The Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) today announced the availability of fiscal year 2017 funds for small business vouchers to assist applicants developing advanced nuclear energy technologies who are seeking access to the world class expertise and capabilities available across the U.S. Department of Energy's national laboratories complex. The small business vouchers are provided by the DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy to support nuclear energy innovation in the small business sector.

"The objective of GAIN is to accelerate cost-effective commercialization of innovative nuclear energy technologies," said Rita Baranwal, GAIN director. "This cost-sharing initiative enables partnerships with small businesses and provides them with access to the technical, regulatory and financial support necessary to bridge the gap to delivering new technologies to market."

A Letter of Intent from a company intending to submit a voucher application is requested and strongly encouraged to be submitted by March 9, 2017. Submitting a Letter of Intent will enable GAIN to assist with identifying appropriate facilities and staff to support the voucher application and to assist the applicant as needed. More information on the vouchers and eligibility requirements are available at gain.inl.gov.

The Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear is a U.S. Department of Energy initiative to provide the nuclear industrial community with access to the technical, regulatory, and financial support necessary to move new or advanced nuclear technologies toward commercialization while ensuring the continued safe, reliable, and economic operation of the existing nuclear fleet. Day-to-day management of GAIN is the responsibility of Idaho National Laboratory. See more GAIN news at gain.inl.gov. Follow @GAINnuclear on Twitter or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GAINnuclear.