{"id":1004669716,"date":"2023-07-05T00:56:57","date_gmt":"2023-07-05T08:56:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/?p=1004669716"},"modified":"2023-07-12T00:20:27","modified_gmt":"2023-07-12T08:20:27","slug":"impel-propelling-emerging-building-technologies-to-the-forefront-of-construction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/impel-propelling-emerging-building-technologies-to-the-forefront-of-construction\/","title":{"rendered":"IMPEL: Propelling Emerging Building Technologies to the Forefront of Construction"},"content":{"rendered":"

IMPEL<\/strong>\u2014short for Incubating Market-Propelled Entrepreneurial Mindset at the Labs and Beyond\u2014is a program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy<\/strong>\u2019s Building Technologies Office and implemented by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Launched in 2020<\/a> with Reshma Singh as director,\u00a0IMPEL is a reaction to Singh’s “personal passion to create entrepreneurship programs that connect the labs with innovators in the public and private sectors,” as she describes it. Because despite her expansive knowledge and unending curiosity for all things at the intersection of design and technology of smart buildings and cities, she had challenges bringing her clean-tech patents to market.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s noteworthy to share that the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab is one of the DOE\u2019s 17 national labs across the country. Scientists working in these national labs are winners of 118 Nobel Prizes combined and discovered 22 elements on the periodic table. These hubs are vital for science and technology collaboration. It is here where critical technologies are being developed, innovations that could be used in the climate change fight, as opposed to existing greenwashing “solutions.”<\/p>\n

Helping the commercialization of early-stage building technologies<\/h2>\n

All early-stage innovators bump into the same problem: overcoming what the start-up world calls “the commercialization valley of death,” the phase between developing a prototype and going to market with a commercially viable building product. IMPEL facilitates access for these innovators to the other side of business by connecting them with mentors and teachers who coach them in creating business plans, pitching and soft skills.<\/p>\n

These facilitators also offer technical feedback on construction and building materials, and train innovators on using carbon tools that help quantify the climate benefits of their creations. Then, they provide exposure to funding opportunities, in both the public and private sectors, and introduce them to IMPEL\u2019s partner business incubators and the world-class National Lab ecosystem.<\/p>\n

As of June 2023, IMPEL had 213 innovator teams, ranging from prefabricated construction to sustainable eco-studs, to highly efficient energy and water equipment<\/a>. The program has 24 mentors\u2014subject-matter experts from the national laboratories, policy and demonstration experts, and investors extending from climate tech venture investment firms to corporate venture capital and large banks. The IMPEL network also includes three coaches from the Silicon Valley ecosystem and has three national showcases: HUD\u2019s Innovative Housing Showcase at the National Mall, IMPEL national showcase by the Department of Energy\u2019s Building Technologies Office and IMPEL Building Sector Pitch Day at Greentown Labs climate tech incubator.<\/p>\n

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READ ALSO<\/strong>: Hines\u2019 Trifecta for Carbon Emissions Reduction<\/a><\/p>\n

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Candidates for the IMPEL program must have ideas with potential for significant carbon reduction<\/a> in the building sector.<\/p>\n

“This aligns with the IMPEL vision of a net-zero built environment validated through carbon tools, promoting equitable wellness and resilience for all,” explained Singh. “Their ideas must have a strong value proposition for the building construction industry, as validated by mentors who assess the potential market and sales fit,” she added. But there\u2019s also an intangible attitude that mentors can sense\u2014candidates’ drive or passion to bring innovative products to the market.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the remarkable ideas that have turned real with IMPEL, so far:\u00a0<\/p>\n