Energy I-Corps

Discovering Market Pathways for National Lab Research

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invests millions of dollars every year in the U.S. national labs, yet without industry engagement and a business mindset at the labs, that investment has limited economic return.

Energy I-Corps pairs teams of researchers with industry mentors for an intensive two-month training where the researchers define technology value propositions, conduct customer discovery interviews, and develop viable market pathways for their technologies. Researchers return to the lab with a framework for industry engagement to guide future research and inform a culture of market awareness within the labs. In this way, Energy I-Corps is ensuring our investment in the national labs is maintaining and strengthening U.S. competitiveness long-term.

Energy I-Corps By the Numbers

Energy I-Corps on Energy.gov (opens in a new window)
Since 2015, 63 teams from 10 National Laboratories worked with 70 industry mentors to discover the commercial impact of their technologies. More than 4,500 customer discovery interviews have been conducted. Technologies have reached a point of commercial viability attracting nearly $10M in follow-on funding.
A competition winner is given a certificate in a presentation room at the INL facility.

Researchers Compete in Pitch Competition

Idaho National Laboratory researchers got a taste of what it’s like to be in the “shark tank.” Full article on INL.gov. 

Graduates Reflect on Energy I-Corps Program

The Value of the Energy I-Corps Program

Popup Test