Catalyst and DICES

The Catalyst and DICES program, jointly administered by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and MassVentures, provides grants of up to $75,000 to researchers and early-stage companies to develop and demonstrate initial prototypes of climate technologies. The program targets technologies at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2-4, aiming to bridge the gap between research and commercial viability. 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 groups led by a faculty member or researcher. The DICES (Diversity in Climatetech - Early Stage) track offers up to three additional grants of the same amount for projects led by individuals underrepresented in the climatetech industry or those who have faced economic barriers.

Key dates for the Spring 2026 round include an optional webinar on January 28, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, a deadline to submit questions by February 23, 2026, with responses posted on February 26, 2026. Applications are due by March 13, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Finalists will be notified in late April 2026, with presentations scheduled for the week of May 18, 2026, and award notifications expected in late June 2026. The program is open to a wide range of climate technologies, including but not limited to clean energy, carbon removal, energy storage, and efficiency, even if they do not fall within MassCEC's six focus areas.

Applicants must submit their applications via the MassVentures portal. The application form includes a project plan, budget summary, and, for DICES applicants, a statement on underrepresentation. The full application, excluding appendices, is limited to 11 pages, with a 4MB file size limit. Indirect costs are not permissible for academic institutions, though overhead may be included if required by the institution. Previous awardees may apply again for a new product line or project. Out-of-state companies may apply if they have concrete plans to relocate to Massachusetts before the award announcement.

The program has awarded over $13 million to 215 awardees since inception, who have raised over $852 million in follow-on funding and submitted 455 patent applications. Successful applicants gain access to a network of partners, market insights, and mentoring from MassCEC and MassVentures. All finalists receive complimentary pitch coaching and business mentoring. The program is designed to stimulate commercialization of climate technologies and increase industry and investor interest.

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