Innovation Waypoints has two objectives: (1) provide honest, in-depth discussion of what we need to do and what we have done — right and wrong — to structure how we fund energy innovation and deployment; and (2) highlight the implementation methods and the programs that have broken the mold and have had incredible results despite bureaucratic challenges.
We hope you'll subscribe and follow along, and join us in a conversation about how to move forward and build on lessons learned. We’d particularly love to hear from you if you’re excited about any of our future topics, or if you have suggestions for things we should add.
Our Starting Themes
We are currently writing on three main themes. While you’re more than welcome to explore in any manner you like, we’ve listed our current and planned posts below in the order we’d recommend for each area. For a bit more on what we’re writing and why:
Funding Mechanisms
What are the primary mechanisms that are used, and how do they translate to private funding for research through deployment? We explore how different tools have evolved and how they map to commercialization pathways.
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Primer and Explainer Series
Coming soon
- Project Intermediary Agreement Explainer: how providing an intermediary funding can bring new forms of collaboration or funding flexibility to federal program designers unleashing innovative program designs.
- Technical Assistance Explainer: how non-technical interventions can help further technological development, societal acceptance and the deployment of new technologies.
- Other Transactions Authority Explainer: how this differs from financial assistance, how it could provide real flexibility for various types of projects, and where additional steps are needed to manage process and program risks.
Prize Series
Risk and Trust
Risk is multi‑faceted — beyond project execution, it includes how programs are scoped and portfolios built. Increasing transparency and trust improves our ability to balance risks and achieve outcomes.
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Coming soon
- Feedback loops and wicked learning environments: how a complex technology landscape and shifting policy and market conditions make it challenging to evaluate success and failure and apply lessons to future programs. What we’ve seen and what we think can be done about it.
- AI and Applications: everyone is (or shortly will be) using AI to support application development. What does this mean for established review processes, relationship building, and trust?
- AI and Program Design, Execution and Evaluation: while government has been slow to incorporate AI tools, the change is coming. What will this mean for program design, execution speed, and organizational ability to retain the skills sets for difficult and complex decision making?
Commercialization and Ecosystems
Commercialization is not linear. Effective progress requires understanding readiness, markets, and ecosystems that translate research into bankable projects.
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Coming soon
- Technology Readiness Level, Commercial Adoption Readiness Level, Commercialization Readiness Index, and All the Others: the motivations behind varied metrics and indices used across commercialization programs, how they can be applied to commercialization program design, and how seriously to take them.
- Commercialization Milestones in Early-Stage R&D: these technologies, solutions, and innovators aren’t ready to commercialize a product or service, but it’s critical to start laying the groundwork. What types of commercialization milestones find the right balance to add value and insight given the high uncertainties at this stage?
- The Value of Working with the National Labs: this complex contains a huge amount of expertise and capability, but ways to engage can seem opaque or carry high administrative burdens. Why you should (and how you can) collaborate with the National Labs.