MassCEC and MTTC Announce Funding Avaliable for Early-Stage Innovations

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center (MTTC) have launched the ninth solicitation for the MassCEC Catalyst Program, which is aimed at commercializing the game-changing clean energy technologies coming out of Massachusetts’ world-class research institutions.

“These grants support Massachusetts clean energy innovations and help to expand the Commonwealth’s growing clean energy sector, which boasts 80,000 workers and 5,500 firms across the state,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan.

“We’re proud work with the MTTC to help clean energy innovators take their ideas from the research lab into the global marketplace,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton.

The MassCEC Catalyst Program, which is funded by MassCEC and managed by MTTC, awards early-stage researchers grant awards up to $40,000 to help demonstrate the commercial viability of their clean energy technology.

“The funding provided through MassCEC’s Catalyst program really helps entrepreneurs at very early stage companies and researchers at Massachusetts universities show the commercial viability of their technologies” said MTTC Director Abi Barrow. “We’re pleased to help distribute these grant awards to move these projects forward.”

Recipients must use funding for projects that move their technologies towards commercialization. This includes gathering initial data to demonstrate proof of concept, how the technology compares to existing technologies and competitive advantages of the technology or to develop a prototype for the technology. The goal of the MassCEC Catalyst Program is to help technologies progress along the development curve to a point where additional commercialization funding can be obtained.

To be eligible for an award, a researcher must be a principal investigator at a Massachusetts-based nonprofit research institution; or a Massachusetts-based early stage clean energy company with four or fewer employees and no more than $1,000,000 in combined equity financing and grant funding.

The first deadline for applicants is March 31, 2014. Application directions are available at: http://www.mattcenter.org/events/grants-home.html

For more information, contact Michele Bernier at the MTTC at mbernier@umassp.edu or 617-287-4088.