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§ Grant
Grant program for U.S. entities developing early-stage, disruptive energy technologies, focusing on high-risk, high-reward R&D.
A broad solicitation accepting proposals across all energy technology areas, unlike ARPA-E's topic-specific focused programs.
Awards range from $250,000 to $10 million per project, typically for two to three years.
Domestic startups, universities, and national laboratories. A 5-20% cost-share is required.
OPEN solicitations are issued periodically and announced on ARPA-E's website. They are not on a fixed annual schedule.
OPEN accepts proposals across all energy technology areas rather than focusing on specific technical topics.
The ARPA-E OPEN program is a federal grant initiative administered by the United States Department of Energy to fund high-risk, early-stage disruptive energy technologies. The initiative allocates approximately $150 million per funding cycle to support innovations across energy generation, storage, transportation, and stationary applications. Selected projects receive non-dilutive awards ranging from $250,000 to $10 million over a performance period of up to 36 months, requiring a mandatory five to twenty percent cost share. Past cycles have funded research involving recognizable institutions such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the University of Colorado, and EPFL, with the Vision OPEN 2024 cycle expecting selection notifications by April 2025. This funding resource is intended for domestic startups, universities, national laboratories, and corporate researchers seeking vital capital to develop transformational energy solutions that are too early-stage for private-sector investment.
The ARPA-E OPEN Program is a broad solicitation from the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy that accepts proposals across all energy technology areas. Unlike ARPA-E's focused programs, OPEN solicitations are not limited to specific technical topics, allowing researchers to propose any transformative energy innovation. Awards range from $250,000 to $10 million per project.
Domestic startups, universities, and national laboratories can apply. Applicants must provide a 5% to 20% cost-share depending on organization type. The program specifically seeks proposals that do not fit within ARPA-E's existing focused programs but still represent transformative potential for the U.S. energy landscape.
Selected projects receive $250,000 to $10 million in non-dilutive funding for research and development. ARPA-E assigns dedicated technology program directors to work with funded teams, providing hands-on guidance and connections to potential commercialization partners. Projects typically run two to three years.
OPEN solicitations are announced periodically on ARPA-E's website. The application process typically begins with a concept paper, followed by a full proposal for selected concepts. Review criteria emphasize technical merit, innovation, team qualifications, and potential for transformative impact on the U.S. energy system.
ARPA-E OPEN programs have funded breakthrough innovations across the energy spectrum, from novel solar cell architectures and grid-scale storage to advanced biofuels and nuclear technologies. Many OPEN awardees have gone on to raise significant private capital and bring their technologies to market.