Small Businesses Receive $126M in Energy Department Research and Development Grants

The Department of Energy has awarded 106 research and development grants worth a combined $126 million to 90 small businesses undertaking clean energy, cybersecurity, fusion energy and nuclear nonproliferation projects.

In a press release, the department said small businesses play a key role in efforts to decarbonize, ensure national security and achieve President Joe Biden’s climate targets. Such companies make up half of the United States’ commercial workforce.

The Energy Department explained that its small business innovation research and technology transfer contracts facilitate the transformation of sponsored scientific breakthroughs into commercial products and services.

The department awarded phase two research and development contracts to projects that demonstrated feasibility during phase one or are continuations of phase two prototype efforts. The median phase two award has a two-year period and is worth $1.1 million, the Energy Department said Friday.

Participating department agencies include the National Nuclear Security Administration; the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response; and the Office of Science.

In July, the Energy Department awarded $72 million in phase one SBIR and STTR grants to fund similar clean energy, cybersecurity and nuclear projects.