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The C4 Partnering Model

The C4 Partnering Model

Creating a strong regional clean energy commercialization ecosystem for manufacturing focused on collaboration and rapid technology development using a novel industry-informed partnering approach for research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D).

Co-locate • Collaborate • Community • Communicate

Co-locate

Co-located researchers from industry, academia,
and the national labs in a single facility

Collaborate

Collaborative, open RDD&D environment that is optimized for commercialization
and fueled by streamlined partnerships with C4 program participants

Community

Community access to materials discovery and synthesis,
advanced manufacturing capabilities, and state-of-the-art equipment

Communicate

Communication on an intentional, continuous basis between
national laboratories and industry partners throughout the tech maturation process

Creating a Strong Regional Clean Energy Commercialization Ecosystem for Manufacturing

Current State
Today’s traditional approaches to moving technologies through the RDD&D continuum make it difficult for U.S. industry to commercialize lab-developed technologies.

Downfalls of serial approach:

Siloed capabilities at national laboratories, academia, and industry

Industry needs are not continuously considered

Manufacturability is not built in

Deployment is an afterthought

Future State
We envision an RDD&D continuum partnering model that connects national laboratories and industry partners, accelerating technology development and adoption in the clean energy manufacturing sector.

Benefits of C4 approach:

Break down of silos between capabilities

Increased speed and agility

Reduced administrative delays

Paving the Way to a More Collaborative Future


Develop a Hub & Spoke Model
Engage with national laboratory network and industry to develop a hub and spoke model that can be applied to different locations (i.e., spokes)


Co-locate Industry, Academic, and National Lab Partners
Remove barriers between labs and businesses by co-locating industry, academic, and national lab partners and bringing state-of-the-art lab resources and capabilities to industry challenges


Establish “Equipment & Tooling Showcase” Program
Showcase equipment from suppliers in the Sandia National Labs manufacturing space


Organize a Clean Energy Open Challenge
Bring innovators and manufacturers together to solve challenging problems within industry


Increase and Streamline Access to Lab IP
Provide advanced manufacturing bundled IP to program participants and create an IP matchmaking platform/website to bring in suppliers and participants for the Clean Energy Open Innovation Challenge


Ensure Viability & Growth
Develop an enduring long-term program viability plan

The Growing C4 Ecosystem

C4 has been embraced by regional partners, forming a collaboration of researchers, equipment suppliers and tooling companies, companies engaged in the open innovation challenge, and mentors and judges.

Ready to Be a Part of Our Community?

Explore how you can participate in the C4 effort by selecting your organization type below.