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

Inventions and Innovation

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I know if my technology is applicable for I&I funding, and what do I do if it is?

A helpful way to decide if a technology is applicable for I&I funding is to complete the Pre-Application Self-Assessment Tool. With this exercise, users can answer a series of questions to determine whether their technology is applicable for funding through I&I's competitive process. Inventors can apply for a grant when I&I releases an "announcement of funding opportunity."

If the technology is applicable for funding, technology developers should follow these steps:

  1. Register to be notified about upcoming I&I announcement of funding opportunities with DOE, FedBizOps, or check the I&I site regularly to find out when announcements are released.
  2. To receive e-mail notification of upcoming I&I funding opportunities, subscribe to the Grants Notification Service Subscription Form. Enter your e-mail address, then select Energy as the Category of Funding Activity. Enter 81.036 as the CFDA Number for Inventions and Innovation. Next, select Department of Energy as the Agency. Finally, click Subscribe to Mailing List. Disclaimer: This service is provided for convenience only and does not serve as a guarantee of notification.
  3. Download the announcement document when it is released.
  4. Register with DOE's Industry Interactive Procurement System (IIPS). All applications are submitted electronically through IIPS. There are no forms outside of IIPS. To submit a proposal electronically, applicants must first register with IIPS.
  5. Register for a Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number if the applicant does not have one.
  6. Develop an application that meets the criteria described in the announcement.
  7. Submit a complete application on time through IIPS. The application must meet the criteria described in the announcement.
  8. Applications will be graded and selected for award based on the announcement criteria; winners will be announced.

What is an "announcement of funding opportunity"?

I&I decides which projects it will fund by reviewing proposals that describe energy-related ideas and inventions. To gather proposals, DOE issues an announcement of funding opportunity or Request for Proposals (RFP). The announcement describes exactly what I&I is looking for in terms of technologies and processes and how information on a proposed project should be written and submitted.

How do I know when an I&I announcement of funding opportunity is released?

To find out about announcement dates, inventors can do the following:

  1. Register with DOE. CLICK HERE to register.
  2. Subscribe to a federal grant Web site.
    GRANTS.GOV: http://www.grants.gov/
  3. Check the I&I Web site for updates: http://eerewebcms.ee.doe.gov/inventions/

To receive e-mail notification of upcoming I&I funding opportunities, subscribe to the Grants Notification Service Subscription Form. Enter your e-mail address, then select Energy as the Category of Funding Activity. Enter 81.036 as the CFDA Number for Inventions and Innovation. Next, select Department of Energy as the Agency. Finally, click Subscribe to Mailing List. Disclaimer: This service is provided for convenience only and does not serve as a guarantee of notification.

How often do funding opportunities become available throughout the year?

Unlike some programs that continuously accept applications from technology developers, I&I only accepts applications once or twice a year. Only applications responding to an open announcement will be accepted by I&I. Note that, at present, I&I has no funding for its activities in fiscal year 2008, so it has announced no upcoming funding opportunity solicitations.

How do I apply for an I&I grant?

Proposals are submitted electronically through the DOE's Industry Interactive Procurement System (IIPS). There are no forms outside of IIPS. To submit a proposal, inventors must first register with IIPS. Step-by-step instructions for registering with IIPS are available at http://e-center.doe.gov. Once registered, users will receive a username and password that will provide access to the system and the ability to submit an application via the IIPS Web site.

A helpful guide for the IIPS system can be found at Quick Guide for I&I IIPS Users. (MS Word 137 KB) For full instructions on using the system, please see the "User Guide" on the IIPS Homepage under "Help." Only registered users will have the capability to transmit their proposal applications. Applicants are strongly encouraged to register with IIPS as soon as possible prior to the application deadline. Once prospective applicants are registered, only DOE personnel and expert evaluators will have access to applicant information. All information within submitted proposals will be kept in the strictest confidence.

What level of funding does I&I provide?

I&I provides financial assistance at two stages of development:

Category 1-Conceptual Stage: $50,000
Conceptual: This is the period during which a concept is scientifically proven or is shown to be potentially valid by the application of a test-of-principle model. The objective of this stage is to validate through tests or analyses the performance and implementation potential of a concept.

Technical Feasibility: This is the period during which it is proven feasible to produce a new product or develop a process from the concept. The objective here is to confirm the target performance of the new product through experimentation and/or accepted engineering analysis and to ascertain that there are no technical or economic barriers to implementation that cannot be overcome by development. The end result should be a working bench-scale model.

Category 2-Development Stage: $250,000
This is the period during which the needed improvements in materials, processes, and design are made and it is determined that the product can be commercially produced. The objective is to make the needed improvements in materials, designs, and processes and to confirm that the product will perform as specified by constructing and testing engineering prototypes or pilot processes. The objective is to evaluate market potential and establish test market validity of the new product or introduction of a new process in a system.

What is cost-share?

For Category 1 and 2 grants, I&I encourages developers to cost-share the project, meaning that they contribute some funds to the project cost. Cost-sharing demonstrates that technology developers have a vested interest in the success of the technology. Cost-sharing is not required to receive a Category 1 or 2 grant.