InnovateMass (MassCEC)
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC)
Up to $350,000 (50% cost share required)
Up to $350,000 for Massachusetts climatetech companies demonstrating a technology with a host partner, with 50% cost share. Fall 2026 round closed October 20; next RFP expected early 2027.
InnovateMass gives up to $350,000 in grant funding plus technical support to a team that demonstrates a new clean energy technology at TRL 5 to 8. The applicant team is a Massachusetts-based Climatetech company and at least one Demonstration Partner who hosts the project. Awardees must put up cost share of at least 50% of the grant (25% at a public benefit site), and at least 20% of that must be cash. Rounds run twice a year; the fall 2026 round closed October 20, 2026 and MassCEC expects the next RFP in early 2027.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount
- $350,000
- Realistic amount
- Recent awards listed by MassCEC run from $276,886 to $350,000, each with substantial cost share.
- Deadline
- Fall 2026 round closed October 20, 2026. MassCEC expects the next RFP in early 2027; the program page lists 'Spring 2027'.
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- MA
Who qualifies
- Applicant team of a Massachusetts-based Climatetech company (Lead Applicant) and one or more Demonstration Partners
- Lead Applicant is a small business under SBA size standards with proprietary technology
- Technology at TRL 5 to 8 at time of application
- Lead Applicant is U.S.-based (headquarters, W-9, U.S. bank account, at least 50% of employees in the U.S.)
- Massachusetts-based means a majority of four listed business criteria sit in Massachusetts; a company not yet there may explain a plan to relocate before the award announcement
- Signed Letter of Commitment from each Demonstration Partner
- Cost share of at least 50% of the grant (25% at Public Benefit sites), at least 20% of it in cash
- Technologies tied to coal, oil, woody biomass or natural gas do not count as Climatetech
- Disclose any use of generative AI in the application
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Eligible cash project expenses and cost share items listed in Section 10 of the RFP (direct labor, services, materials, equipment use); indirect costs capped at 15% of direct salary and fringe
Ineligible expenses
- Items listed as ineligible in Section 10 of the RFP
How to apply
-
1
Self-check fit
Run the TRL calculator (must be TRL 5 to 8), confirm Massachusetts-based status and secure a Demonstration Partner who will host the project.
~8 hrs
-
2
Submit the online application
Application form plus Project Workplan and budget (Attachment B), TRL calculator, readiness assessment and signed Letter(s) of Commitment from the Demonstration Partner(s).
~40 hrs
-
3
Pitch if selected as a finalist
Finalists get pitch coaching and present to a panel of judges; the pitch score is added to the written score.
~20 hrs
The partner letter is the hard part: you need a signed Letter of Commitment from a host site before you apply, and your own cost share has to be real money plus documented labor.
Deadline & timing
Rounds are biannual. Fall 2026 timeline: RFP opened Sept 1, applications due Oct 20, finalist notice early Dec, pitches early Jan 2027, awards late Jan/early Feb 2027, projects start summer 2027. The RFP says a subsequent RFP is expected in early 2027; the page header says Spring 2027. Check the date when the round opens.
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Required documents
- Online application form
- Attachment B: Project Workplan and Budget
- Attachment C: completed Technology Readiness Level calculator
- Adoption Readiness Level assessment
- Attachment E: signed Letter(s) of Commitment from each Demonstration Partner
- Disclosure of any generative AI use
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