Clean Energy Grant Submissions Invited
San Diego, Jan. 23, 2013 -- Calit2 faculty, students and researchers at UC San Diego are welcome to submit proposals to develop clean-energy technologies. Grants up to $40,000 each would go for prototype development, testing, and proof-of-concept studies. The grant program is organized by the Jacobs School of Engineering's von Liebig Entrepreneurism Center.
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The call for proposals marks the launch of the third year for the clean-energy program, a partnership with the Rady School of Management, San Diego State University, the Jacobs School of Engineering, and its von Liebig Center.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, this program aims to catalyze the translation of clean energy and energy-efficient technologies from universities to the private sector. Eligible researchers must be associated with research institutes and universities in the Southern California region.
Students, faculty and researchers applying for funding could receive $40,000 for one year for prototype development, testing and/or proof-of-concept studies. As part of the award, fellowship recipients are paired with a von Liebig Center Technology and Business Advisor, and will be given access to MBA students from the Rady School or SDSU to support market research and business model creation, valued at an additional $15,0000.
The process for application is easy. A short Statement of Intent must be submitted no later than February 4, 2013.
Technologies sought in the field of clean energy include, but are not limited to:
- Photovoltaic solar thermal energy
- Wind energy
- Electricity transmission and distribution
- Hydrogen and fuel-cell technology
- Energy efficiency
- Advanced materials
- Building energy efficiency
- Energy analysis models, tools and software
- Energy storage
- Hydropower, tidal and wave power
- Biomass and biofuels
- Vehicles and fuels
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If selected based on the Statement of Intent, a faculty, student or staff researcher will be asked to prepare a short proposal and start working with an assigned mentor to present to a panel of expert judges who will make the final selection in late March 2013.
According to the Southern California Clean Energy Technology Acceleration Program website, "Universities and research laboratories are principal engines for innovation -- a critical component of economic growth. However, the process for translation of research discoveries to the private sector is highly inefficient. Converting research to a product or process typically requires market-ready technology, a business model, proof of market need, and a business-oriented management team. None of these elements exist when a discovery is made in the research laboratory."
UC San Diego and SDSU partnered to address such deficiencies in the renewable energy space in the greater San Diego region, accelerating the movement of clean energy innovation from the university laboratory into the marketplace.
In order to accomplish this, the program's approach focuses on:
- Directing funding and other support at the gap between a research discovery
- Addressing traditional cultural differences between academia and the private sector
- Solidifying the ecosystem around the innovator once they exit the proof of concept process
- Implementing a sustainable model that ensures continuous feeding of innovations into the pipeline
The ultimate goal, noted the von Liebig Center on the program's website, "is not only the acceleration of innovation energy discoveries into the private sector, but also the creation of an atmosphere in which commercialization is viewed as an economically and socially desirable outcome of research, and in which the participants-researchers, universities, and the investment community understand the unique requirements for success in transitioning university research."
More information about the program and instructions to submit an application can be found here.
Related Links
Southern California Clean Energy Technology Acceleration Program
Media Contacts
Doug Ramsey, 858-822-5825, dramsey@ucsd.edu