The Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) has announced funding for the CATALCHEM-E program, aimed at revolutionizing heterogeneous catalyst research and development. This initiative focuses on combining artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and high-throughput experimentation (HTE) to expedite R&D processes, reducing the development cycle from 10–15 years to 12–18 months. The program seeks to develop innovative workflows for catalyst discovery, synthesis, and reactor testing to optimize catalytic chemistries relevant to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The total funding for this program is $35 million, with awards ranging from $2.5 million to $3.5 million. Up to 12 awards are expected. Applicants must meet cost-sharing requirements, contributing a portion of the project’s total costs in accordance with federal guidelines. The program encourages proposals involving future refinery feedstocks such as hydrogen, nitrogen, water, carbon dioxide, and waste plastics. Target products include ethylene, propylene, sustainable aviation fuel, diesel, and syngas.
Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities, as specified in Section II.A of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The application process requires compliance with specific submission guidelines and deadlines. Proposals must be submitted by December 17, 2024, no later than 9:30 AM Eastern Time, through the designated platform. Applicants should ensure they are registered with SAM.gov and other required systems.
Applications will be evaluated on criteria such as scientific and technical merit, potential impact, feasibility of the approach, and alignment with ARPA-E's mission. Selected projects are expected to demonstrate significant advancements in catalyst R&D and contribute to broader sustainability and innovation goals.
For further details or access to the full NOFO, applicants may contact ARPA-E through the provided channels. The program represents a significant opportunity to accelerate energy innovation and support the transition to low-carbon technologies.
