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.

About the ASPECT Funding Opportunity

The ASPECT NOFO is issued by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI) division.

The initiative aims to:

- Strengthen domestic critical mineral supply chains. - Advance next-generation chemical technologies. - Support research and development using alternative feedstocks. - Promote the use of waste feedstocks. - Advance promising technologies toward pre-pilot scale. - Support energy technology and manufacturing innovation. - Accelerate the development of technologies with domestic supply-chain potential. How Much Funding Is Available? The estimated total programme funding is $58 million. Individual awards are expected to range from:

- Minimum award: $2 million.

- Maximum award: $20 million.

The final number of awards and funding allocations will depend on the availability of funds and the outcome of the DOE selection process. ASPECT Topic Areas 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: Research and Development

Topic Area 1 supports technologies that are still in the research and development phase. It includes two subtopics.

Subtopic 1a: Early-Stage Research to Bench Scale

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: Advancing Toward Pre-Pilot Scale

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: Transition to Full Pre-Pilot Scale

Topic Area 2 is designed for technologies that are ready to transition from research and development toward full pre-pilot scale. It includes two subtopics.

Subtopic 2a: Preliminary Pre-Pilot Testing

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: Integrated Pre-Pilot Facilities

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. Alternative and Waste Feedstocks 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. Critical Mineral Supply Chains 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. Who Can Apply? The NOFO is open to a broad range of eligible organisations.

Eligible applicants include:

- For-profit organisations other than small businesses. - Small businesses. - Nonprofit organisations. - Higher education institutions. - Local governments. - State governments. - Tribal governments and organisations. - Public housing authorities. - Independent school districts. - Other eligible entities specified in the full NOFO. Applicants should review the complete funding opportunity for the full list of eligibility requirements and any organisation-specific conditions. Technology Development Pathway The ASPECT structure is designed to support technologies at different levels of development.

The funding pathway broadly covers:

- Early-stage research. - Advancement to bench scale. - Progression toward pre-pilot scale. - Testing of critical unit operations. - Design and construction of integrated pre-pilot facilities. This allows projects to be aligned with their current technology maturity and development needs. How to Prepare a Strong Proposal 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 chemical technology being developed. - The alternative or waste feedstock being used. - The technical challenge being addressed. - The current stage of technology development. - The proposed research and development activities. - How the project fits within the relevant ASPECT topic and subtopic. - The expected advancement toward bench or pre-pilot scale. - The potential contribution to domestic supply chains. - The project’s relevance to critical minerals, energy technology, or manufacturing. - The organisation’s ability to conduct the proposed work. Why th