Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI), a Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP) at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, will begin accepting applications for Cohort 2025 on September 4^th, the program’s ninth group of early-stage startups. Innovators with emerging science and energy technologies are encouraged to apply.

CRI embeds early-stage clean and renewable energy startup founders at Argonne, supporting the next generation of innovators who receive technical support and mentorship through a fellowship that offers salary, benefits, funds for research, and a travel stipend.

A new cohort is selected each year through an annual call for applications. This year, the application period opens on September 4^th and closes at 5 p.m. CDT, Nov. 8^th, 2024. Those chosen for Cohort 2025 will begin work at Argonne in summer 2025. Any individual interested in developing a technology in the preferred areas is encouraged to apply.

“CRI opens Argonne’s doors to innovative ideas. By embedding early-stage startups, we foster collaboration that supports commercialization of technologies that address national sustainability, prosperity, and equity. CRI’s programming and our cohort model are additional ways we support emerging technologies to scale up and commercialize more quickly,” said Dick Co, CRI’s director.

Register – Informational Webinars

CRI will host three informational webinars for interested applicants to learn specifics about the program and application guidelines. The October 10^th webinar will feature CRI startups who talk about their experiences and answer questions.

• Thursday, September 19^th, 3 p.m. CST, CRI Application Overview and Q&A – REGISTER
• Thursday, October 10^th, 9 a.m. CST, Meet CRI Innovators and Q&A – REGISTER
• Tuesday, November 5^th, 10 a.m. CDT, CRI Application Overview and Q&A – REGISTER

CRI staff will also host Zoom drop-in office hours every Friday beginning September 6th from 1-2 p.m. Central ending Friday, November 8th.

Cohort 2025 Fellowships

• 2-year fellowship including a $115k per year stipend
• $12,000 per year travel allowance and health care benefits
• Funding to de-risk technological innovations
• Access to technical experts, facilities and unique capabilities at Argonne National Laboratory
• Networking and training access to business experts, investors, mentors, & corporate partners
• Neither DOE nor Argonne take an equity stake

About CRI

Through a yearly competitive process, CRI awards two-year fellowships to innovators who focus on science and emerging energy technologies. CRI’s mission is to open Argonne’s door to deliver on our promise of a sustainable, prosperous, and equitable world—one innovator, one startup at a time.

CRI is supported by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office, Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office, Building Technologies Office; DOE’s Office of Science, Advanced Scientific Computing Research, Basic Energy Sciences; DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management; and by Argonne.