The Energy Department today announced the opening of the application periods for six regional competitions that are part of the 2014 U.S. Department of Energy National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition. The competition aims to inspires university teams and promote entrepreneurship in clean energy technologies that will boost American competitiveness, bring cutting-edge clean energy solutions to the market, and strengthen our economic prosperity.
The National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition challenges university teams from across the country to create new businesses and commercialize promising energy technologies developed at U.S. universities and the national laboratories. Finalists from the regional contests announced today will be invited to compete in the third annual national competition this spring in Washington, D.C. At the national competition, finalists will compete for cash prizes as well as unique technical, design, public relations, and legal assistance to help commercialize their technology.
The six regional competitions announced today include:
* Western Southwest Region (deadline: Feb. 21, 2014) - Rice Business Plan Competition run by Rice University
* Southeastern Region (deadline: Feb. 14, 2014) - ACC Clean Energy Challenge run by University of Maryland
* Eastern Midwest Region (deadline: varies by state, check the Clean Energy Student Challenge website for more information) - Clean Energy Trust Clean Energy Challenge run by Clean Energy Trust
* Western Midwest Region (deadline: Feb. 24, 2014) - CU Cleantech New Ventures Challenge run by University of Colorado-Boulder
* Northeast Region (deadline: Feb. 28, 2014) - MIT Clean Energy Prize run by Massachusetts Institute of Technology
* Western Region (deadline: March 4, 2014) - First Look West run by California Institute of Technology
The National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition, now in its third year, is part of the Obama Administration's Startup America initiative to celebrate, inspire, and accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship throughout the nation. Participants in the first two years of the competition have raised almost $19 million in follow-on funding, launched 55 startups, and created more than 89 full-time jobs.
The Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy accelerates development and facilitates deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and market-based solutions that strengthen U.S. energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality. Learn more about how the Energy Department is fostering innovation and business creation through the National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
