Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program
Stored: Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy |
| Top Organization | Department of Energy |
| Creation Legislation | None |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | The Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program supports clean energy innovators by embedding them in national labs to develop early-stage technologies into market-ready solutions. It aims to accelerate commercialization, foster entrepreneurship, and drive decarbonization through mentorship and resources. |
| Program Start | 2015 |
| Initial Funding | $15 million |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
The Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP) is a Department of Energy initiative launched in 2015 under the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) to embed early-career scientists and engineers in national labs, advancing clean energy technologies from concept to market.
Operating four nodes
- Cyclotron Road (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
- Chain Reaction Innovations (Argonne National Laboratory)
- Innovation Crossroads (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
- West Gate (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)
LEEP has supported over 140 fellows by 2025, raising over $1 billion in follow-on funding for startups like Celadyne Technologies.[1]
With events like the 2022 LEEP Summit and a 2025 cohort call opened September 2024, it continues to bridge lab research and industry, supporting DOE’s decarbonization goals.
Goals
- Accelerate clean energy technology development through lab-based R&D.
- Train innovators in entrepreneurship to launch sustainable startups.
- Enhance U.S. economic competitiveness with over $1 billion in follow-on investments.[2]
Organization
The Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program is managed by EERE’s Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO), with each node led by a national lab—e.g., NREL for West Gate—under a Program Manager’s oversight. Funding from AMMTO and partners like the Building Technologies Office supports two-year fellowships, lab access, and training.[3]
Partners
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Argonne National Laboratory
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
History
LEEP began in 2015 with Cyclotron Road, funded by $15 million from EERE’s Advanced Manufacturing Office, expanding to four nodes by 2021 with West Gate’s launch.[4] Milestones include Cohort 7 at Chain Reaction Innovations (2023) and the first LEEP Summit (July 2022), with over 140 innovators supported by 2025, surpassing $1 billion in private funding by 2023. It continues with calls like the 2025 cohort announced September 2024.
Funding
Initial funding of $15 million in 2015 established Cyclotron Road, with over $48 million awarded by 2021 across 115 fellows and $80 million by 2025 for 140+ projects.[5] Ongoing support from AMMTO sustains fellowships ($150,000-$200,000 per fellow), lab resources, and ecosystem development, with no end date as it aligns with DOE’s clean energy mission.
Implementation
LEEP embeds fellows in labs for two years, offering R&D access, mentorship (e.g., lab scientists), and training via nodes like Innovation Crossroads, with demos at events like the 2023 Chicago Demo Day.[6] It progresses through cohort cycles (e.g., Cohort 9 call, September 2024), fostering startups with no fixed end, adapting to energy innovation needs.
Related
External links
- https://www.energy.gov/eere/amo/lab-embedded-entrepreneurship-program
- https://www.nrel.gov/west-gate/
- wikipedia:Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program
Social media
References
- ↑ "LEEP Overview". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/eere/amo/lab-embedded-entrepreneurship-program.
- ↑ "$1 Billion Follow-on Funding". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/innovators-does-lab-embedded-entrepreneurship-program-surpass-1-billion-follow.
- ↑ "West Gate". National Renewable Energy Laboratory. https://www.nrel.gov/west-gate/.
- ↑ "West Gate Launch". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/department-energy-launches-fourth-lab-embedded-entrepreneurship-program-help.
- ↑ "33 Innovators Selected". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/33-innovators-selected-us-department-energys-lab-embedded-entrepreneurship.
- ↑ "LEEP Demo Day 2023". Argonne National Laboratory. https://chainreaction.anl.gov/leep-demo-day-2023/.