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X Prize Lab Lecture 11 7 11
- 1. COMMUNICATING INNOVATION MIT XPrize Workshop: Energy Innovation Challenges In the Developing World 7 November 2011 G. Nagesh Rao
- 2. GNR’S PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND Starbucks “Coffee Jockey” (’01-’03) RPI Office of Technology Commercialization (’02-’04) Mirzayan S&T Fellow at The National Academies (‘04) US Department of Commerce- USPTO/CLDP/EDA (’04-’11) Startup America NACIE i6 Green Challenge Professional Science Humanitarian IP Program PT-Student OnGreen- Director of Biz-Dev & Govt Policy (’11) Law Business Publicbeat- Board of Advisors (‘11)
- 3. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S PERSPECTIVE High Tech Growth Entrepreneurship Priority of the Obama Administration Public/Private Models (Policy Push) Startup America (PR Umbrella Federal Interagency Push) Prize Incentivization Mechanism (Programmatic Endeavors) Challenge.gov i6 Grant Program ERIC Jobs & Accelerator Program DOE National University Clean Energy Business Plan Competition Humanitarian IP
- 4. USG’s Interest inPrizes Validated policy mechanism Tool in the “toolkit”- Seeds to enable innovative-creative clusters across the US Safe low cost bets (McKinsey Report “And the Winner Is…”: Capturing the Promise of Philanthropic Prizes-2009)
- 5. UNDERLYING MOTIVATING FACTORS PRIDE LOVE MONEY
- 6. THE CHALLENGE Federal Agenciesbalance of priorities White House Policy Congressional Mandated statutory authorities Appropriate key stakeholders? Communication in a level-handed manner FFO (comprehensive yet pithy) Webinars FAQs Ensuring long-term continuity Avoiding political pitfalls and spats
- 7. THE FRAMEWORK What isthe problem? Why are you seeking a solution? Who is the targeted audience and beneficiary? How do you plan to implement this challenge? What obstacles should you keep in mind? What is the end goal?
- 8. DOE National University Clean Energy Business Plan Competition Apply the framework
- 9. Launch: Energy Applythe framework
- 10. Humanitarian IP Applythe framework
- 11. i6 and i6Green Apply the framework Next set of slides showcase an example of USG’s format and style of communicating this innovative endeavor
- 12. Office of Innovationand Entrepreneurship i6 Green Challenge Webinar March 21, 2011
- 13. THE PRESIDENT “…unleashing innovation is an essential component of a comprehensive economic strategy.” -President Barack Obama 13
- 14. THE PARTNERS A new $12M Innovation Competition The i6 Green is designed to promote collaboration by requiring team formation around existing regional infrastructure, technologies and human capital, while allowing the creation of new support networks that showcase the region’s competitive advantages. Proposals should: • Incorporate ideas that address the varying needs of local regions • Outline plans that can be fully implemented within a 2-year timeframe • Be project-ready and fully leverage regional competitive advantages • Demonstrate widespread commitment from impacted communities • Have a significant, positive economic impact on their region 14
- 15. THE PARTNERS i6 Green Challenge • Economic Development Administration will lead the effort by awarding up to $1 million to each 6 six regional teams with the most innovative ideas to drive green technology commercialization and entrepreneurship • Department of Energy: Up to $2 million for energy related investments • Environment Protection Agency: Up to $700k to support technology focusing on public health and environmental protection • National Science Foundation: Conduct external peer review of proposals from each EDA region, with winners eligible for additional NSF funds • U.S. Department of Agriculture: Up to $600k in funding technological research activities to foster green and sustainable technologies 15
- 16. THE CHALLENGE About the Challenge • EDA is funding through Global Climate Change Mitigation Incentive Fund • Created to reward the most innovative ideas that drive green technology commercialization and entrepreneurship • Broad participation encouraged by different stakeholders including universities, entrepreneurs, Small Business Innovation Research grantees, private development organizations, for-profit organizations, state and local governments, etc • Awards made in each of the six EDA regional offices: Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, Seattle • Awards will be made on merit, feasibility and impact 16
- 17. PROOF OF CONCEPTCENTERS Proof of Concept Centers Bridging the Innovation Gap Commercial Research Enterprise/ Industry Catalysts Marketplace Idea exchange Public Outreach Seed Funding Mentoring Educational Programs 17
- 18. WHO CAN APPLY? Applicants Project Partners Any individual or entity* Universities (Including for-profits) committing Entrepreneurs resources including: Financial Capital; Human Capital; Private Infrastructure; etc. Organizations SBIR Grantees Project partnerships will be valued as a significant part of the overall value of the application. Economic Other Development Organizations Organizations *EDA is not authorized to provide grants directly to individuals or for-profit entities. 18
- 19. INNOVATION AREAS Eligible Projects • Renewable Energy: projects that support the development, production, or use of energy derived from renewable resources • Energy Efficiency: projects that support a large-scale reduction in energy production or consumption • Manufacturing: projects that support process innovations that utilize green technology and improve efficiency while reducing pollution • Reuse/Recycling: projects that support the reuse of given products, or produce a new or innovative product from recyclable materials • Green Building: projects that facilitate technological advances, processes, and materials that minimize environmental and public health impacts of buildings over their lifecycles • Restoration: projects that support ecosystem restoration and other activities that protect and revitalize natural and cultural systems 19
