MEIA focuses on early-stage technology commercialization in partnership with Maryland-based Universities and Labs to support Maryland’s Clean Energy and Climate Goals. MEIA supports solar, wind, batteries, energy efficiency, grid modernization, carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS), and any other technology that reduces greenhouse gas emissions or provides negative emissions benefits in the electric, oil and gas, residential, commercial or industrial sectors. MEIA offers three programs to Maryland-based clean energy and climate technology inventors:  Pre-Accelerator, Launchpad, and Accelerator.

The Visiting Faculty Program (VFP), formerly called Faculty and Student Teams (FaST), is designed to provide an opportunity for faculty members from institutions historically marginalized in STEM to enhance research capabilities and strengthen STEM education and learning practices to develop talent to contribute to the Department of Energy (DOE) research areas. VFP accomplishes this mission in two tracks: (1) VFP Research Collaboration Track and (2) VFP Teaching Initiative Track.

As a component of VFP’s Research Collaboration and Teaching Initiative tracks, selected university/college faculty members collaborate with DOE laboratory research staff on a research project of mutual interest. Additionally, faculty member participants may invite up to two students (one of which may be a graduate student) to join the project in the summer terms.

The Visiting Faculty Program (VFP) is now open for applications for the 2023 Summer Term. Applications are due January 10, 2023 at 5:00 PM ET.

In 2023, the program will focus on three global net-zero challenges and will award the Pioneers prize to innovators with scalable, impactful and equitable solutions to these challenges: accelerating the deployment of clean hydrogen; sustainable metals and materials for an electrified future; building a net-zero food production system.

BNEF will also select one or more wildcard winners, unrelated to the chosen challenges. These wildcard applicants can address any issue that helps the world address climate change and we encourage submissions for all climate-tech solutions that lie outside of the three challenges outlined below.

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed The American Rescue Plan Act, which reauthorized and funded the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). The new version of the SSBCI program provides a combined $10 billion to states, the District of Columbia, territories, and Tribal governments to empower small businesses to access capital needed to invest in job-creating opportunities as the country emerges from the pandemic. The funds will also support recipient jurisdictions in promoting American entrepreneurship and democratizing access to startup capital across the country, including in underserved communities. Interested small businesses should contact their state government to find out how to apply for funding.

The Keeling Curve Prize is looking for projects with a proven track record of taking greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere. We’ve developed five categories, each one addressing a specific sector of climate innovation: Carbon Sinks, Energy, Finance, Social & Cultural Pathways, Transport & Mobility.

Patents protect inventions so that inventors can focus on their work and be compensated for it. But many people don’t know how to navigate the patenting process, or even where to start. That’s why The Inventor’s Patent Academy was created. This free, one-of-a-kind, e-learning course aims to help people understand the patenting process and get them ready to apply for their own patent. It also explores challenges inventors may face along the way—particularly those that typically affect women, people of color, veterans, low-income individuals, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented inventors—and provides advice to overcome them.

The Regional Energy Accelerator for Commercializing Hardtech (REACH) is now accepting applications from energy hardtech startups, entrepreneurs, university faculty, and founders to join the 2023 cohort! Application deadline is November 18th, 2022 and teams will be notified by December 16th.

The Business Accelerator Fund (BAF) is available to participating business accelerators in Michigan’s statewide SmartZone network. These funds are used toward the delivery of specialized services that are not otherwise available from these business accelerators to assist advanced technology companies regardless of the company’s geography. A participating business accelerator will engage a third-party specialist to help advance the client’s path to commercialization, company success, and economic impact for the state of Michigan.

BAF requests are reviewed and awarded through a competitive process. A company may not receive more than $50,000 in BAF services, though most engagements are in the $7,000 to $15,000 range.

Project Enginuity, a National SBIR Accelerator, was designed to accelerate and empower Black, Hispanic, Latino and women innovators led by the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce’s Minority Business Partnership (DACC MBP) in collaboration with the Entrepreneurs’ Center (EC) and support from Chase.

Program participants receive expert training, which supports their application for necessary funding via Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards. Businesses that receive non-dilutive capital from SBIR are able to explore their technological potential, profit from commercialization and build long-term wealth.

The partnership helps to support and accelerate climate tech and clean energy hardware startups in the Greater Midwest. Partners support startups and small businesses via tailored accelerator programs, virtual and in-person events, sector-specific curriculum, mentorship, prototyping resources, and connections with industry.