Slots: 4
Deadlines
Internal Deadline: Friday, June 7th, 2024, 5pm PT Contact RII.
LOI: July 9, 2024, 5pm ET
External Deadline: August 27, 2024, 11:59pm ET
Award Information
Award Type: Cooperative Agreement
Estimated Number of Awards: The exact number of awards will depend on the number of meritorious applications and the availability of appropriated funds.
Anticipated Award Amount: It is anticipated that award sizes may range from $2,000,000 per year to $5,000,000 per year.
Who May Serve as PI: Standard DOE requirements.
Link to Award: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/354411
Process for Limited Submissions
PIs must submit their application as a Limited Submission through the Research Initiatives and Infrastructure (RII) Application Portal: https://rii.usc.edu/oor-portal/. Use the template provided here: RII Limited Submission Applicant Template
Materials to submit include:
- (1) Two-Page Proposal Summary (1” margins; single-spaced; standard font type, e.g. Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman, or Georgia typeface; font size: 11 pt). Page limit includes references and illustrations. Pages that exceed the 2-page limit will be excluded from review. You must use the template linked above.
- (2) CV – (5 pages maximum)
Note: The portal requires information about the PIs in addition to department and contact information, including the 10-digit USC ID#. Please have this material prepared before beginning this application.
Purpose
The Department of Energy (DOE) Fusion Energy Science (FES) program is embarking on a transformative initiative aimed at creating a fusion innovation ecosystem, the “Fusion Innovation Research Engine (FIRE)”, by forming virtual, centrally managed teams called “Collaboratives”, that have a collective goal of bridging FES’s basic science research programs and growing fusion industries, including the activities supported under the FES milestone-based fusion development program.
At its core, FIRE represents a departure from traditional science programs. It is structured as a framework comprised of Collaboratives with the purpose of bridging the gap between foundational science and practical application. These Collaboratives are envisioned as dynamic hubs of innovation, driving advancements in fusion energy research in collaboration with both public and private entities.
FES envisions the ecosystem surrounding the Collaboratives as a facilitator for collaboration and coordination with the basic science research program and other stakeholders, creating an engine for innovation. FIRE hopes to foster synergy and alignment of goals, accelerating progress towards the realization of fusion energy as a clean, sustainable power source. Moreover, this 2 initiative aims to create new economic opportunities, bolster US-based manufacturing and supply chains, and enable the development of technologies crucial for national security, energy security, and defense.
Through the concerted efforts of the Collaboratives within FIRE, FES aims to de-risk Fusion Materials and Technology (FM&T) gaps, connecting the three science drivers of Fusion Science and Technology (FS&T)—Sustain a Burning Plasma, Engineer for Extreme Conditions, and Harness Fusion Energy—FES is poised to accelerate the transition of fusion energy from theory to reality.
This initiative represents a significant step forward in FES’ commitment to advancing fusion energy research and development, ultimately benefiting society with a clean, sustainable energy source, and fostering economic growth and national security.
Visit our Institutionally Limited Submission webpage for more updates and other announcements.