Berkeley Climate Action Proof-of-Concept Program

About the BCAPP Program

UC Berkeley is widely recognized for its leadership in environmental sustainability and academic excellence, fostering an environment where cutting-edge research and entrepreneurial innovation come together to address global challenges. In this spirit, the Bakar Labs for Energy & Materials is pleased to sponsor the second annual call for the Berkeley Climate Action Proof-of-Concept Program (BCAPP). Originally supported by the University of California Office of the President through the President’s Entrepreneurship Network Council and Bakar Labs, this year Bakar Labs is extending this support to offer UC Berkeley faculty the opportunity to fast-track climate-focused technologies, turning their research into commercially viable solutions that have the potential to create lasting environmental change.

See the 2025 ground-breaking projects here.

Apply Here

Applications for 2026 are now open.
Click here to submit your BCAPP application.

Applications will close Wednesday, Jan 14, 2026, 11:59 PM PT.
Review of Applications will take place late-January / early-February, with the finalist presentations
the week of March 2 (exact dates and times TBD), and final decisions by late March 2026.

Online Info Session

Join us for an online information session via Zoom on Tuesday, Dec 16, 10 – 11 AM PT.
Register here for the Zoom Session.

Eligibility

All UC Berkeley faculty members of the academic senate or equivalent titles with PI status are eligible to apply.

The award must be used to translate relevant academic research applications into a product, platform or service that can be adopted in the marketplace. Funding postdoctoral or student support for this purpose is allowed, as are activities such as scientific research, market and/or IP analysis, or other steps necessary to bring the technology to commercialization. No matching funds are required and funding can be used to supplement current lab funding.

Benefits

The program will support up to two awards for this round. Award amounts are expected to be up to $100,000 for 12 – 18 months, based on the proposal’s needs and proposed timeline.  Applicants should seek the level of support commensurate with the actual work needed to bring the project to commercialization.

Through existing programming provided by QB3, Bakar Labs for Energy & Materials and other campus partners, awardees will have the opportunity to access mentorship and coaching, business plan and pitch development, market research, financial and legal advice, and matchmaking with leading industry partners. Awardees will be expected to actively participate in workshops, training and other sessions that are designed to assist them with bringing their research and products to market.

Areas of Innovation

All areas of relevance to climate change, which could include projects aimed at new materials and processes, business models, policy and more, will be considered.

Evaluation Criteria

This award is designed to bring to market innovative solutions with high potential for societal impact. Projects will be evaluated on:

• Path to Impact: High potential for meaningful societal or sector-level impact.
• Technical Feasibility: Clear, validated technology at TRL 5+.
• Commercial Readiness: Defined customer need and credible plan for a 12–18 month pre-commercial demo.
• Market & Investment Potential: Evidence of customer interest and a viable path to funding.
• Risks & Barriers: Awareness of key technical, regulatory, or market risks and plans to mitigate them.
• Team Capability: Strong team with the skills to execute both technical and commercial milestones.

Process 

Selection will take place in two phases. Brief (~3 pages max including abstract) preproposals will be reviewed for alignment with BCAPP goals, area of focus, stage of project, etc. Guidance on how to structure a proposal can be found on the application site. Selected finalists will be invited to present their projects to the selection committee in short (~15-minute) Zoom meetings. A slide template will be provided to ensure appropriate content coverage. Successful BCAPP awardees will be selected based on the finalist presentations.