Regional Partnerships to Grow Green Technologies

illustration of future building and wind turbines

Small businesses can create major advances in green technologies, according to IIP's Kesh Narayanan.


March 11, 2011

The NSF Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP) will invest up to $2 million in FY 2011 to encourage small businesses to join regional partnerships that promote technology commercialization, new venture formation, job creation, and economic growth. 

Teams of small businesses, institutions of higher education, and/or non-profit organizations may compete in the i6 Green Challenge.  Small businesses that are NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grantees and are part of a winning team may request additional NSF funding.  More information is available at www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/.

"Small businesses can create major technological advances for renewable energy, energy efficiency, green building technology/manufacturing, materials reuse/recycling, and environmental restoration," said Kesh Narayanan, director of IIP.  "With strategic i6 Green Challenge partners and support from the NSF SBIR and STTR programs, their innovations can generate economic growth that benefits entire regions."

The i6 Green Challenge is led by the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce.  Along with the Commerce Department and NSF, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are also participating for a combined investment of up to $12 million.

The innovation competition, a major component of the White House's Startup America initiative, will make awards to projects that promote a green innovation economy through innovative, ground-breaking ideas.  NSF will conduct merit review to recommend winning teams. 

The challenge builds on the success of last year's inaugural i6 Challenge to accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship in the nation.  More information about the i6 Green Challenge is available at www.eda.gov/i6

- Cecile J. Gonzalez, cjgonzalez@nsf.gov -

Media Contacts 
Joshua Chamot, NSF (703) 292-7730, jchamot@nsf.gov
John Atwood, EDA (202) 482-4085, jatwood@eda.doc.gov 
Shira Kramer, DOC (202) 482-4883, skramer@doc.gov

Program Contact
Rathindra DasGupta, NSF (703) 292-8353, rdasgupt@nsf.gov

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