The U.S. Department of Energy has announced the 2016 Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Phase I Release 1 Topics, including hydrogen production from organic waste streams and fuel cell membranes, through the Office of Basic Energy Sciences.

• Hydrogen Production—Novel research and development to develop microbial electrochemical technologies such as microbial fuel cells and microbial electrolysis cells that can produce hydrogen or electricity from waste streams will be developed. The systems should either clean wastewaters or reduce the disposal requirements of other waste feedstocks.
• Fuel Cell Membranes—Durable and inexpensive polymer electrolyte membranes for transportation and stationary applications will be developed. Membrane technology proposed for this subtopic should be based on proton‐conducting non‐perfluorinated ionomers, but may include reinforcements or other additives.

DOE plans to issue the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) on August 17, 2015. Other related dates and additional information can be found on the SBIR/STTR FOA website.

Learn more about the Energy Department's broader efforts to develop affordable, efficient fuel cell and hydrogen technologies on EERE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cells page.