The New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation, and Technology (CSIT) has awarded about $1.3 million in grants to 17 startups as part of the fourth round of its Clean Tech Research & Development Seed Grant Program. The program is intended to help early-stage companies in New Jersey advance their technologies from research toward commercial viability. Since 2020, CSIT has made 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.”
The Clean Tech R&D Seed Grant Program was created by CSIT together with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). It offers grants up to $75,000 for research and development activities at very early-stage clean technology firms based in New Jersey. The aim is to help these companies make progress so they can attract investors or begin generating revenue. Of this round’s recipients, 72 percent have five or fewer employees, and 58 percent are certified as minority- or women-owned.
“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.”
NJEDA Acting Chief Executive Officer Mary Maples stated: “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 Utilities’ (NJBPU) Clean Energy Program. The initiative supports work aligned with New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan, which aims for 100 percent clean energy by 2035.
“New Jersey’s legacy as a hub of innovation and entrepreneurial excellence continues to thrive through initiatives like the Clean Tech Seed Grant Program,” said NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. “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.”
Awarded companies are working on technologies including fusion energy, solar power innovations, microgrids, fuel cells, advanced materials, and recycling.
The NJEDA provides various financial tools such as low-interest financing options and tax credits designed to support business growth and economic initiatives throughout New Jersey (https://www.njeda.gov/financing-and-incentives/). In addition to supporting economic development through financing programs, NJEDA also promotes diversity by ensuring equitable access for diverse communities (https://www.njeda.gov/about/). These efforts align with NJEDA’s broader focus on job creation and community enhancement within the state (https://www.njeda.gov/about/).
Through international partnerships, NJEDA leverages New Jersey’s status as an import-export hub while collaborating with global entities to boost investment opportunities (https://www.njeda.gov/strategic-industry-support/). The organization played a role in shaping policy through measures like the 2020 Economic Recovery Act which introduced incentives targeting job creation amid disruptions caused by recent events (https://www.njeda.gov/financing-and-incentives/). In response to pandemic challenges in 2021, NJEDA further supported recovery efforts via enactment of additional incentives under this act (https://www.njeda.gov/financing-and-incentives/).
CSIT was re-established by legislation signed by Governor Murphy in August 2018. Its members include representatives from public agencies, private industry, and academia who promote academic research along with technological development within New Jersey.
A full list of grant awardees is available from CSIT.
