence USAID's programs and policies, including, but not limited to, support for SSA institutions to deliver services and manage programs that contribute to sustainable development.

This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) seeks opportunities to co-create, co-design, co-invest, and collaborate in the research, development, piloting, testing, and scaling of innovative, practical and cost-effective interventions that address development challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) invites interested parties to participate with USAID to identify innovative thinking, best practices and promising programs that will create more strategic, focused, results-oriented, cost-effective and practical options that will further the US Government's goal of improving the impact of its policies and programs on Africa's poor. USAID, through the Bureau for Africa (USAID/AFR), aims to develop and test innovative, sustainable and cost-effective solutions that will accelerate progress towards eliminating extreme poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. This BAA specifically seeks to incorporate new ideas that will directly and positively influence USAID's programs and policies, including, but not limited to, support for SSA institutions to deliver services and manage programs that contribute to sustainable development.

The goal of the DARPA Subterranean Challenge is to advance innovative solutions to map, navigate, and search complex subterranean environments at high operational tempos. The challenge elements and scoring objectives are designed to drive innovation in developing integrated solutions that address gaps in autonomy, perception, networking, and mobility required to operate in widely varying subterranean settings. This section provides an overview of the Challenge and describes how the technical elements relate to the DARPA Subterranean Challenge vision. Further details regarding the rules and scoring of the Challenge are to be provided at a later date. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative proposals to advance technologies through both a systems and virtual competition that will enhance the ability to rapidly map, navigate, and search subterranean environments. Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in science, devices, or systems. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice.

The Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) intends to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled "BOTTLE: Bio-Optimized Technologies to Keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment." This FOA, jointly funded by the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO), supports the Department's Plastics Innovation Challenge, a comprehensive DOE program to accelerate innovations in energy-efficient plastics recycling technologies, which was announced on November 21, 2019. Additional information regarding the Plastics Innovation Challenge can be found by visiting https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-launches-plastics-innovation-challenge. Current recycling strategies often do not allow for cost-effective recycling of commonly used plastics. Typical recycling techniques can result in diminished material properties, which limit opportunities to produce products from recycled material with equal or greater value. However, there is an opportunity to advance new technologies that use recycled materials to reduce manufacturing energy consumption for some of the most prevalent plastics by up to 50 percent, including those used in grocery bags and beverage bottles. BETO and AMO have identified significant potential to improve the carbon efficiency and energy efficiency of plastics recycling technologies

Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI) is a new two-year program for innovators focused on energy and science technologies. Through an annual call, four to six teams will be selected to join CRI. The goal of CRI is to give the nation's brightest energy and science innovators the best chance at success. The future depends on it.

Announced in June 2013 by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and former UK Foreign Secretary William Hague and formally launched in October 2013 by Rt Hon. David Willetts MP, the Global Innovation Initiative is a higher education partnership grant opportunity established between the United States and the United Kingdom aimed at strengthening multilateral research collaborations between universities in the U.S., UK, and other selected countries. The Global Innovation Initiative will award grants to university consortia focusing on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-related issues of global significance that foster cutting-edge multinational research and strengthen institutional international partnerships

The United States Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is seeking innovative research and development of the key crosscutting technologies (sensors and controls, high performance materials, simulation based engineering, and water management research) to enable development of next generation advanced energy systems. These technologies will contribute to the goals of high efficiency, near-zero emissions, and effective carbon capture for the next generation energy systems. Innovations in these areas are being supported by NETLs Crosscutting Research Program which aims at bridging the gap between the basic sciences and applied research as it relates to Advanced Energy Systems that utilize domestic resources. Long range transitional type research is needed to support the identification and growth of novel concepts that will lead to scientific breakthroughs and early adoption of innovative concepts into applications for power generation. It is envisioned that the projects will involve multi-organizational teams with phased projects that consider, in part, the needs and interest of the fossil power generation community as a whole, as well as accelerating the development and deployment of crosscutting technologies.

Please review important information below about the EERE Exchange website as it relates to this FOA. This FOA supports Research and Development (R&D) partnerships leading to innovative designs and processes for the manufacturing and assembly of wind turbine blades in order to facilitate deployment of the next generation of multi-megawatt wind turbines. Supported projects will develop cost-competitive integrated solutions that address the challenges of fabricating, transporting overland, and assembling rotor blades longer than 60m, with design concepts scalable to greater lengths, and installing them at wind turbine hub heights of at least 120m. This FOA is intended to be forward-looking in addressing U.S. market dynamics and domestic manufacturing opportunities through innovative solutions to constructing and assembling larger blades directly applicable to mitigating U.S. transportation constraints. Awards under the FOA will support partnerships between DOE and research and development (R&D) teams, including manufacturers. The objectives of this FOA are to: 1. Reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of land-based wind power in appropriate wind regimes by enabling the use of taller towers over their entire lifecycle, allowing wind turbines to capture stronger wind resources aloft. 2. Increase the wind turbine deployment opportunities in lower wind speed regions across the country where wind energy has previously been more expensive to deploy. 3. Increase U.S. competitiveness in alignment with the EERE Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative (CEMI). Single Topic Area: This FOA is focused solely on R&D projects intended to raise the technology readiness level of large wind turbine blade manufacturing and installation concepts. New innovations in blade design as well as improvements in manufacturing and assembly processes are expected outcomes of this FOA. Solutions may include, but are not limited to, modular, segmented or site-fabricated blade technologies. Resulting

