"If It Works, Will It Matter" Dr. Ryan Umstattd

The foundational question above is asked and then answered by our program directors before they launch any new focused initiative at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E). It’s simply not good enough to perform groundbreaking applied research if we haven’t also developed a credible path toward the commercial market for our technologies.  While the university research construct is not specifically geared toward placing products in the broad commercial marketplace, many lessons learned from asking that foundational question remain valuable in preparing for and conducting applied research in a university setting.  In this presentation, we'll explore the ARPA-E model for identifying, funding, and managing transformative energy technology research and development.  Learn how this particular federal funding agency partners with universities (and others) to help move energy innovations from the lab towards the market.