Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Argonne National Laboratory is a multidisciplinary science and engineering research center where scientists and engineers pioneer breakthroughs that address some of the world's most pressing challenges. As Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI) celebrates its first decade, the program reflects on 10 years of accelerating innovation while helping shape the next generation of science-based startups.
Many groundbreaking scientific discoveries never reach the people or industries that could benefit from them. Moving a promising technology from the laboratory to the marketplace requires far more than a great idea—it demands access to specialized facilities, technical expertise, mentorship, industry connections, and investment. Bridging this gap between research and commercialization is essential to ensuring scientific breakthroughs create real-world impact.
For the past decade, CRI has helped bridge that gap by embedding early-stage startup founders within a national laboratory environment. Entrepreneurs gain access to world-class research facilities, scientific expertise, technical mentorship, and a collaborative network of researchers, investors, and industry partners. This unique model enables innovators to refine, validate, and accelerate breakthrough technologies while building the foundation for successful companies.
Over the past 10 years, CRI-supported entrepreneurs have developed technologies that address critical challenges in science and energy, created new jobs, attracted hundreds of millions of dollars in follow-on investment, and strengthened U.S. innovation and competitiveness. Just as importantly, CRI has cultivated a community where entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and industry partners work together to advance technologies that might otherwise never leave the laboratory.
This video celebrates CRI's first decade by highlighting the people, partnerships, and discoveries that have defined the program's success. As a new generation of founders joins CRI, their ideas continue to push the boundaries of what's possible—demonstrating how collaboration between science and entrepreneurship can transform breakthrough research into real-world solutions.
Find out more about Chain Reaction Innovations ►► chainreaction.anl.gov
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About CRI
Through a yearly competitive process, CRI awards two-year fellowships to innovators who focus on science and emerging energy technologies. CRI’s mission is to open Argonne’s door — one innovator, one startup at a time.
Chain Reaction Innovations is supported by DOE's Office of Technology Commercialization; the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, including the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office, Industrial Technologies Office, Building Technologies Office, Advanced Mining and Mineral Production Technologies Office, Transportation Technologies Office, and Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office; DOE's Office of Science, including the Advanced Scientific Computing Research program and Basic Energy Sciences; DOE’s Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office; and Argonne National Laboratory.
ABOUT ARGONNE
Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology by conducting leading-edge basic and applied research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF SCIENCE
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit the Office of Science website.
Argonne National Laboratory is a multidisciplinary science and engineering research center where scientists and engineers pioneer breakthroughs that address some of the world's most pressing challenges. As Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI) celebrates its first decade, the program reflects on 10 years of accelerating innovation while helping shape the next generation of science-based startups.
Many groundbreaking scientific discoveries never reach the people or industries that could benefit from them. Moving a promising technology from the laboratory to the marketplace requires far more than a great idea—it demands access to specialized facilities, technical expertise, mentorship, industry connections, and investment. Bridging this gap between research and commercialization is essential to ensuring scientific breakthroughs create real-world impact.
For the past decade, CRI has helped bridge that gap by embedding early-stage startup founders within a national laboratory environment. Entrepreneurs gain access to world-class research facilities, scientific expertise, technical mentorship, and a collaborative network of researchers, investors, and industry partners. This unique model enables innovators to refine, validate, and accelerate breakthrough technologies while building the foundation for successful companies.
Over the past 10 years, CRI-supported entrepreneurs have developed technologies that address critical challenges in science and energy, created new jobs, attracted hundreds of millions of dollars in follow-on investment, and strengthened U.S. innovation and competitiveness. Just as importantly, CRI has cultivated a community where entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and industry partners work together to advance technologies that might otherwise never leave the laboratory.
This video celebrates CRI's first decade by highlighting the people, partnerships, and discoveries that have defined the program's success. As a new generation of founders joins CRI, their ideas continue to push the boundaries of what's possible—demonstrating how collaboration between science and entrepreneurship can transform breakthrough research into real-world solutions.
Find out more about Chain Reaction Innovations ►► chainreaction.anl.gov
Still haven't subscribed to Argonne National Laboratory on YouTube? ►► bit.ly/2Vyzwvm
Join us on Facebook bit.ly/ArgonneFacebook
Follow us on Twitter bit.ly/ArgonneTwitter
We’re on Instagram! bit.ly/ArgonneInstagram
Connect with us on LinkedIn bit.ly/ArgonneLinkedIn
About CRI
Through a yearly competitive process, CRI awards two-year fellowships to innovators who focus on science and emerging energy technologies. CRI’s mission is to open Argonne’s door — one innovator, one startup at a time.
Chain Reaction Innovations is supported by DOE's Office of Technology Commercialization; the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, including the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office, Industrial Technologies Office, Building Technologies Office, Advanced Mining and Mineral Production Technologies Office, Transportation Technologies Office, and Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office; DOE's Office of Science, including the Advanced Scientific Computing Research program and Basic Energy Sciences; DOE’s Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office; and Argonne National Laboratory.
ABOUT ARGONNE
Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology by conducting leading-edge basic and applied research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF SCIENCE
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit the Office of Science website.
