Commercialization Funding Resources

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are U.S. Government initiatives designed to help small businesses conduct R&D with strong commercial potential. Twice a year, DOE issues a call to the IPO for Tech Transfer Opportunities (TTOs) that align with the goals of SBIR/STTR. 

Typical candidates are Lab-developed technologies that

1. have previously received DOE funding;

2. have an existing patent application, issued patent, or copyrighted work on file with the IPO;

2. require additional R&D to clarify their commercial potential;

3. fit the mission of the participating DOE program offices. 

*Small businesses are the only eligible applicants, and up to 30% of funding can be subcontracted back to the Lab. Early coordination with your DOE project manager is recommended to ensure alignment with program office priorities.

*Participating DOE Program Offices: ASCR, BES, BER, NP, CESER, NA, OE, EERE, FE, FES, HEP, NE. 

For more information or questions, contact Shanshan Li (shanshanli@lbl.gov).

Each fall, the DOE makes ~$20–30 million available through the Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF) to help Lab-developed energy technologies move toward commercialization. 

Eligible projects must

1. have received funding from a DOE participating program office;

2. be capable of demonstrating commercial potential with a partner that is willing to support the commercialization efforts;

3. align with the mission of the participating DOE program offices. 

Calls for proposals are typically issued in September, with eligibility declarations due in October, full proposals in December, and awards announced the following spring. 

For more information or questions, please contact Shanshan Li (shanshanli@lbl.gov),

Past Berkeley Lab awardees include: Mike Tucker, Brett Helms, Tianzhen Hong, Ning Sun, Gao Liu, Maxim Martchevskii, Nick DeForest, Anup Singh/Nathan Hillson, Nem Danilovic, Edith Bourret-Courchesne, and Eric Sundstrom.