Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy

Unlocking New Levels of Output and Capacity for Key Subsurface Resources SBIR/STTR (UNLOCK SBIR/STTR)

The UNLOCK SBIR/STTR program, administered by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) under the Department of Energy, is a financial assistance opportunity designed to achieve a step-change improvement in the extraction of energy and critical subsurface resources. The program targets the development of transformative, disruptive technologies to overcome geological and technical obstacles in low-permeability formations, specifically focusing on oil, natural gas, and geothermal energy systems. Key technical challenges addressed include improving fracture conductivity, enhancing recovery rates, optimizing water management, and advancing far-field characterization and sensing. The program is structured in two phases, each lasting approximately 18 months, moving from laboratory validation in Phase I to realistic well-scale field testing in Phase II, with advancement contingent upon ARPA-E's discretion. The solicitation is open to small business concerns and is managed through a multi-stage application process involving Concept Papers and Full Applications submitted via the DOE eXCHANGE portal. Evaluation is based on the impact of the proposed technology, scientific and technical merit, team qualifications, and the soundness of the management plan, while also considering program policy factors such as portfolio balance and U.S. economic benefit. Total program funding is 45 million dollars, with an expected 12 awards. Awardees may receive a fee or profit not exceeding 7 percent of the total project cost. The anticipated period of performance spans from July 2027 to July 2030, with a focus on high-risk, high-reward research that creates fundamentally new learning curves for subsurface resource extraction.

Department Of Energy$45M per award

NAICS

541715

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)

Posted Oct 21, 2026

24d left

GrantNEW1

Unlocking New Levels of Output and Capacity for Key Subsurface Resources (UNLOCK)

The Unlocking New Levels of Output and Capacity for Key Subsurface Resources (UNLOCK) program, issued by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) under solicitation DE-FOA-0003630, seeks fundamentally disruptive technologies to improve the extraction of energy and critical resources from low-permeability subsurface environments. The program targets a step-change improvement, specifically aiming to double per-well recovery efficiency for resources including oil, natural gas, geothermal energy, and mineral systems. The initiative focuses on overcoming technical hurdles such as low matrix permeability, inefficient resource mobility, and poor fracture conductivity. Total program funding is 45 million dollars, with an expected 12 awards ranging from 3 million to 5 million dollars each. The anticipated period of performance runs from July 2027 to July 2030, structured into two 18-month phases: Laboratory Validation and Field Testing. Advancement to the second phase is at the sole discretion of ARPA-E based on the success of laboratory experiments. Applicants must submit materials through the DOE eXCHANGE portal, beginning with a Concept Paper due November 20, 2026. Evaluation is based on a mix of quantitative and qualitative criteria, including technical merit and program policy factors such as portfolio balance, U.S. economic benefit, and alignment with presidential policy priorities. Funding may be granted via cooperative agreements, other transaction authority, or specific funding agreements for federal entities.

Department Of Energy$45M per award

NAICS

541715

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)

Posted Oct 21, 2026

24d left

Grant14

Inspiring Generations of New Innovators to Impact Technologies in Energy 2026 (IGNIITE 2026)

The INSPIRING GENERATIONS OF NEW INNOVATORS TO IMPACT TECHNOLOGIES IN ENERGY 2026 (IGNIITE 2026) program is a funding opportunity issued by the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) under solicitation number DE-FOA-0003624, aimed at supporting early-career researchers focused on transformative energy technology innovations. This program encourages the submission of high-risk, high-reward research projects that have the potential to create entirely new learning curves in energy technology, thereby offering disruptive solutions capable of significantly impacting the energy sector. Eligible applicants must be early-career innovators, and selected awardees will not only receive funding but also engage in mentorship, collaborative events, and interactions with investors and government stakeholders to facilitate the translation of cutting-edge ideas into impactful technologies. The program emphasizes applied research and experimental development projects, especially those that demonstrate proof-of-concept or exploratory efforts in energy technology areas not currently supported by ARPA-E. The broad technical scope invites ideas with the potential to substantially contribute to ARPA-E’s goals, including improving energy security, reducing emissions, increasing efficiency, managing nuclear waste, and enhancing infrastructure resilience. Applications must be submitted exclusively through the ARPA-E eXCHANGE platform by May 29, 2026, and comply with federal regulations governing cooperative agreements and grants. This initiative reflects ARPA-E’s mission to maintain U.S. technological leadership by funding breakthrough research that addresses critical energy challenges and fosters the development of disruptive technologies poised to reshape the energy marketplace.

