Introducing L’Innovator 2.0 Program
Following the success of HFTO’s 2017 L’Innovator pilot, the current L’Innovator 2.0 program offers access to an intellectual property (IP) portfolio encompassing catalyst and electrode structure technology developed at LANL, with a focus on facilitating commercial scaling and private-sector adoption.
A critical feature of L’Innovator 2.0—successfully implemented in the original pilot—is HFTO’s cost-sharing arrangement with LANL, designed to attract private investment for IP licensing in the portfolio and enable collaboration through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with one or more commercialization partners. This approach aims to accelerate the advancement of catalyst and electrode structure technologies, leading to the demonstration of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to validate performance, commercial viability, and potential for scale-up and commercial use.
This Call invites interest from potential commercialization partners, particularly those with proven experience in developing and scaling similar technologies. Note that this Call for Commercialization Partners is not a procurement.
Purpose and Objectives of This Call
The specific purpose of this Call is to inform and engage potential commercialization partners regarding the L’Innovator 2.0 IP portfolio opportunity and outline the process for partnership with LANL. This Call is expected to result in one or more licensing agreements or options to license, as well as one or more collaboration agreements—such as a CRADA—to support the transition of LANL’s catalyst and electrode structure technology to the commercial marketplace. More information on the DOE CRADA template is available online.
Selected commercialization partners will be expected to co-invest in the development, manufacture, and commercialization of innovative hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, with an emphasis on domestically produced catalysts and membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) that enhance U.S. industry and economic competitiveness.
About Triad National Security, LLC (Triad)
Triad National Security, LLC (Triad), as the manager and operator of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Nuclear Security Administration under contract No. 89233218CNA000001, is a mission-driven Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). Triad is dedicated to addressing critical national security challenges through science and engineering on behalf of both government and private sector clients. Acting on behalf of its federal sponsor, HFTO, Triad will oversee the issuance of this Call for Commercialization Partners and manage the selection process to identify the most qualified industry partners to assist in deploying the L’Innovator 2.0 IP portfolio described herein.
Addressing Commercialization Challenges
L’Innovator 2.0 is designed to address specific challenges that investors and companies face in the development, manufacturing, and deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. One key challenge is the lack of mechanisms to support manufacturers in developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that demonstrates the commercial feasibility of laboratory IP before requiring substantial commitments.
This collaborative initiative aims to advance lab-generated innovations from a low technology readiness level (TRL) and low manufacturing readiness level (MRL) to a higher TRL and MRL—an essential progression for commercial readiness. Rather than LANL working independently to develop and demonstrate an MVP, this Call seeks to engage private-sector companies through the L’Innovator framework and on agreed terms, enabling collaborative commercialization efforts. A primary objective of this program is to attract private investment and create new and expanded U.S. manufacturing opportunities for the specific technologies featured in this Call.
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