# DOE Selects Startups for Oak Ridge Cohort

Oak Ridge National Laboratory selected six startup founders for the 2026 Innovation Crossroads cohort, a two-year Department of Energy fellowship supporting energy and advanced-manufacturing commercialization. Participants receive access to ORNL research expertise and facilities, mentoring, and a substantial grant for collaborative research; the grant amount was not specified. The cohort covers composites, metal additive manufacturing, nuclear monitoring, PFAS treatment, digital manufacturing, and critical-mineral recovery. This is a research-commercialization and partnership opportunity, not a stated contract solicitation.

- The fellowship connects selected startups with federal laboratory capabilities and research support, creating potential collaboration pathways for technologies aligned with DOE priorities.
- Companies developing related technologies can assess whether national-laboratory collaboration and commercialization programs fit their R&D plans; the signal does not identify an open application period or contract opportunity.
- Procurement teams should distinguish this fellowship and grant support from a competed acquisition when evaluating potential suppliers or market activity.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Energy & Utilities, Information Technology
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 07, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
- DOE Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC)

### Sources
- [New Innovation Crossroads cohort tackles DOE’s toughest technology challenges – Oak Ridge National Lab](https://www.ornl.gov/news/new-innovation-crossroads-cohort-tackles-does-toughest-technology-challenges/) - ORNL