Energy I-Corps Annual Report 2021

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Energy invests millions of dollars every year into the national lab complex. This investment allows the national laboratories to tackle the critical scientific challenges of our time - from renewable energy to quantum computing to creating a more resilient energy grid. The discoveries and innovations being developed by the labs have an even greater impact when we invest in bringing these ideas to the market where they can benefit the nation and world. To better arm researchers to collaborate with industry and turn research and development into demonstration and deployment, DOE employs Energy I-Corps to help researchers gain industry insight to guide innovation. Energy I-Corps invites teams of researchers to participate in an intensive two-month training during which the researchers define technology value propositions, conduct customer discovery interviews, and explore viable market pathways for their technologies. Researchers return to their labs with a framework for industry engagement to guide future research and inform a culture of market engagement within the lab environment. In this way, Energy I-Corps ensures our investment in the national labs and maintains and strengthens long-term U.S. competitiveness.