Funding Opportunity for Emerging Chemical Technologies (US)

Deadline: 01-Dec-26

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is supporting research, development, and pre-pilot testing of innovative technologies that produce chemicals from alternative and waste feedstocks. The Accelerating Scale-up and Pre-piloting of Emerging Chemical Technologies (ASPECT) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) aims to strengthen domestic critical mineral supply chains and advance next-generation energy technology and manufacturing research. The initiative seeks to mobilize abundant alternative feedstock resources in the United States by supporting promising chemical technologies and helping move them toward larger-scale demonstration. The ASPECT NOFO is issued by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI) division.

The initiative aims to:

The estimated total programme funding is $58 million. Individual awards are expected to range from: The final number of awards and funding allocations will depend on the availability of funds and the outcome of the DOE selection process. The NOFO is divided into two main topic areas, each containing two subtopic areas. This structure allows applicants to propose technologies at different stages of research and development. Topic Area 1 supports technologies that are still in the research and development phase. It includes two subtopics. Subtopic 1a supports early-stage research intended to advance promising technologies toward bench scale. Projects can focus on developing and demonstrating the technical foundations needed to move alternative and waste-feedstock technologies toward larger-scale applications. Subtopic 1b supports technologies that have progressed beyond earlier research stages and are ready to move closer to pre-pilot scale. The objective is to advance promising chemical technologies toward larger-scale testing and development. Topic Area 2 is designed for technologies that are ready to transition from research and development toward full pre-pilot scale. Subtopic 2a focuses on preliminary pre-pilot testing of critical unit operations. Projects should address important technical components needed to demonstrate the feasibility of the technology at a larger scale. Subtopic 2b supports the design and construction of integrated pre-pilot facilities. This subtopic is intended for technologies that are sufficiently mature to move toward integrated pre-pilot-scale operations. A central focus of ASPECT is the development of chemical technologies that can utilize alternative and waste feedstocks. The programme seeks to make better use of domestic feedstock resources and support technologies that can contribute to more resilient supply chains. By advancing technologies from research through pre-pilot testing, the initiative aims to help promising solutions move closer to commercial-scale deployment. ASPECT is also intended to contribute to the resilience of U.S. critical mineral supply chains. Supporting technologies that use alternative and waste feedstocks can help expand the range of domestic resources available for chemical and manufacturing processes. The programme therefore connects chemical technology development with broader energy, manufacturing, and domestic supply-chain priorities. The NOFO is open to a broad range of eligible organisations.

Eligible applicants include:

Applicants should review the complete funding opportunity for the full list of eligibility requirements and any organisation-specific conditions. The ASPECT structure is designed to support technologies at different levels of development.

The funding pathway broadly covers:

This allows projects to be aligned with their current technology maturity and development needs. Applicants should clearly demonstrate the technical maturity of their proposed technology and explain how the project will advance it toward the relevant development stage.

A strong proposal should explain:

The ASPECT funding opportunity supports the development of innovative technologies that can turn alternative and waste feedstocks into valuable chemical products. By funding projects across different stages of technology development, DOE aims to bridge the gap between early research and larger-scale pre-pilot testing. The programme can also contribute to stronger domestic supply chains by encouraging the development of technologies that make use of alternative resources and advance next-generation energy and manufacturing capabilities. ASPECT is a U.S. Department of Energy funding opportunity supporting research, development, and pre-pilot testing of chemical technologies that use alternative and waste feedstocks. Individual awards are expected to range from $2 million to $20 million. The programme aims to advance innovative chemical technologies, strengthen domestic critical mineral supply chains, and support next-generation energy technology and manufacturing research. Topic Area 1 focuses on research and development, while Topic Area 2 supports technologies transitioning from R&D toward full pre-pilot scale. Subtopic 1a supports early-stage research intended to advance technologies toward bench scale. Subtopic 1b supports projects moving technologies closer to pre-pilot scale. Eligible applicants include for-profit organisations other than small businesses, small businesses, nonprofits, higher education institutions, local and state governments, tribal governments and organisations, public housing authorities, independent school districts, and other entities identified in the full NOFO. The programme focuses on alternative and waste feedstocks that can be used in innovative chemical technologies. The programme aims to mobilize domestic alternative feedstock resources and advance technologies that can strengthen U.S. critical mineral supply chains and next-generation manufacturing. The ASPECT funding opportunity provides an estimated $58 million to advance innovative chemical technologies that use alternative and waste feedstocks, with individual awar