i6 Green Challenge Promotes Clean Energy Innovation and Economic Growth

On March 10th, 2011 the Obama Administration announced a $12 million, multi-agency sponsored, technology innovation challenge. Awards from the funding will be distributed to six teams in the U.S. with the most innovative ideas to drive technology commercialization and entrepreneurship. This “i6 Green Challenge” program is part of a plan to grow a green economy of new jobs through innovation.
Joining together to support the initiative are the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) and its Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, and Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
“Investments in small business innovation through the i6 Green Challenge will play an important role in strengthening U.S. competitiveness and supporting economic development and job growth around the country. These centers will help companies test their innovations, a critical step in commercializing next generation clean energy technologies,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu.
Proof of Concept Centers is the primary focus of this years i6 Green Challenge. These centers will be required to demonstrate innovation in renewable energy, energy efficiency, or green building technology. This year’s i6 Green Challenge is a follow-up to last year’s inaugural i6 Challenge which was designed to accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship in the country.
“The $12 million i6 Green Challenge is an important component of President Obama’s Startup America initiative to promote American innovation and win the future,” said U.S. Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra. “The multi-agency competition builds on the success of last year’s initiative by encouraging Proof of Concept Centers and promoting green growth to increase our nation’s competitiveness and accelerate the economic recovery.”