About
Sponsored by the Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) at the US Department of Energy (DOE), the EnergyTech University Prize (EnergyTech UP) is a collegiate competition challenging multidisciplinary student teams to develop and present a business plan that leverages DOE national laboratory-developed and other high-potential energy technologies.
As part of the American-Made Challenges program, EnergyTech UP awards a total of $370,000 in cash prizes to teams that successfully identify an energy technology, assess its market potential, and propose a strategy for commercialization.
This informational webinar will cover:
- How the competition works
- What prizes you could win
- How to find ideas around energy technologies
- How to get started in January 2023
NOTE: Please register if you are interested in EnergyTech UP even if you cannot attend at the scheduled time. A recording and additional information will be sent to all registrants afterward.
Learn more about the competition: https://www.energy.gov/technologytransitions/energytech-university-prize
About the competition
All teams must register by January 26, 2023. Student teams will first compete at the regional level for a share of $45,000. Teams from Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina will present at the virtual South Atlantic regional competition, hosted by the Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster, on February 22, 2023.
First-place regional winners will be provided exclusive mentorship and will have free access to OTT’s Energy I-Corps curriculum to help them refine their ideas throughout March 2023. Regional winners will then pitch their complete business plan at the EnergyTech UP finals, in conjunction with the 2023 Energy Thought Summit conference in Austin, Texas, on April 2, 2023, and compete for a share of $100,000. In addition, eight DOE technology offices are offering up to $25,000 each in bonus prizes for the best teams in their respective fields. The offices include:
- Building Technologies Office
- Geothermal Technologies Office
- Office of Electricity (offering two technology bonus prizes)
- Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management
- Office of Nuclear Energy
- Office of Technology Transitions
- Solar Energy Technologies Office
- Water Power Technologies Office
This challenge is designed to be approachable, equitable, and scalable, allowing students with or without a background in energy or business to successfully compete. Students that choose to participate will receive the resources and guidance needed to contend with schools across the country.