In creating the Chevron Studio program, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Chevron Technologies Venture (CTV) teamed up to turn a challenge into an opportunity.

“We have a long working relationship with several national laboratories and universities,” said Gautam Phanse, strategic relationship manager for CTV. “While there has been a lot of science coming out of these labs, the challenge has been scaling and commercializing. This program aims to close that gap. CTV also has a lot of experience in working with the innovation ecosystem supporting entrepreneurs, incubators, and startups. So, we asked ourselves: How can we structure a program so it becomes a win-win for all the stakeholders—the laboratories where the science is developed, entrepreneurs who can move these nascent technologies forward, and industry partners to scale. The answer is Chevron Studio.”