Department Of Energy$10M per award

NAICS

541715

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)

Posted Apr 23, 2026

Closed

Grant21

High-performance Optimized Recycled Nuclear Isotopes for Gen IV reactors (HORNIG)

The HORNIG program, under the ARPA-E Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0003623, aims to advance the development of transuranic fuels from domestic fissile resources to strengthen U.S. nuclear energy security, reduce radioactive waste volumes, and diminish reliance on foreign fuel sources. This initiative supports coordinated research and development across fuel design, fabrication, testing, modeling, and qualification, with a focus on techno-economic analysis and deployment pathways to enable economic viability of advanced fuels for Generation IV reactors. Proposals must demonstrate transformative technology with high technical merit, clear performance targets, and robust risk mitigation strategies, evaluated primarily on impact (35%), scientific and technical merit (35%), management plan soundness (20%), and team qualifications (10%). Award decisions are based on a trade-off process favoring overall value over cost, with no use of lowest price technically acceptable evaluation. All work must occur within the United States, subject to Buy America provisions, and applicants must fully disclose foreign connections, affiliations with malign talent programs, and any use of generative AI in application preparation. Required documentation includes a detailed technical volume, SF-424 and SF-424A forms, biosketches, business assurances, and transparency disclosures, all submitted electronically via the ARPA-E eXCHANGE portal by the May 28, 2026 deadline. Successful recipients must maintain data archives for long-term usability, comply with research security training, enforce confidentiality agreements, and adhere to strict marking protocols for proprietary information, including labeling every confidential page with a specific disclaimer. Applicants must be registered in SAM.gov and possess a Unique Entity Identifier; small businesses may qualify under SBA size standards, though no other socioeconomic set-asides are specified. The anticipated project period runs from December 2026 to December 2029, with potential for renewal based on performance and funding availability.

Department Of Energy$500K–$7M per award

NAICS

541715

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)

Posted Apr 23, 2026

Closed

Grant1

INSPIRING GENERATIONS OF NEW INNOVATORS TO IMPACT TECHNOLOGIES IN ENERGY 2026 (IGNIITE 2026)

The Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) is soliciting applications under DE-FOA-0003624, IGNIITE 2026, to support early-career researchers in developing high-risk, high-reward energy technologies with the potential to create transformative, market-disruptive impacts. This program is intentionally broad in technical scope but restricts eligibility to individuals who qualify as early-career innovators, aiming to catalyze unconventional ideas into foundational energy solutions that align with ARPA-E’s statutory mission to enhance U.S. energy security, reduce emissions, improve efficiency, and maintain technological leadership. Applications must be submitted exclusively through the ARPA-E eXCHANGE portal, and all proposers must be registered in SAM with a valid Unique Entity Identifier, maintain a U.S.-based physical presence, and comply with federal financial assistance regulations under 2 C.F.R. Part 200 and 2 C.F.R. Part 910. The program does not require cost sharing and explicitly excludes renewals or supplements of existing awards, focusing instead on new, early-stage research that may yield proof-of-concept demonstrations or inform future focused programs. Applicants must submit a two-stage application process beginning with a concept paper limited to four pages of technical content, a one-slide summary, a letter of support, and an academic transcript—followed by a full application if invited. The full submission includes a 17-page technical volume, completed SF-424, SF-424A budget workbook, public summary, biographical sketches, a comprehensive Current and Pending Support form, a signed Business Assurances & Disclosures Form, and a mandatory Transparency of Foreign Connections disclosure. All documents must adhere to strict formatting guidelines: Times New Roman 12-point font, single spacing, and 1-inch margins, with specified file types (PDF for most documents, Excel for budgets, PowerPoint for slides). Submissions must avoid protected personally identifiable information and export-controlled content. Additional critical requirements include foreign participation waivers, mandatory research security training, and compliance with Buy America provisions—though the latter is waived for for-profit entities. Evaluation is based on a trade-off approach, weighting Impact of Technology and Technical Approach each at 30%, followed by Team Qualifications at 20%, and Program Policy Factors at 20%. Awards, anticipated to be fixed-amount grants, will be made to projects with the strongest potential for disruptive technological change and U.S. economic benefit, with the period

Department Of Energy$10M per award

NAICS

541715

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)

Posted Apr 23, 2026

Closed

Grant1