DOE Announces Spring 2026 Energy I-Corps Projects Alongside 2025 Annual Report

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) selected 28 projects to participate in the spring 2026 Energy I-Corps program, which includes the program's twenty-second training cohort. The selected teams represent DOE National Laboratories, plants, and sites and will take part in activities focused on market discovery and commercial adoption.

The spring 2026 participants are supported by ten DOE program offices, representing more than $2.6 million in combined investment. Selected projects align with DOE priorities to further advancements in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, nuclear energy, long duration energy storage, and more. The project selections announcement follows the release of the 2025 Energy I-Corps Annual Report, which marks a decade of program success.

"Energy I-Corps is designed to help researchers evaluate how their technologies align with real market needs," said DOE Chief Commercialization Officer and Director of OTC Anthony Pugliese. "The spring 2026 projects reflect DOE's ongoing commitment to deploying cutting-edge energy solutions that will help restore America's energy dominance."

Energy I-Corps supports teams at different stages of commercialization through three topic areas:

• Topic 1: Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development - Topic 1 invites DOE National Laboratories, plants, and sites to propose programming that encourages their researchers to participate in future Energy I-Corps Topic 2 training cohorts. The six selected projects will provide entrepreneurial training to more than 80 researchers from eight DOE National Laboratories. Programming includes technology assessments, mentorship from past Energy I-Corps participants, and targeted outreach to early-stage innovators. Learn more about Topic 1 selections.
• Topic 2: Hands-On Commercialization Training - Topic 2 teams engage in a rigorous 12-week program designed to help DOE researchers to define technology value propositions, conduct at least 75 stakeholder discovery interviews, and explore viable market pathways for their technologies. Eighteen teams were selected for Cohort 22 and will begin training this spring. Learn more about Topic 2 teams.
• Topic 3: Follow-On Commercialization Support - Topic 3 provides targeted funding to help teams that have completed training move their technologies closer to deployment. Four projects were selected for negotiations of up to $400,000 in follow-on support. Learn more about the Topic 3 projects.

Energy I-Corps has trained over 570 DOE researchers to think like entrepreneurs and align cutting-edge technologies with industry needs. The spring 2026 selections mark another step forward in building a more connected, commercialization-driven DOE research ecosystem. Read more about the program's latest successes in the Energy I-Corps 2025 Annual Report.

About the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Technology Commercialization

The Department of Energy (DOE) is one of the largest champions of technology transfer and commercialization in the federal government. Congress established the Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) to advance this critical mission. By unlocking the tremendous potential within the Department and its 21 National Labs, plants and sites, and catalyzing private sector investment in novel technologies, OTC is driving innovation - and with it, American energy dominance and national security. Visit us at energy.gov/otc to learn more, and subscribe to receive our latest opportunities and accomplishments via email. Follow us on X and LinkedIn.

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