Climatetech Testing & Demonstration Assets (TDA) Program

The Climatetech Testing & Demonstration Assets (TDA) Program provides capital grants ranging from $1.5 million to $5 million to Massachusetts-based Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs), including startup incubators, core facilities, and testbeds, to build shared equipment and infrastructure. These assets enable climatetech companies to test, validate, and demonstrate their technologies in real-world settings. Eligible applicants must be registered Massachusetts organizations with at least five years of continuous operating history, including nonprofit organizations, public or nonprofit universities, and public agencies.

The funded assets must be deployed within one to three years, built to last a minimum of ten years, and made available as shared and publicly accessible resources with equitable access policies such as online booking or fee-for-service models. Projects must deliver clear public benefits and support climatetech companies with technologies at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) five or higher. Eligible project types include long-duration energy storage pilot pads, shared pilot-scale fabrication lines for new materials, building envelope performance labs, living shoreline and coastal resilience demonstration sites, vehicle infrastructure including zero-emission charging, and solar or wind equipment. Digital infrastructure and access platforms are also eligible if they enable testing and demonstration of climate technologies.

MassCEC grants cover up to 75 percent of total project costs, with applicants required to provide a minimum 25 percent cost share. All eligible costs must be capital expenses (CapEx) for the purchase, construction, or permanent installation of equipment or infrastructure. Operating expenses (OpEx), including staff salaries and wages, are not eligible through TDA but are available through MassCEC's Innovation Ecosystem Program. Costs will be reimbursed by MassCEC on a reimbursement basis and must be incurred after execution of a Grant Agreement.

Key dates include pre-RFP office hours on May 7, 2026, June 4, 2026, and July 2, 2026, all at 12:00 PM ET via Zoom. The RFP is anticipated to launch in July 2026, with a question submission deadline of August 12, 2025, at 5:00 PM ET. The Concept Paper application requires submission of multiple attachments including the concept paper template, budget worksheet, and authorized applicant signature form. Selected applicants will advance to a Full Application stage, which must include a redlined Sample Agreement with proposed changes.