Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy Grant for Innovative Nuclear Research and Development

NE funds research activities through both competitive and direct mechanisms, as required to best meet the needs of NE. These efforts are essential to balancing NE?s R&D portfolio and encourage new nuclear power deployment with creative solutions to the universe of nuclear energy challenges.

The competitive portion of NE?s R&D portfolio is accomplished in part by promoting integrated and collaborative research conducted by university, industry, international and national laboratory partners under the direction of Office of Nuclear Energy?s programs: Nuclear Energy University Programs (NEUP), elements of the Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies (NEET) Crosscutting Technology Development Program, the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) National Scientific User Facility (NSUF), and Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR).

Specifically, NE designates up to 20 percent of funds appropriated to its R&D programs for R&D and infrastructure support at university and research institutions, through open, competitive solicitations. Additionally, through the NEET Crosscutting Technology Development Program, NE provides direct and competitive awards for university, industry and national laboratory-led research that crosscuts the NE R&D portfolio.

The primary objective of consolidating fiscal year (FY) 2013 competitive research sought by NE in the area of innovative nuclear research into a single Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to promote efficiency and the effective use of resources.