MassCEC / Tech to Market / Funding / Climatetech Testing and Demonstration Assets
Overview
TDA provides capital grants between $1M - $5M to Massachusetts-based Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs)—such as startup incubators, core facilities, and testbeds—to build the shared equipment, facilities, and real-world testing environments Climatetech companies need to prove their technologies work and bring them to market.
Operating expenses (OpEx), including salaries or wages of grantee staff, are not eligible for funding. Support for OpEx is available through MassCEC’s Innovation Ecosystem Program
Who Can Apply
Massachusetts ESOs with at least 5 years of operating history:
- Nonprofits
- Public or nonprofit universities
- Public agencies
Applicants must demonstrate the funded project will be:
- Commissioned within 1 – 3 years
- Built for a useful life of 10+ years
- Shared and publicly accessible (e.g., online booking, fee-for-use, fee-for-service)
- Matched by 25% cost share (≥ 20% cash, remaining in-kind); waivers available
$1M - $5M
Concept Paper Deadline
Friday, September 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET
Full Application Deadline
Friday, November 13, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET
Schedule
| Process Step | Date |
|---|---|
| RFP Release | Tuesday, July 28, 2026 |
| Informational Webinar | Thursday, August 6, 2026 at 12 PM ET (register) |
| Office Hours | Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 12 PM ET (register) |
| Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 12 PM ET (register) | |
| Questions Due | Tuesday, August 25, 2026, by 11:59 PM ET |
| Questions and Answers posted to MassCEC's Website | Rolling. Final questions posted Friday August 28, 2026 |
| Concept Papers Due | Friday, September 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET |
| Invitation to Submit Full Application | Friday, September 25, 2026 |
| Full Application Due | Friday, November 13, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET |
| Finalist Interviews (as applicable) | Wednesday, December 9, 2026 – Wednesday, December 23, 2026 |
| Notification of Awards | Est. Early Spring 2027 |
| Contracting Concludes/Projects Begin | Est. Spring 2027 |
Eligibility
How to Apply
All submissions are made through Submittable: masscec.submittable.com/submit.
Application Materials
Webinar & Office Hours
An informational webinar will be held on Thursday, August 6, 2026. Register here.
Office hours will follow:
Submit Questions
Questions regarding the RFP must be emailed to innovationecosystem@masscec.com with the subject line “Questions – RFP TDA FY27” by Tuesday, August 25, 2026 by 11:59 PM ET.
Responses to all questions will be posted in the FAQ below by Friday, August 28, 2026.
Past Awardees
The Engine
Cambridge, MA
The Engine is MIT’s nonprofit startup incubator and accelerator for Tough Tech companies, providing entrepreneurs with lab space, equipment, mentorship, and investor connections to help transform breakthrough science and engineering innovations into real-world solutions.
- Upgraded their lab space with modernized shared equipment (e.g., electrolyzes, thermal recovery systems, etc.)
Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute
Gloucester, MA
Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI) is a nonprofit research and education organization that uses marine genomics to address ocean, environmental, and human health challenges. Through scientific research, workforce training, and innovation programs, GMGI advances ocean technologies and supports Massachusetts' blue economy.
- Ocean sensing and climatetech incubator, prioritizing eDNA monitoring and a harborside demonstration station.
Greentown Labs
pilot-scale battery manufacturing and testing facility, paired with a statewide technician program.
UMass Lowell
climate-resilient housing testbed, including new-build and retrofit pilot sites and a specialized makerspace.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
lab-to-pilot incubator focused on critical mineral recovery and carbon-sequestering material development.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is an Entrepreneur Support Organization (ESO)?
Eligible ESOs provide ongoing services or resources that directly support Massachusetts-based climatetech startups and innovators, such as mentoring, training, access to labs or equipment, networking, and/or funding.
2. What qualifies as climatetech?
Climatetech refers to technologies that reduce Greenhouse Gas (“GHG”) emissions, replace or reduce reliance on non-renewable energy sources, or help communities and infrastructure adapt to climate change. Priority will be given to projects supporting:
- Renewable Energy & Grid Modernization: increasing renewable energy generation and modernizing the grid.
- High-Performance Buildings: improving energy and heating efficiency, transitioning to renewable sources, and implementing sustainable construction practices/materials.
- Clean Transportation: transitioning to zero-emissions vehicles, enhancing public transit, and promoting alternative fuel options.
- Clean Manufacturing & Industry: adopting carbon reducing technologies and processes, sustainable production practices through a circular economy, and carbon capture related technologies.
- Sustainable Agriculture & Water: adopting sustainable farming and forest management practices and leveraging nature-based solutions.
- Climate Resilience & Adaptation: implementing climate-smart planning, strengthening infrastructure, and promoting nature-based solutions to reduce vulnerability to climate change.
- Enabling Solutions: utilizing software/hardware that enables the mitigation of emissions and/or furtherance of adaptation and resilience solutions (i.e., platforms, marketplaces, surveying solutions, etc.).
MassCEC / Tech to Market / Funding / Climatetech Testing and Demonstration Assets