- 20. CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS EDA’s i6 Green projects will be evaluated on: • Personnel Qualifications and Resources: Qualified personnel; Education and accomplishment; Previous performance; Quality of partners; Appropriateness of facilities; Access to VC/Angel investors • Impact: Wide regional quantifiable benefits; Enhance infrastructure; Replicability • Long-term: Financial resources to sustain; Self-sustaining • Feasibility: Coherent plan; Sound strategy; Adequate financial resources; Multi-stakeholder commitment; Strong human capital • Concepts: ID Problems/needs; Creative & new models; Understanding regional challenges; Develop a roadmap; Utilize Proof of Concept Center 20
- 21. REVIEW PROCESS 1) RegionalReview 2) Interagency Review Panel • Initial screening for •Panel of Federal employees from completeness and eligibility partner agencies • Initial Merit review •Judging on evaluation criteria listed in • Identify 10 apps per region FFO •Identify top 5 applications per region 3) Merit Review by NSF Peer •NSF external peer review panel 4) Joint Selection Committee Review •Judging on evaluation criteria •Seniorofficials from DOC, EPA, USDA listed in FFO DOE and NSF •Summary and recs to Selection •Review apps & prior recs Committee •Make recs to Selecting Official Selecting Official: Regional Director EDA i6 Challenge Winners 21
- 22. REQUIREMENTS & ADDENDA 1)All Applications Must Submit a Letter of Intent Due May 02, 2011 to i6@eda.doc.gov Such a letter is NOT binding, but IS required, and must contain: • Applicant’s names & affiliations • How funding will be used • Potential team members and/or partners. • Description of budget and scope of work • Outline of plan for increasing commercialization • Description of current funding through EDA, EPA, DOE, USDA/NIFA, and NSF (applicants and co-applicants) 2) Final Application Deadline: May 26, 2011 3) Complete Package downloadable at: www.grants.gov (Funding Opportunity Number: I6GREENEDA031011) 4) Electronic Submission @ Grants.gov only Also See section IV. C. of the FFO 22
- 23. CONTACTS EDA Contacts Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Applicants) Nagesh Rao || nrao@eda.doc.gov || 202.482.1737 Alexander Nicholas|| anicholas@eda.doc.gov || 202.482.6252 Office of Public Affairs (Press) Lindsey Pangretic|| lpangretic@eda.doc.gov || 202.482.2477 Office of External Affairs (State/Local Governments) Ian Martinez|| imartinez@eda.doc.gov || 202.482.3845 23
- 24. CONCLUSION Focus…focus…focus…define your “endgoal” Address all issues Know your audience No question is dumb Keep it pithy Embrace controversy but stay above nonsensical fray Never give up
- 25.
Editor's Notes
- #9 What is the problem: Dearth of truly innovative Clean Energy Business Models Why are you seeking a solution: Help seed innovative and creative solutions towards developing sustainable global energy resources Who is the targeted audience: Students Who is the beneficiary: America and the world How do you plan to implement: Issue an FFO and let the universities compete by putting the best ideas out there What obstacles should you keep in mind: Balancing act between students, faculty, government, and industry interests End Goal: University Lab to Marketplace Commercialization End Goal: Getting students off the benches and into the startup game
- #10 Study this program’s purpose and map out the framework and it’s applicable answers. www.launch.org
- #11 Grant program to be launched by the USPTO soon New, innovative, and unchartered territory Premised on rewarding inventors and organizations that utilize their patented technology towards humanitarian causes What is the problem: Lack of accessibility for IP to be readily utilized in the developing world Why are you seeking a solution: Help the developing world get access to groundbreaking IP protected technologies in an affordable manner Who is the targeted audience: Inventors and MNCs Who is the beneficiary: Developing world How do you plan to implement: Issue an FFO and let people and orgs submit their stories via a simple and short essay describing how your IP protected technology is being utilized to help the developing world. What obstacles should you keep in mind: 1) Strong pushback and institutional barriers from the Old Guard and 2) Facilitating goal alignment between various parties (Industry and NGO’s) End Goal: Encouraging the accessibility of high end technologies into the developing world in a reasonable manner
- #12 Grant challenge from EDA (Started in ’10) i6 $12M (EDA, NSF, & NIH) i6 Green $12M (EDA, NSF, DOE, EPA, USDA, USPTO, & NIST) TNR affined it as USG’s version of the XPrize Public-Private Model Cost-sharing EDA mandate on Prime-Applicant being a Non-profit “ Pin a Rose on your Nose” exclusivity
- #15 i6 Green is designed to accelerate commercialization through the use of proof of Concept centers Remove “the” in front of i6 Green to be consistent. Either i6 Green or i6 green challenge to be consistent
- #16 We need to include the NIST and PTO in-kind services. NSF is putting up 3 million must be included Remove 6 before six
- #17 Awards will be made on concept, feasibility, impact, personnel and resources, long-term growth plan
- #18 Basic research inventions. Innovation is after the product is in the marketplace. Lets go with just research