DOE's New 'America's Next Top Energy Innovator' Program Challenges Entrepreneurs to Commercialize Technologies Developed by National Laboratories

As part of the Obama Administration's Startup America Initiative, U.S. Department of Energy [DOE] Secretary Steven Chu [pictured] today announced the "America's Next Top Energy Innovator" challenge, which will give startup companies the opportunity to license groundbreaking technologies developed by the National Laboratories for $1,000 and build successful businesses.

As part of this effort, DOE is reducing both the cost and paperwork requirements for startup companies to obtain an option agreement to license some of the 15,000 patents and patent applications held by its 17 National Laboratories.

"America's entrepreneurs and innovators are the best in the world," said Secretary Chu. "Today, we're challenging them to create new businesses based on discoveries made by our world-leading National Laboratories.

"Because we've cut the upfront fees and reduced the paperwork, we'll make it easier for startup companies to succeed and create the new jobs our economy needs. Our goal is simple: unleash America's innovation machine and win the global race for the clean-energy jobs of the future."

Currently, only about 10 percent of federal patents have been licensed to be commercialized. This initiative aims to double the number of startup companies coming out of the National Laboratories.

Specifically, as part of "America's Next Top Energy Innovator":

1. On Monday, May 2, 2011, DOE will kick off the challenge by posting a streamlined template option agreement online for entrepreneurs to submit to Laboratories. Entrepreneurs must identify the technology of interest and submit a business plan to be considered for the program. Participants will have until Dec. 15 to make their submission to the Laboratory.

2. Any of the 15,000 unlicensed patents and patent applications held by the National Laboratories will be available for licensing by startup companies

3. From May 2 to Dec. 15, the Department will reduce the total upfront cost of licensing DOE patents in a specific technology to a $1,000 upfront fee for portfolios of up to three patents. This represents a savings of $10,000 to $50,000 on average in upfront fees.

4. Other license terms, such as equity and royalties, will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis, and will typically be due once the company grows and achieves wide-scale commercial success. These fees help support DOE's continuing research activities to develop new technologies.

5. DOE will simplify the licensing process and establish a standard set of terms for startups, who generally lack the resources, time or expertise to negotiate individual licensing agreements. This will significantly reduce both the time and cost required to process the license, allowing faster access to the Department's patents and enabling DOE to process more licenses in a shorter amount of time.

6. Entrepreneurs who complete the process and demonstrate progress toward executing their business plan and commercializing the technology will have the opportunity to be showcased at the 3rd Annual ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit in 2012, which brings together leading technology startups and clean-energy investors from around the country.

In addition to these steps, DOE is making it easier for companies to use the world-leading facilities at its National Laboratories to conduct collaborative research-and-development activities.

Previously, companies had to make an upfront payment covering the first 90 days of research work -- a requirement that was often difficult for start-ups to meet. Today, DOE is lowering the advance payment requirement to 60 days. This change will benefit all companies -- not just startups -- but could be valuable for those participating in the "America's Next Top Energy Innovator" challenge.

Entrepreneurs interested in participating can already view the available technologies on DOE's Energy Innovation Portal.

Some of the promising innovations currently available for licensing and featured on the portal include:

* Solar Energy Storage, Transportation and Conversion -- available from DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a system for converting solar energy to chemical energy and, subsequently, to thermal energy. The system includes a light-harvesting station, a storage station, and a thermal energy release station that enables transportation of stored energy over long distances. Here's the marketing summary.

* Grid-Friendly Appliance Controller -- available from DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The Grid-Friendly Appliance Controller senses grid conditions by monitoring system frequency and provides automatic demand response in times of disruption. This simple computer chip can be installed in household appliances and can turn them off for a few minutes or even a few seconds to allow the grid to stabilize and prevent blackouts. Interested? Read the marketing summary.

* Growth of Lattice Matched III-V Semiconductor Materials -- available from DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory [NREL]. High-performance semiconductor materials have a broad range of potential applications -- including high-efficiency solar cells, solid-state lighting, and high-speed transistors. This portfolio allows for the use of low-cost, scalable, and reusable substrates to dramatically reduce production costs for these materials. Click here for the marketing summary.

* New Catalyst Can Reduce Nitrogen Oxide Emissions From Diesel Engines by 80-85% -- available from DOE's Argonne National Laboratory. The diesel DeNOx catalyst removes 80-85% of nitrogen oxide [NOx] emissions from diesel fuel combustion by converting NOx to nitrogen. With its lower expected manufacturing and installation costs, ease of use, and significant market potential, the Argonne catalyst is positioned to deliver the environmental and economical benefits needed to reduce our global industrial "footprint." Here's the technology marketing summary.

