Open Voucher Call
A new kind of opportunity created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Technology Transitions and the Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF)—the TCF Open Voucher Call—will provide the public with opportunities to receive technical assistance from researchers at DOE National Laboratory facilities.
The $2.1 million TCF Open Voucher Call will help facilitate the commercialization of scientific discoveries by helping to identify pathways by which technological breakthroughs can make their way to market. Although a variety of technologies will be considered, applicants are encouraged to leverage the capabilities and initiatives of National Laboratories when developing their ideas so they can further develop their technology alongside the National Lab.
Successful applicants will receive vouchers—valid for testing and validation, use of specialized equipment or software, simulation or modeling, consulting, or various other requests from a National Laboratory—which will ultimately allow them to advance their technologies. In this way, the call will foster a culture of curiosity and collaboration while bridging the gap between scientific expertise and public engagement.
Through the TCF Open Voucher Call, DOE hopes to inspire a new generation of researchers and instill a sense of shared responsibility for advancing knowledge and innovation within the scientific community.
Open Voucher Call Structure
This single-phase open voucher call will award up to 21 teams a voucher of up to $100,000 to be redeemed at one of these eight national laboratories:
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Sandia National Laboratories
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Ames National Laboratory
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Argonne National Laboratory
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
See the National Laboratories Capabilities section of the Official Rules for more information on the types of technologies each laboratory is able to assist with or explore the Lab Partnering Service for further information.
For each voucher awarded, winning teams will be required to provide a minimum cost share of $25,000 (either cash or in-kind). Teams will have one year to work with one national laboratory of their choice and provide a progress report at the conclusion of their work.
Important Dates
- Submissions Open: May 23, 2024
- Submissions Due: October 3, 2024
- Team Selection Announcement: November 2024 (anticipated)
- Teams Co-develop Statement of Work With National Laboratory: November 2024 (anticipated)
- Teams Finalize Contracting With National Laboratory: January 2025 (anticipated)
- Work to Begin on Selected Vouchers: February/March 2025 (anticipated)
All dates are subject to change. View the complete prize timeline on HeroX.
Who Can Participate?
The TCF Open Voucher Call is open only to private entities (for-profits and nonprofits); non-federal government entities such as states, counties, tribes, and municipalities; academic and research institutions; and individuals, subject to the requirements detailed in the official TCF Open Voucher Call rules.
Solutions That Help Shape the Future
Are you an entrepreneur with a great idea for commercializing a technology? The TCF Open Voucher Call could offer you the chance to get technical assistance from a National Laboratory to bring your ideas to market.
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