In an effort to catalyze growth in our nation's clean technology sector, The Department of Energy has announced a program within President Obama's "Startup America Initiative"to reduce costs associated with licensing/commercializing patents held by national laboratories. The program, entitled "America's Next Top Energy Innovator", allows for start-up companies to license technologies developed by any of our nation's national laboratories for only $1,000, representing upfront savings ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. With only 10% of the 15,000 technologies currently licensed, the program has the potential to spur immense growth in the clean energy, transportation, and construction sectors of our economy. In addition to reducing licensing costs, the program reduces the cost associated with private companies conducting collaborative research and development at our nation's 17 national laboratories.
The Program runs from May 2nd to December 15th, 2011.
For more information on the program visit http://www.energy.gov/news/10202.htm.
To access the technologies available for commercialization visit http://techportal.eere.energy.gov/.
