The Catalyst and DICES grant programs provide funding to advance research-stage climate technologies toward commercial viability through prototype development and demonstration. Catalyst offers grants of up to $75,000 to researchers at Massachusetts-based nonprofit research institutions and early-stage climatetech companies to develop initial prototypes that demonstrate the feasibility of transforming new ideas from the research stage to commercially viable technologies. DICES provides up to three additional grants of up to $75,000 each for projects led by applicants who are underrepresented in the climatetech industry or have faced economic barriers entering the environmental or entrepreneurial landscape.
Eligible applicants include principal investigators at Massachusetts-based nonprofit research institutions, Massachusetts-based early-stage climatetech companies with four or fewer full-time equivalent employees, and student-led teams with faculty or researcher mentors acting as principal investigators. Projects must be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2-4 according to the MassCEC Readiness Calculator. While projects should ideally align with MassCEC's focus areas, the program also accepts projects that provide or enable significant decarbonization. All awardees receive access to mentoring from MassCEC and MassVentures, expert local market and policy insights, and a network of partners. All finalists receive complimentary pitch coaching and business mentoring.
Key dates include the application period opening January 14, 2026, with an optional webinar on January 28, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. A deadline to submit questions is February 23, 2026, with MassCEC posting responses on February 26, 2026. Applications are due March 13, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Applicants will be notified of finalist status in late April 2026, with finalists' presentations scheduled for the week of May 18, 2026. Finalists will be notified of award status in late June 2026.
Applications must be submitted via the MassVentures portal. The application includes an 11-page maximum limit for the complete application using the provided application form. Applicants must complete a Project Plan section and provide information about their technology using the Technology Readiness Level calculator. For DICES applicants, Section II of the application must be completed to demonstrate how the applicant is underrepresented in the climatetech industry or has experienced economic barriers. Companies must not have received more than $2,500,000 in combined debt or equity financing, grant funding, and revenues over the past five years, with no financial limitations for academic institutions or nonprofits.