ARPA-E 8-page concept papers for funding requests due June 2
In Florida, K&L Gates partner Fred Greguras, writing in the Bioenergy by Biofuels Digest Linked in group site, reminds readers that “DOE Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) concept papers of no more than 8 pages are due June 2. This FOA has created significant interest in the entrepreneurial community because the likelihood of funding can be determined relatively quickly and at low cost through the concept paper approach.
The purpose of ARPA-E is to stimulate R&D of high-risk, high-payoff transformational energy-related technologies in all cleantech sectors. “Transformational technologies” are those that disrupt the status quo; they are “game changing’ and not merely incremental progress on current technologies but are significantly better. Key factors in selection are advancing technology readiness from lower to higher levels, speed of completion of the R&D and the potential for job creation. DOE will review and advise the applicant no later than July 13 if funding is likely at which time a full proposal must be submitted.
A total initial ARRA funding of $150M is planned for projects of $500K to $20M with most awards anticipated to be between $2M-5M for 24 months. There will be a minimum of a 20% cost share. Ninety percent of the work by dollar amount must be done on U.S. soil and at least 75% done by U.S. entities. Applicants will be able to protect intellectual propery created under such funding. Hopefully, DOE will use the experience gained from this initial FOA to establish a rolling application period in the future for ARPA-E funding since innovation occurs continuously and such funding may be the only financing source available to many early stage companies.”
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ashend | Jun 30, 2009 | Reply
ARPA-E asks for disruptive technologies, and at the same time requires 20% matching funds. With seed-stage equity funding nonexistent (economy is in crisis, remember), the 20% match requirement becomes a selection criterion – for performing organizations that can afford the match. The potential impact of the program would be much improved if this requirement were removed.