NJ CSIT Clean Tech R&D Voucher Program

NJ CSIT Clean Tech R&D Voucher — Round 3

Supports New Jersey clean energy startups through subsidized access to specialized facilities.

Eligibility · United States · US-NJ

The New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT), operating under a Memorandum of Understanding with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), administers the Clean Tech R&D Voucher Program to help early-stage clean technology and clean energy companies access New Jersey's world-leading research infrastructure. Round 3 of the program is currently open on a rolling basis, subsidizing R&D costs for small New Jersey companies developing innovations across eight eligible technology areas: energy generation, energy storage, energy efficiency, green buildings, transportation, waste processing, chemicals and materials, and water and agriculture applications.

Eligible applicants must be authorized to conduct business in New Jersey with a current tax clearance certificate listing CSIT, employ between 1 and 50 full-time equivalent workers, perform 50 percent or more of their cumulative work hours in New Jersey, and report prior-year sales revenue of $5 million or less, excluding grants. Awards are structured as vouchers worth up to $40,000 within any 12-month period, redeemable at participating universities and government laboratories for access to facilities, equipment, and makerspaces. A company may receive a maximum of three vouchers across all Clean Tech Voucher rounds; vouchers expire after 12 months from approval, and unused funds are forfeited.

Applications are submitted through the NJEDA application portal at application.njeda.com, with questions directed to csitvoucher@njcsit.gov. Because the program is rolling with no fixed deadline, companies should apply as soon as they identify a specific facility or equipment need. The voucher mechanism means funding flows directly to the research institution, not the company, so applicants should identify a target facility and confirm availability before applying. CSIT's initial 21 program cohorts (2020–2025) collectively created 548 jobs and generated $99.4 million in revenue, providing a strong track record that validates the program's impact on New Jersey's innovation economy.