Read some recent examples [PDF - 162 kb] of established companies and startups that have commercialized DOE technologies.

Startup America is an important element of the Obama Administration's national innovation strategy. For more information about the steps announced today, plus the 15,000-plus technology opportunities currently available, visit DOE's Energy Innovation Portal.

GoodBiz113's Take
This new Department of Energy program has significant potential for propelling entrepreneurship and innovation, creating jobs, and realizing the Obama Administration's aims to promote clean energy and energy independence. America's current and would-be entrepreneurs -- and all its citizens, for that matter -- are fortunate to have someone as smart, creative and enterprising as Steven Chu at DOE's helm.

SOURCES: U.S. Department of Energy, The White House
____________________

HostGator.com: Green Web Hosting Made EASY and AFFORDABLE. ^AF

Bipartisan Landrieu-Cochran-Wicker Legislation Gives Disaster Relief to Hard-Hit Gulf Coast Small Businesses

Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Mary L. Landrieu [D-La., pictured] -- along with Sens. Thad Cochran [R-Miss.] and Roger Wicker [R-Miss.] -- just introduced a bill that provides financial relief to as many as 11,000 businesses in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas.

These small businesses are still rebuilding after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike. With this bipartisan legislation, they have the potential to create or save up to 40,000 jobs.

"The small businesses in these hard-hit areas have not survived just one disaster, but three: Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005; Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008; and, last year, the Deepwater Horizon [oil spill] disaster," said Sen. Landrieu. "These valuable, pioneer businesses took the initiative to quickly reopen after the storms, and gave communities the confidence to come home. If residents see their local gas station or their favorite restaurant open, they are more likely to come back to rebuild their homes -- spurring economic growth in these devastated areas.

"As we approach the sixth anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we must ensure that these pioneers can make it past this anniversary. This legislation will help these businesses not just survive, but grow and hire workers."

"The economic recovery, both on the Gulf Coast and nationally, has been stubbornly slow," said Cochran. "Easing the federal loan burden on small businesses that quickly rebuilt after successive hurricanes should help with job creation. I support this legislation as a worthwhile tool to continue rejuvenating the economy of Southern Mississippi and the Gulf Coast region."

"Gulf Coast small businesses and entrepreneurs continue to recover from Hurricane Katrina and the devastation caused by last year’s oil spill," said Wicker. "Economic opportunities created by this legislation would provide an important boost at a critical time for the entire region."

The Southeast Hurricanes Small Business Disaster Relief Act of 2011 would give the Small Business Administration [SBA] the authority to waive up to $15,000 of the interest payments for businesses in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas over three years. The SBA is required to give priority to applications with the following credentials:

* Businesses with 50 employees or fewer;

* Businesses affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, that reopened between September 2005 and October 2006;

* Businesses affected by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, that reopened between September 2008 and January 2009; and/or

* Businesses that suffered substantial economic injury from the Deepwater Horizon disaster

Representative Cedric Richmond [D-La.] will be introducing the House companion bill. Last Congress, a similar proposal received support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the New York Times, the Times Picayune, and other Gulf Coast groups.

Applications for the program would not be accepted after March 31, 2012.

GoodBiz113's Take
Once again, Sen. Landrieu is leading an impressive bipartisan initiative to serve the far-reaching interests of small businesses. Entrepreneurs of all political stripes are fortunate that she's doing so.

Hopefully, Congress will act swiftly to pass the Senate and House versions of this legislation, so that Gulf Coast small-business owners can focus on growing their enterprises -- and the U.S. economy.

SOURCES: U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Wikipedia
____________________

New Waterproofing Guide Helps You Protect Your Home Office From Flooding Damage ^AF

Happy 100th Birthday, Tennessee Williams!

Today marks the 100th birthday of Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Tennessee Williams. Born on March 26, 1911, Williams' prolific career spanned more than 50 years before his death at age 71 on Feb. 25, 1983.

To celebrate Williams' life and work, we've borrowed a piece from GoodBiz113 profilee George Rodrigue ["Louisiana Artist Brings Post-Katrina [Blue Dog] Relief to New Orleans"]. Rodrigue's Thinking About Blanche [pictured above] was the poster for the 2006 Tennessee Williams Festival, in New Orleans.

For a compelling Southern perspective on Williams' influence, visit "Musings of an Artist's Wife," Wendy Rodrigue's blog: http://bit.ly/Tennessee100.

Oh, and to catch up on the latest developments regarding the dynamic George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts: Youth Development Through Art in Education, go to: http://bit.ly/RodrigueFoundation.

SOURCES: Musings of an Artist's Wife, Rodrigue Studio, Wikipedia
____________________

The Art of George Rodrigue ^AF