Energy Program for Innovation Clusters

Stored: Energy Program for Innovation Clusters

Energy Program for Innovation Clusters

Type	Program
Sponsor Organization	Office of Technology Transitions
Top Organization	Department of Energy
Creation Legislation	None
Website	Website
Purpose	The Energy Program for Innovation Clusters supports regional energy innovation ecosystems by funding incubators and accelerators that foster clean energy startups and entrepreneurs. It aims to enhance U.S. economic competitiveness by accelerating the commercialization of energy technologies through robust cluster development.
Program Start	2020
Initial Funding	$5 million
Duration	Ongoing
Historic	No

The Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) is a Department of Energy initiative launched in 2020 by the Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) to strengthen regional energy innovation ecosystems across the United States, awarding over $13 million across three rounds by 2025. EPIC has supported 48 incubators and accelerators, providing cash prizes and cooperative agreements—like the $4 million Round 3 in 2024—to teams driving energy technology clusters, with notable outcomes including the Midwest Regional Innovation Partnership’s support for over 360 startups since 2021. With Round 3’s Phase 2 winners announced in December 2024, EPIC continues to evolve, planning future opportunities in 2025 to bolster clean energy entrepreneurship.

Official Site

Goals

• Stimulate regional energy innovation by funding incubators with impactful cluster-building plans.
• Accelerate commercialization of clean energy technologies through mentorship and resources.
• Enhance national economic and energy security via strong regional startup ecosystems.

Organization

The Energy Program for Innovation Clusters is managed by OTT within DOE, with a Program Manager overseeing its two-part structure: a prize competition and funding opportunity announcements (FOAs). Operations involve collaboration with DOE labs like NREL and ORNL, with funding from OTT’s budget—initially $5 million in FY 2020—supporting awards and events like the 2024 EPIC Pitch Competition.

Partners

• National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Argonne National Laboratory
• Clean Energy Trust

History

EPIC was established in 2020 with $5 million appropriated by Congress, responding to the need for regional innovation clusters to drive energy tech commercialization. Round 1 awarded $1 million in prizes to 20 incubators in 2020, followed by Round 2’s $2 million in 2023 and Round 3’s $4 million cooperative agreements by 2024, with Phase 2 winners announced December 2024. It continues to expand, with OTT planning further rounds in 2025 per recent updates.

Funding

Initial funding of $5 million in FY 2020 kicked off EPIC, with subsequent rounds adding $2 million (Round 2) and $4 million (Round 3) by 2024, totaling over $13 million. Ongoing support via OTT appropriations funds prizes, up to $1 million cooperative agreements, and pitch events, with no end date as it aligns with DOE’s tech transition goals.

Implementation

EPIC operates in phases: prize competitions (e.g., $50,000 awards to 20 incubators in Round 1) and FOAs (e.g., $1 million agreements in Round 3), executed via HeroX platforms and DOE partnerships. It supports incubators like Dominion Energy Innovation Center’s Hyperscaled through funding and pitch events—like the 2024 $70,000 DC Pitch Competition—adapting to regional needs with ongoing rounds planned for 2025.

Related

• Energy I-Corps
• Lab Partnering Service

External links

• https://www.energy.gov/eere/technologytransitions/energy-program-innovation-clusters
• https://www.herox.com/EPIC3
• wikipedia:Energy Program for Innovation Clusters

Social media

• https://twitter.com/DOEEERE
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/u-s-department-of-energy