Frequently Asked Questions
Innovators must focus on an emerging technology that will advance the development of clean energy, advanced manufacturing, a shared integrated grid, and/or smart buildings. Innovation Crossroads seeks entrepreneurs advancing technologies to overcome complex scientific challenges that require a lengthy development cycle of about two years to reach the pre-commercial prototype stage.
The program is designed for highly qualified, outcome-oriented, technical individuals who have the drive and ability to build a foundational vision and lead a team in technology development. While ideas may evolve, the initial project concept needs to be technically sound, reasonably differentiated, and address a well-framed problem with significant potential for long-term impact. Strong applications will include a sound, complete explanation of the technical background and necessary advancements as well as some evidence that the business opportunity has been considered.
Yes. While you apply to the program and are supported as an individual, having already established a company is common.
ORNL employees may participate in Innovation Crossroads if the following conditions are met:
- Employee must update Part I of his/her ORNL-16 form and meet with the ORNL Office of General Counsel to agree upon a conflict-of-interest mitigation plan before applying to Innovation Crossroads.
- If selected to participate in Innovation Crossroads, employee must take entrepreneurial leave.
- Employee may apply to license ORNL technology after entrepreneurial leave begins.
Explore the ORNL Entrepreneurship Program Quick Guide to learn about application timelines and processes, the importance of early disclosure of entrepreneurship plans, managing conflicts of interest, and creating mitigation plans.
For questions or to discuss your specific situation, please reach out to the ORNL Partnerships Director.
Your application will be reviewed by scientific and industry experts from within and outside of ORNL. Based on summary application information, potential reviewers will be asked to recuse themselves from accessing any application that may pose a potential conflict of interest, and any selected reviewers will commit to not disclosing information outside of the formal selection process. We will not share application materials outside of the review process without your expressed permission. While we encourage you to be as open as possible in your application, we would advise against including any critically sensitive proprietary details. Finally, remember to mark all pages of your application with the footer “Confidential and Proprietary”.
DOE and TVA will provide funding to ORNL to support selected innovators in developing their technology. Additionally, program sponsors will provide an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) fellowship to the selected innovators for the first year with the possibility of renewal, subject to a one-year review, for support of up to two years through this program. ORNL is presently searching for innovators for its eighth cohort. Benefits to selected innovators may include up to 24 months of Innovation Crossroads resources, subject to performance and availability of funding, including:
- A two-year fellowship – Innovators receive a yearly living stipend of $115,000, along with a health insurance stipend and professional development allowance for travel funding, educational training and development, and customer discovery activities.
- World-class lab access and research funding – In addition to unparalleled access to facilities, research tools, equipment, and expertise at ORNL, innovators receive R&D funding to support collaboration opportunities with researchers across the lab.
- Business mentors, entrepreneurial training, and networking – Innovators receive access to experienced business mentors, entrepreneurial training programs, and exclusive networking opportunities. Innovators are also connected to a wide range of leaders from academia, industry, government, and finance that can serve as advisors and partners.
Each innovator will work with a Principal Investigator (PI) at ORNL through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). The innovator and PI will work together to draft a scope of work to be performed by researchers at the laboratory, using the framework set forth by Innovation Crossroads. All CRADAs will be subject to the DOE approval process. During the two-year fellowship, innovators will have access to office and laboratory space to cooperatively engage in research.
No. Innovation Crossroads is a fellowship program that supports people, first and foremost. We have a nonprofit mission to help you find the optimal path for your project to go to market, regardless of the specific business model.
No. Participants are expected to be “all in” and working on their project full time.
Yes. Participation in the program requires innovators to be in close proximity to ORNL and relocate to the Knoxville/Oak Ridge area.
No. Other components and individuals involved in your company can be located anywhere. Just the individual participating in Innovation Crossroads must be willing to be within commuting distance to ORNL.
For answers to additional questions, please email innvcrossrds@ornl.gov.