The New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation, and Technology (CSIT) has allocated nearly $1.3 million in grants to 17 startups as part of the fourth round of its Clean Tech Research & Development Seed Grant Program. This initiative aims to support early-stage companies as they move from research toward commercializing their products and services. Since its inception in 2020, CSIT has provided 150 awards totaling $13 million to clean tech businesses in the state.
“Funding New Jersey startups through grant programs like the Clean Tech Research & Development Seed Grant helps build a stronger economy for the future,” said CSIT Executive Director Judith Sheft. “Cultivating companies within our state during their formative years helps them establish roots in New Jersey and position them for future financial growth, sustainability, and economic mobility for years to come.”
Developed jointly by CSIT and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), the program offers grants of up to $75,000 to very early-stage clean technology firms based in New Jersey. The goal is to help these companies progress far enough with their products or services so they can attract additional investment or begin generating revenue. Of this round’s recipients, most are small operations: thirteen have five or fewer employees, and ten are certified as either minority- or women-owned businesses.
“New Jersey’s startups are among the very best in the nation and truly place the State at the forefront of innovation,” said CSIT Chair and BioNJ Founding President and CEO Debbie Hart. “The Clean Tech Research & Development Seed Grant Program reinforces the State’s commitment to its small businesses and nurtures advancements across a range of innovation areas aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We have seen early-stage companies leverage CSIT funding 15X in follow-on funding and accelerate their development trajectory.”
Mary Maples, NJEDA Acting Chief Executive Officer, commented on state support for entrepreneurs: “Governor Murphy has invested robust resources to create a strong innovation ecosystem, making New Jersey a top state in the nation to grow and scale a startup. CSIT’s Clean Tech Research & Development Seed Grant program helps entrepreneurs secure funding for vitally important research and new technologies that create new high-paying jobs, grow our economy, and solidify New Jersey’s reputation as a leader in equitable, diverse, and transformative innovation.”
Funding for this program comes from the New Jersey Board of Public Utility’s (NJBPU) Clean Energy Program. It is intended to further innovation that will contribute to meeting targets set out in New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan—a strategy developed in 2019 and updated in 2024—to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2035.
Christine Guhl-Sadovy, NJBPU President, stated: “New Jersey’s legacy as a hub of innovation and entrepreneurial excellence continues to thrive through initiatives like the Clean Tech Seed Grant Program. Our collaboration with NJEDA and CSIT reflects a strategic, cross-agency commitment to fostering transformative technologies that strengthen our clean energy ecosystem and drive sustainable economic growth across the state.”
The supported startups are developing technologies across various fields such as fusion energy, solar innovations, microgrids, fuel cells, advanced materials, and recycling.
A complete list of awardees was released alongside this announcement.
