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The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Technology Transitions recently launched the second round of the American-Made EnergyTech University Prize (EnergyTech UP). EnergyTech UP is a collegiate competition challenging multidisciplinary student teams to develop and present a business plan that leverages high-potential energy technologies, including those developed at national laboratories and universities. This innovative prize asks student teams to identify an energy technology, assess its market potential, and develop a strategy for commercialization.
Student teams will have the opportunity to compete for a total of $370,000 in cash prizes as they present their plans to a panel of industry judges.
Teams will first compete at the regional level, and the top teams will move on to compete with other regional winners from across the nation. Technology Bonus Prizes are also offered by eight DOE technology offices for the best proposals in their respective fields. In addition to the cash prizes, teams invited to the regional events will receive free access to the Office of Technology Transition’s Energy I-Corps curriculum, and regional winners will be provided with exclusive mentorship before competing in the final round of the competition at the Zpryme Energy Thought Summit.
SyracuseCoE was selected as one of 15 EnergyTech UP Regional Convening Partners, hosting the Regional Explore Event in collaboration with NYSERDA and CenterState CEO’s Clean Tech Center after a successful virtual event last year. In 2022, the regional winning team from the University of Connecticut went on to compete in the final phase of the competition with their “Smart i-Floor” proposal, which consisted of integrated, durable floor tiles with the ability to sense information and harvest energy from footsteps. Additionally, a student team from SUNY Binghamton was awarded the Technology Bonus Prize from the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management for their carbon negative cement replacement, Pantheon. This team has since seen great success in commercializing their technology as Klaw Industries. Klaw Industries has recently joined SyracuseCoE’s Partner Program and continues to develop sustainable materials solutions for the concrete and recycling industries.
The EnergyTech UP competition offers students the opportunity to build their leadership and entrepreneurial skills, while providing exposure to all of the innovative energy technologies waiting to be commercialized. Prize administrators held an informational webinar on October 26 to share details about the $370,000 available to students, inspire ideas around energy technologies, and answer questions from potential participants.
Any interested students or faculty are encouraged to start following EnergyTech UP to stay up to date on submission deadlines, requirements, prize rules, and more.