U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Industrial Technologies Program

Stage-Gate Project Management

The stage-gate project management process is a tool that aims to improve the management and effectiveness of the R&D process. ITP adopted the process to maximize its resources, facilitate the movement of innovative, energy-efficient technology into the marketplace and strengthen communication with our partners. Stage-gate will play an essential role in all ITP activities, including planning, solicitations and project management. Successful project proposals and funding continuations will meet all stage-gate criteria for the respective stage and demonstrate concrete steps toward meeting requirements of the next stage.

The stages and gates of ITP's process are described below; almost all of ITP-funded projects fall into stages 2, 3, and 4.

Graphic shows the 5 stages of the Stage-Gate Process: Stage 1, Preliminary Investigation & Analysis; Stage 2, Concept Definition; Stage 3, Concept Development; Stage 4, Technology Development & Verification; Stage 5, Information Dissemination & Commercialization. Final stage shows industrial plant end users who use the technology.

  1. Preliminary Investigation and Analysis: Scoping studies to identify research topics; technical and market assessments; idea generation.

  2. Concept Definition: Early stage research to explore and define technical concept or to answer a specific technical question; laboratory scale research.

  3. Concept Development: Development and testing of prototype technology or process; development of models and informational databases; predictive modeling or simulation of process or equipment performance; evaluation of system scalability and end-user acceptability; demonstration of concept feasibility at prototype or bench scale.

  4. Technology Development and Information Verification: Pilot scale development of technology or process; technology field test and validation of economic potential; verification and documentation of information.

  5. Information Dissemination and Commercialization: All activities necessary for information delivery and commercial launch (production scale technology manufacture and installation; development of market infrastructure; demonstrated commercial operation).

More information on how the process is incorporated into funding decisions can be found in the new solicitations. Background material for a comprehensive look at ITP's Stage-Gate process can be downloaded here: (PDF 813 KB). Download Adobe Reader.