Energy’s Technology Transfer Execution Plan (TTEP) Will Accelerate Technological Commercialization

The recently released Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) Technology Transfer Execution Plan (TTEP) for Fiscal Years 2021 – 2025 outlines the agency’s plan to expedite the transfer of research investments from the development stage to the commercial marketplace.

To achieve this, the Department developed the correlating TTEP Strategic Framework that includes private sector input and market analytics to help shape policies and investment decisions and to improve current commercialization processes. The framework consists of four priority goals, 10 objectives and associated metrics providing the path for the agency to impact the nation’s economic development, climate-related missions, national security and the commercial marketplace. Three cross-cutting approaches undergird plan execution. The OTT will create internal, public, private and academic input to influence policy shaping, performance measures and investment decisions to help fill the gaps in commercialization processes. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits from execution of the plan include:

• Improved support to DOE laboratories through access to data, tools, services and research needed to achieve research security and economic competitiveness goals
• Improved RDD&D transition from prototype stage to demonstration and market commercialization
• Enhanced collaboration and information sharing among government, public, private, academic and commercial entities to guide DOE investments and policy development
• Strengthened researcher and student commercialization skills within the Department
• Improved Performance Evaluation and Management Plans (PEMPS) and evaluation criteria for the National Laboratory contracts
• Increased opportunities via non-traditional procurement methods such as Small Business Innovative Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTRS) programs
• Improved licensing/sublicensing processes and advance technology maturation through increased awareness of and access to Lab resources and sublicensing vetting, tracking and monitoring processes
• Strengthened protection of DOE-funded patented technologies outside the U.S. through analysis, scaling tools and platforms. 

The TTEP capitalizes on work begun through investments from the Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF), the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act. Furthermore, it prioritizes launching the Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation (FESI), an independent non-profit organization to raise and invest funds from the private sector and philanthropic organizations to supplement DOE investments. The Department of Energy also uses Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR), Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. These programs provide more flexibility for research, prototype development and production with STTRs including commercialization as a statutory goal in Phase III.

Since FY 2021, Energy awarded $1.6B in SBIR/STTR contracts, reflecting a 3% increase over the past five years. SBIR awards accounted for 88% of those awards with a 7% increase in Phase I (New) awards and a 1% increase in Phase II awards. Comparatively, STTR Phase I awards dipped by 10% from FY 2019 – FY 2023, but Phase II awards increased by 14% during the same period indicating possible transitions from the concept phase to the prototype stage. Phase III awards for SBIRs and STTRS prioritize commercialization and receive funding from sources outside the SBIR/STTR program. Thus, the chart below does not include Phase III awards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During that time, Energy awarded $2.9B under BIL including 15 federal contracts and 163 grants. According to the TTEP Framework, OTT plans to launch 10 new unique programs and obligate $210M in BIL TCF funding by September 30, 2025. To achieve this, the OTT FY 2025 Budget invests $27.1M to focus on technology transfer and commercialization activities. This includes $10.9M for Technology Transition Programs and lab-to-market activities and $3M for the FESI.

While DOE will disburse the bulk of TTEP funding through grant programs, opportunities still abound for established firms and for small start-up companies seeking entrance into the federal government marketplace. Successful Research Development, Demonstration and Deployment (RDD&D) projects from those programs often lead to additional funding and federal contracts in addition to enriching past performance portfolios and strengthening competitiveness.