Help Solve the Critical Challenges of Our Time

Application Timeline

Applications for Cohort 9 are now closed.

Applications for Cohort 10 will open in fall 2025. You may submit pre-registration request to be notified when applications open.

Application Courtesy PDF 

You may use this PDF to preview and fill in your answers to the Cohort 9 application. This template mimics our online application and is provided as a courtesy so you can preview the information we require, take time to answer the questions, and gather the supplemental information.

You MUST use the online portal, which opens September 4th, to submit an application for Cohort 9. You may wish to cut and paste your text from the courtesy PDF into the application portal once you are happy with your answers.

Note: Only applications submitted through CRI’s online portal will be considered. Any PDF that is submitted via e-mail will not be reviewed.

Online Application Portal

Please visit our online portal to submit your application. APPLICATION LINK

Program Highlights

• Fellowship stipend of $115k per year for two years plus healthcare benefits
• Non-dilutive funding for de-risking technological innovations
• Connection to technical experts, facilities, and the unique capabilities at Argonne National Laboratory
• Networking with business experts, investors, mentors, and corporate partners
• Neither Argonne nor DOE take an equity stake

As noted above, neither the U.S. Department of Energy, Argonne nor its employees take equity in CRI startups. Argonne operates as a steward of federal funds and takes seriously any actual or perceived conflicts of interest.

Informational Webinars – Registration

If you’d like to learn more about the fellowship, plan to attend one (or more) CRI info webinars. You’ll get information about the application process and be able to ask us your specific questions.

• Thursday, September 19^th, 3 p.m. CST, CRI Application Overview and Q&A Recording and PowerPoint Presentation
• Thursday, October 10^th, 9 a.m. CST, Meet CRI Innovators and Q&A Recording and PowerPoint Presentation
• Wednesday, November 6^th, 10 a.m. CDT, CRI Application Overview and Q&A Recording and PowerPoint Presentation

CRI staff will also host Zoom drop-in office hours every Friday beginning September 20th from 1-2 p.m. Central ending Friday, November 8th.

Learn more about CRI.

Do You Qualify?

Technology areas that the U.S. Department of Energy will consider for funding:

• Advanced materials​
• Improving manufacturing efficiency​
• Industrial decarbonization​
• Lowering building carbon and energy footprints​
• Solar energy​
• Offshore, land-based and distributed wind energy​
• Supply chains supporting wind energy​
• Social and environmental impacts of wind energy​
• Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies​
• Quantum computing​
• Energy storage – electric grid​
• Innovative grid sensing and data analytics technologies​
• Circularity (Re-X pathways; circular economy)​
• Food, water, energy nexus​
• Carbon dioxide removal (CDR)​
• Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS)​
• Other as determined by the DOE

Preferred applicants should be technical founders with hands-on laboratory experience developing a technology innovation that is early-stage.

Note: applicants must be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent U.S. resident at the time they submit an application.

Know someone who would be perfect for our program? Nominate them here! Read the FAQs to learn more about the program and process.

Can your clean energy technology help solve climate change?

It takes a special type of innovator to tackle the world’s greatest challenges in clean energy. And it takes a special type of program to help that innovator succeed.

Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI) wants to ensure innovators who are pursuing transformational technologies thrive by offering an unparalleled level of support that bridges the chasm between the creation of an idea and its readiness for the marketplace.

CRI is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP). Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm talks about the value LEEP provides to early-stage cleantech startups.

CRI provides this support system for the best and brightest innovators. Learn about the fellowship benefits.

CRI accepts applications for its two-year fellowship primarily in cleantech areas that leverage the vast resources and specialty focus areas at Argonne.