(B)
to increase private and philanthropic sector investments that support efforts to create, characterize, develop, test, validate, and deploy or commercialize innovative technologies that address crosscutting national energy challenges, including those affecting minority, rural, and other underserved communities, by methods that include—
(i)
fostering collaboration and partnerships with researchers from the Federal Government, State governments, institutions of higher education, including historically Black colleges or universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and minority-serving institutions, federally funded research and development centers, industry, and nonprofit organizations for the research, development, or commercialization of transformative energy and associated technologies;
(ii)
strengthening and sharing best practices relating to regional economic development through scientific and energy innovation, including in partnership with an Individual Laboratory-Associated Foundation;
(iii)
promoting new product development that supports job creation;
(iv)
administering prize competitions—
(I)
to accelerate private sector competition and investment; and
(II)
that complement the use of prize authority by the Department;
(v)
supporting programs that advance technology maturation, especially where there may be gaps in Federal or private funding in advancing a technology to deployment or commercialization from the prototype stage to a commercial stage;
(vi)
supporting efforts to broaden participation in energy technology development among individuals from historically underrepresented groups or regions; and
(vii)
facilitating access to Department facilities, equipment, and expertise to assist in tackling national challenges.