Innovation

Water Technology Innovation: Funding Opportunities

There are a number of potential funding and other resources available to assist in the research and development of innovative solutions to water-resource-oriented issues and challenges. EPA’s Water Technology Innovation Blueprint presents some of these resources. In addition to the resources identified below, EPA’s Office of Water also maintains a list of grant opportunities on its Grants & Funding webpage.

  • Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR): SBIR encourages domestic small businesses to engage in research that has the potential for commercialization. Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR enables small businesses to develop, and take to market, technologies that help EPA meet its mission of protecting human health and the environment.
  • Science to Achieve Results (STAR): STAR is EPA’s primary competitive grants program for funding extramural research in environmental science and engineering for universities and nonprofit organizations.
  • Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR): STTR expands funding opportunities in the federal innovation R&D arena. Central to the program is expansion of the public/private sector partnership to include the joint venture opportunities for small businesses and nonprofit research institutions.
  • Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF): Under the CWSRF, EPA provides grants or “seed money” to states to capitalize state loan fund programs that provide affordable funding with flexible terms. These programs can finance a wide array of water quality projects, including construction of wastewater treatments facilities, green infrastructure projects, agricultural best management practices (BMPs), and water and energy efficiency projects.
  • Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP): SERDP is the Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) environmental science and technology program, planned and executed in partnership with DOE and EPA, that issues an annual solicitation for proposals from the federal government, academia, and industry.
  • Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP): ESTCP provides funding for the demonstration of environmental technologies pertinent to DOD priorities.
  • Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG): CIG is a voluntary program intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies, awarding competitive grants to non-federal governmental or nongovernmental organizations, tribes, or individuals.
  • Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Financial Assistance Programs: Through financial assistance, EERE provides funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development.
  • Development Innovation Ventures (DIV): DIV holds a quarterly grant competition for innovative ideas, pilots and tests them using cutting-edge analytical methods, and scales solutions that demonstrate widespread impact and cost-effectiveness.
  • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF): The Safe Drinking Water Act, through the DWSRF, makes funds available to drinking water systems to finance infrastructure improvements. The program also emphasizes providing funds to small and disadvantaged communities and to programs that encourage pollution prevention as a tool for ensuring safe drinking water.

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