The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $15 million in grants for early-stage, innovative research into solid-state lighting technology. According to the DOE, the funding is intended to accelerate the development of high-quality LED and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) products with the potential of reducing lighting energy costs.
This funding will support research into four areas of solid-state lighting.
Topic 1: Core Technology Research for LEDs, OLEDs, and Cross-Cutting Lighting Research
These projects will develop inventive enhancements in the underlying science of SSL technology. Furthermore, the research should demonstrate scientific principles, technical application, and application benefits of the physiological impacts of light and light utilization efficiency.
Topic 2: Proof-of-Concept and Prototype Development for LEDs and OLEDs
For Topic 2, the projects will perform early-stage research to support the development of SSL prototypes as well as advanced proof-of-concept SSL materials, devices, and luminaires. Research in this sector will focus on developing high-efficacy LED prototypes, advanced LED lighting, LED power electronics, OLED light engines, OLED prototype lighting platforms, and OLED panel light extraction and utilization.
Topic 3: Advanced Fabrication R&D
The Topic 3 related projects will look at understanding and improving the underlying chemical and physical aspects of SSL fabrication, investigating advanced fabrication approaches for LEDs. Topic 3 projects can also look to understand and enhance OLED substrate and encapsulation fabrication, and OLED panel fabrication.
Topic 4: Innovative Lighting in a Limited Mock Field Application
The Topic 4 projects will evaluate novel lighting system solutions in a limited mock field application setting. The goal of this topic is to ulitimately utilize the technical resources and data sets refine or refocus early-stage research and development of SSL-based devices, luminaires, and systems.
Overall, the Department of Energy will fund about 10-15 cost-shared projects from industry, academia, and national labs. For more information, application requirements, and instructions for applying to this funding opportunity, visit the EERE Funding Opportunity Exchange website.
