Department of Energy Opens Prize Competition to Partner Innovators with Manufacturers

The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced a call for solicitation of applications for its American Inventions Made Onshore (AIM Onshore) prize competition in conjunction with its Build4Scale Manufacturing Training. The competition is an initiative to strengthen ties between innovators who develop new technologies with manufacturers.

The goal of the competition is to link American technology inventors with domestic manufacturers who can bring that technology to market. This program is expected to be a two-way partnership, coupling inventors who may not be familiar with the necessary manufacturing channels, with industry representatives in search of the next big technological breakthrough. DOE Secretary Rick Perry explained, “The AIM Onshore prize competition and Build4Scale training will not only help to advance energy innovation, but will also help ensure that energy technologies invented in the United States are manufactured in the United States.”

Total funding for the initiative is $950,000. Four organizations will be selected and awarded an initial prize of $150,000 each. With this funding, the organizations will conduct the Build4Scale training for inventors and teach them how to meet manufacturers. The top two organizations whose trainings net the highest number of contracts between inventors and manufacturers, along with private stakeholder investment, will win an additional prize. The top organization will win $250,000, the second place organization will win $100,000. The other two organizations will not receive any additional awards.

For further information on the prize competition, rules, and eligibility requirements, click here: http://www.build4scale.org/