Agency Overview: The Advanced Research Projects Agency ? Energy (ARPA-E), an organization within the Department of Energy (DOE), is chartered by Congress in the America COMPETES Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-69), as amended by the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-358) to: ?(A) to enhance the economic and energy security of the United States through the development of energy technologies that result in? (i) reductions of imports of energy from foreign sources; (ii) reductions of energy-related emissions, including greenhouse gases; and (iii) improvement in the energy efficiency of all economic sectors; and (B) to ensure that the United States maintains a technological lead in developing and deploying advanced energy technologies.? ARPA-E funds research on and the development of high-potential, high-impact energy technologies that are too early for private-sector investment. The agency focuses on technologies that can be meaningfully advanced with a modest investment over a defined period of time in order to catalyze the translation from scientific discovery to early-stage technology. For the latest news and information about ARPA-E, its programs and the research projects currently supported, see: http://arpa-e.energy.gov/. Program Overview: This FOA marks the third OPEN solicitation in the history of ARPA-E. The previous two OPEN solicitations were conducted at the inception of the agency in 2009 and again in 2012. An OPEN solicitation provides a vitally important mechanism for the support of innovative energy R&D that complements the other primary mechanism, which is through the solicitation of research projects in focused technology programs. ARPA-E?s focused programs target specific areas of technology that the agency has identified, through extensive interaction with the appropriate external stakeholders, as having significant potential impact on one or more of the Mission Areas described in Section I.A of the FOA. Awards made in response to the sol

Founded in 1945, the J.M. Kaplan Fund is a family foundation with a longstanding history of advocacy for and support of social, artistic, and environmental causes. The fund's current initiatives are dedicated to social justice, the environment, and historic conservation. In honor of its history and mission, the fund is accepting applications for the 2019 J.M.K. Innovation Prize. Through the prize program, grants of up to $175,000 over three years will be awarded to ten early-stage innovators helming creative projects that stand to benefit numerous individuals, communities, and/or sectors. Project priorities include the preservation of natural resources and mitigation of the environmental impact of climate change; heritage conservation; and social justice-focused reforms of the criminal justice and immigration systems in the United States.

The New Era of University Innovation & Commercialization This panel discussion examines the future of university and business collaboration, with a focus on inclusive innovation. Thursday, April 19, 2018 from 3:30 PM to 4:45 PM (EDT) Oxford, OH

This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) seeks opportunities to co-create, co-design, co-invest, and collaborate in the research, development, piloting, and scaling of innovative interventions for effectively mitigating air, water, and soil pollution, including ocean plastic pollution, electronic and other forms of solid waste in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) invites organizations, companies, academic and research institutions, and investors to propose innovative approaches for preventing and mitigating pollution in countries to promote healthier populations, cleaner environments, and inclusive, sustainable economic growth. USAID's Office of Energy and Infrastructure (E&I) within the Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment (E3/DDI), in cooperation with regional and Global Health Bureaus and selected Missions, developed this BAA for Pollution Prevention & Mitigation to improve the Agency's ability to assist partner countries in solving complex pollution problems that threaten sustainable development. This BAA seeks to engage with a wide range of actors within the global pollution sector to provide innovative interventions and technologies that further the U.S. Government's commitment to improving human health and the environment. Specific opportunities to do so will be provided through Addenda issued under this BAA.

The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies, while leveraging the Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) into NRCS technical manuals and guides or to the private sector. CIG is used to apply or demonstrate previously proven technology in order to increase adoption with an emphasis on opportunities to scale proven, emerging conservation strategies. CIG promotes sharing of skills, knowledge, technologies, and facilities among communities, governments, and other institutions to ensure that scientific and technological developments are accessible to a wider range of users.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) intends to issue, on behalf of the Building Technologies Office, a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled "Buildings University Innovators and Leaders Development (BUILD) - 2015." The BUILD FOA will have the following objectives: (i) Improving the competitiveness of American universities to conduct building energy-efficiency R&D (ii) Enabling American universities to develop stronger partnerships with industry (iii) Improving manufacturing education in American universities EERE envisions awarding multiple competitive financial assistance awards in the form of cooperative agreements with an estimated period of performance of approximately 2 years to USA-based university teams to research and develop innovative building energy efficiency technologies.  These student teams must include undergraduate students, and be led by faculty with relevant expertise in energy efficient technologies, manufacturing (for projects developing hardware), and commercialization.