The Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center is issuing this Request for Proposals to solicit responses from eligible Entrepreneur Support Organizations for its Innovation Ecosystem Program.
Donor Name: Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
State: Massachusetts
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/13/2026
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Focus Areas
While IEP will consider any proposal that supports climate technology development that meets MassCEC’s definition of “Climatetech” (see Section I), particular emphases will be given to ESOs that support developing one or more of the following priority industries:
- Energy & Electricity: increasing renewable energy generation and modernizing the grid.
- Transportation: transitioning to zero-emissions vehicles, enhancing public transit, and promoting alternative fuel options.
- Manufacturing & Industry: adopting carbon reducing technologies and processes, sustainable production practices through a circular economy, and carbon capture related technologies.
- Agriculture & Water: adopting sustainable farming and forest management practices and leveraging nature-based solutions.
- Buildings: improving energy and heating efficiency, transitioning to renewable sources, and implementing sustainable construction practices/materials.
- Resilience and Adaptation: implementing climate-smart planning, strengthening infrastructure, and promoting nature-based solutions to reduce vulnerability to climate change.
IEP provides grants to Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) in Massachusetts — incubators, accelerators, and innovation hubs — that deliver targeted support to early-stage climatetech entrepreneurs and accelerate their path to market. Applicants may apply for one of the following tracks:
Track 1: Programming Support
- Amount: Up to $120,000 per award.
- Purpose: Operating funds to enhance existing or develop a new startup program(s) that provides targeted support to Climatetech entrepreneurs. Funds are flexible to support staffing, programming, or facility management.
Track 2: Programming Support + Entrepreneur Fellowship Grant
- Amount: Up to $120,000 for operating support plus access to a competitive fellowship funding pool totaling up to $900,000.
- Purpose:
- Operating funds as described in Track 1; and
- Stipend funding for Entrepreneur Fellowship programs that advance the translation of research into Climatetech businesses, products, and jobs in the energy, transportation, and buildings sectors. Funds must go directly to fellows (e.g., living stipends, R&D grants) and cannot be used for ESO operating expenses.
Goals
- Address Climate and Energy Challenges: address key climate and energy challenges as
- directed by the 2050 Clean Energy and Climate Plan7 while accelerating the growth of Massachusetts’ economy.
- Advance Technology Commercialization: promote commercialization of early-stage Climatetech through high-quality programming and support services.
- Advance Research Commercialization: accelerate the translation of research into Climatetech businesses, products, and jobs by supporting Entrepreneurial Fellowships that help move innovations from laboratory research to market deployment, if applicable.
- Strengthen ESO Capacity: strengthen ESOs’ ability to deliver high-quality programming, mentorship, and technical assistance for Climatetech startups and innovators.
- Promote Equitable Economic Growth: prioritize investments that serve Gateway Cities8 or Environmental Justice9 communities or an underserved geographic region (i.e., such as Western Massachusetts or Cape Cod), broaden access to Climatetech careers, and foster inclusive economic growth across the Commonwealth.
- Position Massachusetts as an International Leader: enhance the state’s competitiveness as a Climatetech innovation hub by developing world-class infrastructure, programming,
Funding Information
Grants up to $2,100,000
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible Applicants for Track 1 and Track 2 include Entrepreneur Support Organizations (“ESOs”) that meet the following criteria:
- Be registered to conduct business and operate a physical location in Massachusetts, and/or demonstrate that a significant portion of their membership base consists of Massachusetts-based Climatetech startups.
- Have been in continuous operation for at least one (1) year (i.e., established on or before November 1, 2024).
- Have a sustainable organization model supported by a credible business plan and longterm funding from multiple sources.
- Have an experienced and capable management team.
- Provide ongoing services or resources that directly support Massachusetts-based Climatetech startups and innovators, such as mentoring, training, access to labs or equipment, networking, and/or funding.
- Demonstrate a track record of stimulating Climatetech research and development, innovation, and commercialization (e.g., documented startup commercialization outcomes, successful fundraising or investment attraction, patents filed or licensed, partnerships, well-utilized testing or prototyping facilities).
- Applicants previously awarded a FY26 MassCEC Ocean Innovation Network “Track 2: Ocean Innovation Network Support” grant remain eligible to apply for IEP. However, due to IEP’s competitive nature, MassCEC will carefully review proposed impact, scope of work, and articulation of need for additional funding for these ESOs. These Applicants should be prepared to provide further details if requested.
- Eligible ESOs may include, but are not limited to:
- Accelerators
- Incubators
- Innovation Centers
- Educational Institutions
- Entrepreneur Networks and Associations
- Economic Development Organizations.
For more information, visit MCEC.
