Department of Energy Launches "America's Next Top Energy Inn

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THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Public Affairs
___________________________________________________________________________=
__________

News Media Contact: (202) 586-4940
For Immediate Release: March 29, 2011

Department of Energy Launches "America's Next Top Energy Innovator"
Cuts Upfront Patent Licensing Costs and Challenges entrepreneurs to Commerc=
ialize Technologies from the National Laboratories


Boston, MA - As part of the Obama Administration's Startup America Initiati=
ve<http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/startup-america>, U.S. Energy Secretary=
Steven Chu today announced the "America's Next Top Energy Innovator" chall=
enge, which will give start-up companies the opportunity to license groundb=
reaking technologies developed by the National Laboratories for $1,000 and =
build successful businesses. As part of this effort, the Department is red=
ucing both the cost and paperwork requirements for start-up companies to ob=
tain an option agreement to license some of the 15,000 patents and patent a=
pplications held by our 17 National Laboratories.



"America's entrepreneurs and innovators are the best in the world," said Se=
cretary Chu. "Today, we're challenging them to create new businesses based=
on discoveries made by our world-leading national laboratories. Because w=
e've cut the upfront fees and reduced the paperwork, we'll make it easier f=
or start-up companies to succeed and create the new jobs our economy needs.=
Our goal is simple: unleash America's innovation machine and win the glob=
al race for the clean energy jobs of the future."



Currently, only about 10 percent of federal patents have been licensed to b=
e commercialized. This initiative aims to double the number of startup com=
panies coming out of the National Laboratories.



Specifically, as part of "America's Next Top Energy Innovator:"



1) On Monday, May 2, 2011, the Department will kick off the challenge =
by posting a streamlined template option agreement online for entrepreneurs=
to submit to Laboratories. Entrepreneurs must identify the technology of =
interest and submit a business plan to be considered for the program. Par=
ticipants will have until December 15 to make their submission to the Labor=
atory.



2) Any of the 15,000 unlicensed patents and patent applications held b=
y the National Laboratories will be available for licensing by startup comp=
anies



3) From May 2 to December 15, the Department will reduce the total upf=
ront cost of licensing DOE patents in a specific technology to a $1,000 upf=
ront fee for portfolios of up to three patents. This represents a savings =
of $10,000 to $50,000 on average in upfront fees.



4) Other license terms, such as equity and royalties, will be negotiat=
ed on a case by case basis and will typically be due once the company grows=
and achieves widescale commercial success. These fees help support the De=
partment's continuing research activities to develop new technologies.



5) The Department will simplify the licensing process and establish a =
standard set of terms for start-ups, who generally lack the resources, time=
or expertise to negotiate individual licensing agreements. This will sign=
ificantly reduce both the time and cost required to process the license, al=
lowing faster access to the Department's patents and enabling the Departmen=
t to process more licenses in a shorter amount of time.



6) Entrepreneurs who complete the process and demonstrate progress tow=
ard executing their business plan and commercializing the technology will h=
ave the opportunity to be showcased at the 3rd Annual ARPA-E Energy Innovat=
ion Summit in 2012, which brings together leading technology startups and c=
lean energy investors from around the country.

In addition to these steps, the Department is making it easier for companie=
s to use the world-leading facilities at our National Laboratories to condu=
ct collaborative research and development activities. Previously, companie=
s had to make an upfront payment covering the first 90 days of research wor=
k - a requirement that was often difficult for start-ups to meet. Today, t=
he Department is lowering the advance payment requirement to 60 days. This=
change will benefit all companies - not just start-ups - but could be valu=
able for those participating in the "America's Next Top Energy Innovator" c=
hallenge.


Entrepreneurs interested in participating can already view the available te=
chnologies on the Department's online Energy Innovation Portal<http://techp=
ortal.eere.energy.gov/>.

Some of the promising innovations currently available for licensing and fea=
tured on the portal include:


* Solar Energy Storage, Transportation and Conversion - available from D=
OE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a system for converting solar en=
ergy to chemical energy and, subsequently, to thermal energy. The system in=
cludes a light-harvesting station, a storage station, and a thermal energy =
release station that enables transportation of stored energy over long dist=
ances.
Marketing Summary<http://techportal.eere.energy.gov/technology.do/techID=3D=
371>


* Grid Friendly Appliance Controller - available from DOE's Pacific Nort=
hwest National Laboratory
The Grid Friendly Appliance controller senses grid conditions by monitoring=
system frequency and provides automatic demand response in times of disrup=
tion. This simple computer chip can be installed in household appliances an=
d can turn them off for a few minutes or even a few seconds to allow the gr=
id to stabilize and prevent blackouts.
Marketing Summary<http://techportal.eere.energy.gov/technology.do/techID=3D=
179%20>


* Growth of Lattice Matched III-V Semiconductor Materials - available fr=
om DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory
High-performance semiconductor materials have a broad range of potential ap=
plications, including high efficiency solar cells, solid-state lighting, an=
d high-speed transistors. This portfolio allows for the use of low-cost, sc=
alable, and reusable substrates to dramatically reduce production costs for=
these materials.
Marketing Summary<http://techportal.eere.energy.gov/technology.do/techID=3D=
219>



* New Catalyst Can Reduce Nitrogen Oxide Emissions From Diesel Engines b=
y 80-85% - available from DOE's Argonne National Laboratory

The diesel DeNOx catalyst removes 80-85% of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions =
from diesel fuel combustion by converting NOx to nitrogen. With its lower e=
xpected manufacturing and installation costs, ease of use, and significant =
market potential, the Argonne catalyst is positioned to deliver the environ=
mental-and economical-benefits needed to reduce our global industrial "foot=
print."

Marketing Summary<http://techportal.eere.energy.gov/technology.do/techID=3D=
97>

Some recent examples of established companies and start-ups that have comme=
rcialized Department of Energy technologies are available online<http://ene=
rgy.gov/news/archives/documents/Americas_Next_Top_Energy_Innovator_Fact_She=
et.pdf>.

"Startup America" is an important element of the Administration's national=
innovation strategy. For more information about the steps announced today=
and the more than 15,000 technology opportunities currently available, vis=
it the Department's online Energy Innovation Portal<http://techportal.eere.=
energy.gov/>.

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