Cyclotron Road: Difference between revisions
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Cyclotron Road is a DOE Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory that supports scientists and engineers in developing transformative technologies, particularly in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and microelectronics, by embedding them in a rich research ecosystem. Founded in 2014, it has supported over 100 fellows who have raised more than $2 billion in follow-on funding, created over 1,400 jobs, and launched 74 companies, partnering with the nonprofit Activate to scale its fellowship model nationwide.
Mission
Cyclotron Road’s mission is to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and market impact by offering a two-year fellowship that combines funding, access to Berkeley Lab’s facilities, and intensive entrepreneurial training, enabling fellows to mature hard-tech ideas into first products that address climate and industrial challenges. It aims to foster a decarbonized economy through innovations in energy storage, advanced materials, and sustainable manufacturing, supporting fellows with mentorship, networking, and a peer community to navigate the “valley of death” in technology commercialization.
Parent organization
Cyclotron Road operates under the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which hosts and manages the program, providing fellows with research infrastructure and expertise. The Department of Energy, through its Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, serves as the top organization, funding Cyclotron Road as part of its LEEP initiative.
Legislation
Cyclotron Road was not created by specific legislation but was launched in 2014 as a pilot program at Berkeley Lab, with core funding formalized in 2015 through DOE’s Advanced Manufacturing Office under the broader LEEP framework, supported by Congressional appropriations.
Partners
Cyclotron Road’s key partners include:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (host)
- Activate (nonprofit co-manager)
- Department of Energy (funder)
- California Energy Commission
- Industry and philanthropy (e.g., Schmidt Futures, DARPA)
Number of employees
Cyclotron Road does not specify a dedicated employee count; it relies on Berkeley Lab staff and a small team of advisors and program managers from Activate, likely totaling fewer than 20 core personnel, with fellows numbering over 100 since inception.
Organization structure
Cyclotron Road is structured around its fellowship program:
- Fellowship Team recruits and supports innovators.
- Mentorship Network provides business and technical guidance.
- Research Support leverages Berkeley Lab resources.
Leader
Cyclotron Road is led by a Director, currently overseen by interim leadership like Ravi Prasher (Berkeley Lab’s Energy Technologies Area) following Ilan Gur’s transition to Activate in 2020, with a search for a permanent director ongoing.
Divisions
The efforts include:
- Clean Power Innovations for energy solutions.
- Advanced Manufacturing Technologies for industrial applications.
- Microelectronics Research for next-gen electronics.
List of programs
Key Cyclotron Road initiatives include:
- Cyclotron Road Fellowship
- Alumni Network Support
- LEEP Demo Day Events
Last total enacted budget
Cyclotron Road’s specific budget is not publicly detailed, but it has disbursed over $18 million directly to fellows since 2015, with total program funding likely exceeding $30 million from DOE, California Energy Commission, DARPA, and private sources through 2025.
Staff
Staffing includes a small core team of advisors and managers from Berkeley Lab and Activate, supplemented by over 70 collaborating Berkeley Lab scientists, supporting a fellowship cohort of about 15 innovators annually.
Funding
Cyclotron Road’s funding includes multi-year support from DOE’s Advanced Manufacturing Office (starting with millions annually since 2015), supplemented by the California Energy Commission, DARPA, and philanthropies like Schmidt Futures, enabling over $2 billion in follow-on funding for fellows’ companies.
Services provided
Cyclotron Road provides fellows with a living stipend, research funding, access to Berkeley Lab’s facilities (e.g., Advanced Light Source), and a two-year program of mentorship, training, and networking, helping innovators develop prototypes and secure commercial pathways.
Regulations overseen
Cyclotron Road does not oversee regulations but aligns with DOE’s clean energy and manufacturing policies, supporting fellows’ compliance with intellectual property and research standards.
Headquarters address
1 Cyclotron Rd, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA (Berkeley Lab)
History
Cyclotron Road was founded in 2014 by Ilan Gur at Berkeley Lab as a pilot to support entrepreneurial scientists, gaining DOE backing in 2015 as the first LEEP program. It partnered with Activate in 2016, scaling to support over 100 fellows by 2025, with alumni companies like Brimstone and Antora Energy securing significant DOE and private investments, reflecting its impact on clean tech innovation.