Chain Reaction Innovations
Stored: Chain Reaction Innovations
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy |
| Top Organization | Department of Energy |
| Creation Legislation | None |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | Chain Reaction Innovations places innovators at Argonne Lab to turn clean energy tech into market solutions, speeding up commercialization and tackling climate change in two years. |
| Program Start | 2016 |
| Initial Funding | $2 million |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
The Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI) program, launched in May 2016 by the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), embeds innovators at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) within the Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP), supporting over 50 fellows across nine cohorts by 2025 who have raised $666 million in follow-on funding and created 698 jobs.
CRI has nurtured startups like ClearFlame Engines and NUMiX Materials, leveraging ANL’s Advanced Photon Source and Mira supercomputer, with Cohort 9’s application closing November 8, 2024, and fellows starting June 2025.[1]
As a DOE initiative, it drives clean energy innovation amid broader U.S. energy policy debates, reinforcing decarbonization efforts through entrepreneurial science.
Goals
- De-risk early-stage clean energy technologies for market entry within two years.
- Train innovators in entrepreneurship to launch sustainable startups.
- Drive economic impact with over $600 million in investments and hundreds of jobs.[2]
Organization
Chain Reaction Innovations is sponsored by EERE’s Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO), hosted at ANL, and directed by Dick Co since 2016. It integrates mentorship from ANL’s 1,400 researchers and partnerships with the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center and mHUB, funded through AMMTO budgets.[3]
Partners
- Argonne National Laboratory
- University of Chicago Polsky Center
- mHUB
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
History
CRI began in May 2016 with a $2 million DOE investment as part of LEEP’s expansion from Cyclotron Road, with Cohort 1 graduating in June 2019 after raising significant funding.[4] Milestones include Cohort 3’s 2019 selection, the 2022 LEEP Summit, and Cohort 9’s call opening September 4, 2024, closing November 8, with over $666 million amassed by December 2024 per ANL metrics. It continues to support DOE’s clean energy agenda.
Funding
Initial funding of $2 million in 2016 launched CRI, with over $20 million in DOE support by 2025—e.g., $6 million for Cohort 8—yielding $666 million in follow-on funding.[5] Ongoing AMMTO funding provides fellowships ($150,000-$200,000 per fellow), lab resources, and ecosystem growth, with no end date aligned to DOE’s mission.
Implementation
CRI embeds 4-7 fellows annually at ANL for two years, offering R&D access, mentorship, and resources, showcased at events like the 2023 Chicago Demo Day.[6] It advances through cohort cycles—e.g., Cohort 9 starts June 2025—focusing on innovations like decarbonized fuels, adapting to energy needs with no fixed end.
Related
External links
- https://chainreaction.anl.gov
- https://www.energy.gov/eere/amo/lab-embedded-entrepreneurship-program
- wikipedia:Chain Reaction Innovations
Social media
References
- ↑ "Chain Reaction Innovations". Argonne National Laboratory. https://chainreaction.anl.gov.
- ↑ "$1 Billion Follow-on Funding". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/innovators-does-lab-embedded-entrepreneurship-program-surpass-1-billion-follow.
- ↑ "LEEP Overview". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/eere/amo/lab-embedded-entrepreneurship-program.
- ↑ "CRI Launch". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/chain-reaction-innovation-does-newest-investment-clean-energy-innovation.
- ↑ "CRI Impact". Argonne National Laboratory. https://chainreaction.anl.gov/our-impact/.
- ↑ "LEEP Demo Day 2023". Argonne National Laboratory. https://chainreaction.anl.gov/leep-demo-day-2023/.